Apply a Coupon to a Booking
How customers apply coupon codes and gift card codes during checkout, and the validation rules the system enforces.
During the booking checkout flow, customers can enter a coupon code to receive a discount or a gift card code to apply a stored balance toward their payment. This guide explains how both work from the customer and operator perspective, and what validation rules the system enforces.
How customers apply a coupon code
- The customer proceeds through your booking site and reaches the checkout/cart page.
- They enter a coupon code in the coupon code field.
- The system validates the code and, if accepted, applies the discount to the booking subtotal.
- The updated total is displayed before payment.
How customers apply a gift card code
- At checkout, the customer enters their gift card code (format:
RC-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX). - The system validates the code and shows the available balance.
- The gift card balance is applied toward the booking total. If the balance covers the full amount, no additional payment is needed. If not, the customer pays the remaining balance with another payment method.
Coupon validation rules
When a coupon code is entered, the system checks the following in order. If any check fails, the coupon is rejected with an appropriate error message.
| Check | Error if failed | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Code exists | "Invalid coupon code" | The entered text must match an existing coupon code (case-insensitive). |
| Coupon is enabled | "Coupon is disabled" | The parent coupon campaign must have its status set to Enabled. |
| Overall usage limit | "Coupon limit reached" | If the coupon has a limited total usage count, it must not have been exceeded. |
| Per-code usage limit | "Coupon limit reached" | If the specific code has a usage limit, it must not have been exceeded. |
| Activity match | "Coupon not valid for this activity" | If the coupon is restricted to specific activities, the booking's activity must be one of them. |
| Equipment match | "Coupon not valid for this equipment" | If the coupon is restricted to specific equipment, at least one equipment item in the cart must match. |
| Purchase window | "Coupon not valid at this time" | If purchase windows are configured, the current date/time (in the location's timezone) must fall within at least one non-negated window and must not fall within any negated window. |
| Arrival window | "Coupon not valid for this date" | If arrival windows are configured, the booking's scheduled date/time must fall within at least one non-negated window and must not fall within any negated window. |
Gift card validation rules
When a gift card code is entered, the system checks:
| Check | Error if failed | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Code exists | "Gift card not found" | The code must match an existing gift card. |
| Status is Active | Varies | The card must not be Voided, Depleted, or Expired. |
| Not expired | "Gift card expired" | If the card has an expiration date, it must not have passed. |
| Has balance | "Gift card depleted" | The current balance must be greater than zero. |
| Location allowed | "Gift card not valid at this location" | The card must be redeemable at the booking location based on the cross-location mode (Same Location Only, All Locations, or Specific Locations). |
| Activity allowed | "Gift card not valid for this activity" | If the card has activity restrictions, the booking's activity must match. |
| Equipment allowed | "Gift card not valid for this equipment" | If the card has equipment restrictions, at least one cart item must match. |
| No pending reservation | "Gift card has a pending transaction" | If another checkout is in progress with this gift card (e.g., waiting for 3D Secure authentication), the code is temporarily blocked to prevent double-spending. Pending reservations expire after 15 minutes. |
How the discount is calculated
Coupon discounts
The discount is calculated based on the coupon's discount type:
- Percentage: the booking subtotal is multiplied by the percentage (e.g., 20% of $100 = $20 discount).
- Flat amount: the specified dollar amount is subtracted from the subtotal. If the flat amount exceeds the subtotal, the discount is capped at the subtotal (the total never goes negative).
- Fixed price: the booking total is set to the specified amount. If the subtotal is already at or below that amount, no discount is applied.
If Discount Add-ons is enabled, add-on prices are included in the subtotal before the discount is calculated. If Remove Taxes & Fees is enabled, taxes and fees are removed from the final total.
Gift card application
The gift card's available balance is applied directly toward the booking total. The balance is debited by the amount used. If the gift card balance is less than the booking total, the remaining amount must be paid with another payment method (e.g., credit card).
Combining coupons and gift cards
A booking can have both a coupon and a gift card applied:
- The coupon discount is calculated first, reducing the booking subtotal.
- The gift card balance is then applied to the discounted total.
For example, a $100 booking with a 20% coupon becomes $80, and then a $50 gift card covers $50 of that, leaving $30 to be paid by another method.
Tips
- Customers only see relevant error messages. The specific validation failure is translated into a customer-friendly message -- they will not see internal codes or technical details.
- Coupon codes and gift card codes are separate fields. A customer cannot enter a gift card code in the coupon field or vice versa.
- Test your coupons before promoting them. Create a test booking on your booking site and try the code to verify all rules work as expected.
- Gift card pending reservations resolve automatically. If a customer abandons checkout during 3D Secure authentication, the reservation expires after 15 minutes and the balance becomes available again.
Adjust Gift Card Balance
How to add funds to, debit from, or void a gift card in Resytech, including balance adjustments and understanding the transaction history.
Track Promotion Usage
How to monitor coupon redemptions, gift card balances, and transaction history in Resytech to measure promotion performance.