shuttle reservation system

Shuttle Reservation System: Per-Seat Booking Without Overbooking

6 min read · Updated July 1, 2026

A shuttle reservation system is where per-seat logic wins or loses. This is the technical reality behind 'you cannot buy a seat that does not exist'.

How per-seat capacity really works

Every scheduled departure has a capacity — say 14 seats on a Sprinter. As bookings come in, capacity is decremented atomically inside a database transaction. Two riders trying to buy the last seat at the same time will see one success and one 'sold out' — and neither ever gets a phantom seat.

Overflow and auto-splitting

When a departure hits 85% capacity, Shuttle.Software alerts the dispatcher and offers to open an overflow vehicle in one click. Bookings past capacity are pushed onto the new run — no manual manifest shuffling, no double-booked drivers.

Cancellations and refunds

Guest-friendly cancellation windows return the seat to inventory instantly, refund via Stripe automatically, and update the driver manifest — all without a dispatcher touching the system.

Frequently asked questions

How does the reservation system prevent overbooking?

Per-seat capacity is decremented inside a database transaction, so concurrent bookings can never both succeed on the last seat.

Can riders self-cancel?

Yes, within a configurable window. The seat returns to inventory, the refund is issued via Stripe, and the driver's manifest updates automatically.

Ready to move?

Shuttle.Software is $99/mo flat with a one-time $399 setup and 0% booking commission — live in 3–5 working days.

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