What happens to your table when you cancel a dining reservation?

[likelikingthings]

When you cancel a reservation, how does it go back into the system and out into the pool of availability?

For instance: If you cancel a reservation for 5, can a group of 3 and a group of 2 both see it when they search? Or only another group of 5?

I've seen a few examples where I can find a reservation for 4, but not 3. Is this part of the computer programming (even being prioritized to fill over odds)?

Any insight or experiences would be wonderful!

(A few of us on the Nov. cancellation thread were speculating about this, but I don't want to clog that thread.)

 

[MakiraMarlena]

you aren't reserving a table technically, you are reserving a place in line.

 

[likelikingthings]

Right, I understand that. Just speaking figuratively.

So, using your terminology, if the first 8 people in line left, would the next 8 get a reservation, regardless of how they broke down? (a four, and two twos; a five and a three)

 

[purple figment]

Based on the fact that the dining reservations system has a quirk that often makes it harder to find a reservation for an odd numbered party, my guess is the res system is based on the number of tables in a restaurant that can accommodate a specific number of guests. For example, the system wants to fill as many seats at a table as possible so frequently when I am looking for a party of 3, the system says nothing is available, but if I add 1 more and look for a party of 4, choices pop up. So for your example, if you cancel a party of 5 and the res had said "your party may be seated at more than one table" I would guess it found 2 tables in the system. If there wasn't a warning it probably was a table for 5 or 6.

As far as getting the table for 4 when there are only 3 of us, as long as at least one person shows up for the res, there will not be a penalty for the missing person. The only time I would want a res for the exact number of guests is for the prepaid CRT and dinner shows.

 

[likelikingthings]

Thanks @purple figment! Very helpful assessment...I guess I'll be looking for 4's instead of 3's now!

 

[Mouse Daddy]

"What happens to your table when you cancel a dining reservation?"

They take it out back and burn it behind a dumpster.