---
title: How do booking requests work, from calendar status colors through approval to the payment link being sent?
description: Calendar color shows availability status (available, pending, booked, blocked) → the customer submits a request → you review and approve it → Mallard Bay sends the secure payment link → the date locks in as confirmed once it's paid.
---

[Skip to content](https://resources.mallardbay.com/how-do-booking-requests-work-from-calendar-status-colors-through-approval-to-the-payment-link-being-sent#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

![Mallard Bay Logos-01.png\]](https://resources.mallardbay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mallard%20Bay%20Logos-01.png?height=50&name=Mallard%20Bay%20Logos-01.png)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- Go to mallardbay.com

 Go to mallardbay.com

 Welcome to our online knowledge base for outfitters, charters, and sportsmen!

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Mallard Bay Knowledge Base](https://resources.mallardbay.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [Outfitter Success](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en)
3. [Manage Bookings](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#manage-bookings)

# How do booking requests work, from calendar status colors through approval to the payment link being sent?

## Calendar color shows availability status (available, pending, booked, blocked) → the customer submits a request → you review and approve it → Mallard Bay sends the secure payment link → the date locks in as confirmed once it's paid.

Booking requests typically follow this flow:

Your calendar uses colors/statuses to help you quickly understand what’s happening on each date. Common statuses include:

- Available: customers can request or book that date.
- Pending / requested: someone has submitted interest or a booking request, but it has not been finalized yet.
- Booked / confirmed: the date has an approved booking tied to it.
- Blocked / unavailable: you or an external calendar feed has marked the date unavailable.

The exact color labels can vary by setup, but the idea is: available dates are open, pending/requested dates need review, and booked/blocked dates should not be double-booked.

A customer selects a listing, date, party size, and any required information/forms. Depending on your setup, this may create a booking request, quote request, or lead.

From your dashboard, you review details like:

- Requested dates
- Listing or package
- Guest count
- Customer contact info
- Notes or questions
- Required form responses, if collected

If the request looks good, you can approve it or create/send a quote. If you need more information, you can message the customer before approving.

Once approved or quoted, Mallard Bay can send the customer a secure payment link for the deposit, balance, or required amount.

The customer pays through that link, and the booking/payment status updates in your dashboard.

After approval/payment, the date moves from a requested/pending state to a confirmed booking state, and your availability updates so you can avoid double-booking.

So in short: calendar color shows availability/status → customer submits request → you review/approve → Mallard Bay sends or lets you send the payment link → payment confirms the booking and updates the calendar.

<https://app.air.inc/a/b789a4137/b/2c1c4ec0-403f-4c04-b45e-ddc5b7e4559e/c/6b00bd20-4528-40d0-8b3b-4eefeaa09b11>[![bookings](https://resources.mallardbay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bookings.jpg?width=670&height=377&name=bookings.jpg)](https://app.air.inc/a/b789a4137/b/2c1c4ec0-403f-4c04-b45e-ddc5b7e4559e/c/6b00bd20-4528-40d0-8b3b-4eefeaa09b11)[Watch the 30–60 second walkthrough](https://app.air.inc/a/b789a4137/b/2c1c4ec0-403f-4c04-b45e-ddc5b7e4559e/c/6b00bd20-4528-40d0-8b3b-4eefeaa09b11)

- [Outfitter Success](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [General Questions](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#general-questions)
    - [Outfitter & Charter Dashboard](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#outfitter-charter-dashboard)
    - [Payments](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#payments)
    - [Mallard Bay Marketing Services](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#mallard-bay-marketing-services)
    - [Mobile App](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#mobile-app)
    - [Manage Bookings](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#manage-bookings)
    - [Clients](https://resources.mallardbay.com/outfitter-success?hsLang=en#clients)
- [Sportsman Success](https://resources.mallardbay.com/sportsman-success?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [General Questions](https://resources.mallardbay.com/sportsman-success?hsLang=en#general-questions)

# Mallard Bay Outdoors

mallardbay.com Help Center

Copyright © 2026, Mallard Bay Outdoors