> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://partner-help.letsdothis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Waitlists

> Add a waitlist to an event ticket so participants can join a queue when it sells out, instead of being turned away.

## Overview

A waitlist lets participants join a queue when a ticket has sold out, instead of
losing them to a "sold out" message. When a place frees up — someone cancels, or
you increase capacity — the next person in line is offered the spot. You set a
waitlist up per ticket and choose how places are handed out.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Acceptance waitlist" icon="envelope">
    When a place opens up, the next participant gets a time-limited invitation
    and has to complete their booking before it expires (24 hours by default).
    Works for paid and free tickets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Instant waitlist" icon="bolt">
    When a place opens up, the next participant is booked in automatically — no
    action needed from them. Only available for **free tickets**.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Setting up a waitlist

A waitlist sits on top of a ticket that has a capacity limit. You duplicate the
ticket you want to waitlist, give it a capacity and a booking form, then turn the
waitlist on and pick a mode. When you duplicate an event, the waitlist setup is
copied across but left turned off, and any dates are shifted to line up with the
new event — re-enable the waitlist on the new event's ticket when you're ready.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Tickets tab">
    From your event, go to the **Tickets** tab in the event setup area.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Duplicate the ticket you want to waitlist">
    Click the ellipsis menu (**...**) on the ticket row and choose **Duplicate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rename the duplicated ticket">
    Clear the title field, enter a new name, then click **Update → Save → Confirm
    changes → Confirm**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a capacity">
    Switch to the **Capacity** tab, add a new capacity rule, choose **Ticket** as
    the type, link your new ticket, and set the number of places. A waitlist only
    makes sense on a ticket with a capacity — that's the limit people queue
    behind.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a booking form">
    Switch to the **Forms** tab, add a new form, give it a name, select the
    ticket, enable booking, and save.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Turn the waitlist on">
    Back on the **Tickets** tab, edit the ticket and toggle **Enable Waitlist**
    on. The toggle is only available once the ticket has been saved and has a
    capacity set, and it is not available on Application-type tickets.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose how places are handed out">
    Pick **Acceptance waitlist** or **Instant waitlist**. Once the waitlist is
    open, this choice is locked — switching how places are handed out midway
    would be unfair to people already in the queue. Turn the waitlist off first
    if you need to change the mode; turning off a live waitlist asks you to
    confirm before the change takes effect.

    For **Acceptance**, set:

    * **Acceptance deadline** — how long each participant has to complete their
      booking after receiving an invitation: **24 hours**, **48 hours**, **72
      hours**, or **1 week**. The default is 24 hours.
    * **Minimum tickets per application** — the fewest places a participant can
      claim from a single invitation.
    * **Maximum tickets per application** — the most places a participant can
      claim from a single invitation.

    For **Instant**, the ticket price must be **0**. Set the minimum and maximum
    tickets per application.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a closing date for the waitlist (optional)">
    Set **Join waitlist end date** and time — the point after which participants
    can no longer join the queue. Leave blank if you want the waitlist to remain
    open until you close it manually.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a last possible registration date (optional)">
    Set **Last possible registration date** and time — the hard deadline by
    which all outstanding invitations must be completed. Any invitation still
    open after this point expires automatically. Leave blank if you don't need a
    fixed cutoff.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Update → Save → Confirm changes → Confirm**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How the queue works

* People are offered places in the order they joined the queue — first in,
  first offered.
* You can move a specific person to the front of the queue from the
  **Applications** view if you need to prioritize them.
* **Acceptance:** each invitation expires after the deadline you set — 24
  hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or one week (24 hours is the default). If the
  participant doesn't book in time, the invitation expires and the place can be
  offered to the next person.
* **Instant:** the next person is booked automatically as soon as a place opens,
  so there's nothing for them — or you — to do.