Docs/Waitlist management
Last updated April 7, 2026

Waitlist management

Sold out does not mean lost interest. Waitlists capture demand for popular ticket types and let you offer spots to eager attendees the moment they become available.

How waitlists work

When a ticket type sells out, Kagibag automatically shows a "Join waitlist" option on the event page. Attendees join the waitlist for a specific ticket type, not the event as a whole. This means you can have separate waitlists for VIP, General Admission, and other ticket types simultaneously.

Joining a waitlist

Attendees provide their name and email address to join. They can optionally opt in to marketing communications. A confirmation email is sent immediately so they know their spot is secured. Each attendee can only join the waitlist for a given ticket type once.

Waitlist entry lifecycle

Each waitlist entry moves through a series of statuses as tickets become available and attendees respond to offers.

StatusDescription
WaitingThe attendee is on the waitlist. No tickets are available yet.
OfferedA spot has opened up and the attendee has been notified with a purchase link. The offer has an expiration time.
PurchasedThe attendee accepted the offer and completed their ticket purchase.
ExpiredThe offer window passed without the attendee completing a purchase. The spot can be offered to the next person.
CancelledThe attendee removed themselves from the waitlist.

Making offers

When tickets become available (through cancellations, refunds, or capacity increases), you can offer spots to waitlisted attendees. Each offer includes an expiration time — once it passes, the spot moves to the next person in line. The attendee receives an email with a direct link to purchase their ticket.

Redeeming an offer

When an attendee clicks the offer link in their email, they are taken directly to checkout with their ticket pre-selected. The waitlist entry is linked to the checkout session so the system knows to honor the offer. Once they complete the purchase, their waitlist entry moves to Purchased status.

Leaving the waitlist

Attendees can cancel their waitlist entry at any time while they are in Waiting or Offered status. Cancelling an offered entry releases the spot so it can be offered to the next person. Once an entry is in Purchased or Expired status, it cannot be cancelled.

Related use cases

See where this workflow fits

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