Control when guests can request early check-in and late checkout

Guests see early check-in and late checkout upsells in their portal. Set lead time and cutoff rules for each upsell to control exactly when these options become visible and when they stop being available.

Getting started

1. Go to Websites and select your website
2. Click the Portal tab
3. Expand either the Early Check-in or Late Check-out section
4. Under Availability Gates, configure your timing rules:
   • Lead Time (days): How many days before check-in/check-out the option appears
   • Cutoff (hours): How many hours before check-in/check-out to stop accepting requests
5. Click Save to apply your changes

[Screenshot: Portal settings showing the new symmetric availability gates for both early check-in and late checkout]

How it works

Both early check-in and late checkout now use the same flexible availability system. The platform automatically shows or hides upsell options based on your timing rules:

• Before lead time opens: Guests see "Available starting [date/time]" so they know exactly when to return
• Within the booking window: Full time and pricing options appear as configured
• After cutoff passes: The upsell disappears entirely to prevent last-minute requests

The system calculates availability in real-time using each guest's specific check-in and check-out dates, so timing is always precise.

Key features

• Symmetric controls — Early check-in and late checkout use identical lead time and cutoff settings • Guest-friendly messaging — When upsells aren't available yet, guests see exactly when they'll open • Real-time updates — Availability changes automatically as dates approach • Per-listing overrides — Set different rules for specific properties when needed • Flexible timing — Combine with existing caps (max hours early/late) for complete control

Lead time

Lead time is the earliest a guest may request the upsell, expressed in days before their check-in or check-out date. Set lead time to 14 to keep the upsell hidden until two weeks before their arrival or departure.

Leave lead time empty to make the upsell available immediately when the reservation is booked.

Cutoff

Cutoff is the latest a guest may request the upsell, expressed in hours before their check-in or check-out time. Set cutoff to 2 hours for early check-in to stop accepting requests when it's too late to coordinate with your team.

Leave cutoff empty to accept requests right up to the standard check-in or check-out time.

Tips & best practices

• Match your operations: Set cutoffs based on how much notice your team needs to prepare • Use lead time strategically: Longer lead times can increase booking urgency and advance planning • Test guest experience: Book a test reservation to see exactly what guests will see • Coordinate with housekeeping: Ensure your cutoff times align with cleaning schedules

Common questions

What happens to my existing booking window settings? Your previous booking window hours for early check-in automatically convert to cutoff hours with the same timing.

Can I set different rules for different properties? Yes, use per-listing overrides in your property settings to customize availability gates for specific listings.

Do max hours limits still apply? Yes, your configured max hours early and max hours late still cap how far guests can shift from standard times. Availability gates control when they can request, while max hours control how much they can request.