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How to Book Into the Next Billing Period

The Book Ahead feature lets members (and admins) reserve classes in the next billing period before the renewal payment has processed.

How It Works

Normally, subscription credits are only available for the current billing period. With Book Ahead enabled, members can book sessions that fall in the next period using pending renewal credits — placeholder credits that become real once the renewal payment succeeds.

Pending renewal credits:

  • Are clearly labeled in the checkout and on the customer’s profile
  • Count toward available spots in the class (but not toward paid credits)
  • Are confirmed when the subscription renews successfully
  • Are revoked if the renewal payment fails — and the associated bookings may be canceled

Enabling Book Ahead on a Product

Step 1: Open the product settings

  • Navigate to: Products & Services > Manage Plans
  • Find the subscription product → click to edit

Step 2: Enable Book Ahead

  • Find the Book Ahead setting (may be under Advanced Settings or Booking Options)
  • Toggle: On
  • Set how far into the next period members can book (the book-ahead window)
  • Save

What Members See

When Book Ahead is enabled, members see:

  • A “Pending renewal credit” option at checkout for sessions in the next period
  • Clear labeling that this booking is conditional on renewal success

What Admins See

In the customer’s billing profile:

  • Pending renewal credits appear separately from paid credits
  • If the renewal fails, pending credits are marked as revoked and bookings may show as canceled

On Mobile

Same behavior — Book Ahead works on the customer app and mobile browser.

Note: Communicate to members that Book Ahead bookings are conditional on renewal — a failed payment can cancel them.

Troubleshooting

Members can’t book sessions in the next period. Check: (1) Book Ahead is enabled on the subscription product, (2) the sessions fall within the book-ahead window, (3) the member’s subscription is currently active.

A member’s Book Ahead bookings were canceled. Their renewal payment likely failed. Check Payments > Payment Collector → Failed Payments, and help the member update their payment method.

Need a hand?

Email our team at support@joinzipper.com and we'll usually reply within a few hours.

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