---
title: "Smart waitlist"
description: "Fill cancellations with your most valuable clients first."
url: "https://bookatu.com/en-nz/help/waitlist"
language: "en"
section: "Help"
category: "Bookings"
published: "2025-11-18"
updated: "2026-07-14"
---

# Smart waitlist

Fill cancellations with your most valuable clients first.

## What it is

When you are fully booked, clients can join a waitlist. When a slot opens, you see the waiting list ranked by how much each client spends with you, so you can offer the spot to your best client first.

## Why it helps

Cancellations stop being lost money. You fill the gap, and you reward your highest value clients.

![The Waitlist: a waiting client with the service they want, when they joined, and Book now / Offer a slot / Mark booked / Remove actions](https://bookatu.com/help/waitlist-admin.png)

*When a slot frees up, offer it straight to a waiting client. Each client's value is shown so you can prioritise your best regulars.*

## How to use it

1. Clients join automatically from the booking page when a day is full.
2. Open Today, Waitlist to see who is waiting, ranked by value.
3. Tap a client to offer them the open spot by message.