Troubleshoot order modifications

Learn how to identify and resolve common errors when modifying accommodation orders using /orders/modify. This guide covers payment card, reservation and room modification errors, with example responses and recommended solutions.

When modifying an accommodation order, a request may fail because of invalid reservation details, unsupported changes or restrictions associated with the booked accommodation or room.

This guide explains common errors returned by /orders/modify and how to resolve them.

The endpoint can indicate an unsuccessful modification in two ways:

• Modification status - An HTTP 200 response may contain status: "failed" or modification_status: "failed", indicating that the requested modification did not succeed.
• API error response - The endpoint may return an errors array containing an error identifier and a message describing the problem.

When a modification fails, check the returned status or error message and verify the current reservation details before submitting another request.

Error: The accommodation does not accept the payment card type provided in the modification request.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Hotel does not accept card type {card_type}"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Retrieve the accepted payment card types from the methods.cards array returned by /orders/preview.
2. Check that the new payment card type is accepted by the accommodation.
3. Submit a new modification request using an accepted card type.

Error: The specified reservation cannot be found.

This may occur when the reservation ID is incorrect or does not correspond to the intended order.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Reservation not found"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Retrieve the reservation details using /orders/details/accommodations.
2. Verify that the reservation ID in the modification request matches the intended accommodation reservation.
3. Check the reservation status before submitting another request.

Error: The request attempts to modify the dates of a cancelled reservation.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Reservation is cancelled"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Retrieve the reservation status using /orders/details/accommodations.
2. Confirm whether the reservation has been cancelled.
3. If the reservation is cancelled, its dates cannot be modified. If the guest still requires accommodation, create a new order.

Room modification errors may occur when the requested change is not supported, the room reservation cannot be identified or the modification conflicts with the room's restrictions.

Error: The request does not contain a supported room-level modification.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "No valid change parameter specified"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

Ensure that the modification.accommodation.change object identifies the room reservation and includes at least one supported modification:

• allocation.number_of_adults: Update the number of adults allocated to the room.
• guests: Update guest names.
• smoking_preference: Update the room's smoking preference.

Include room_reservation to identify the room reservation to modify.

Error: The specified room reservation ID is invalid or does not belong to the order.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Room reservation not found"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Retrieve the accommodation reservation details using /orders/details/accommodations.
2. Verify that room_reservation matches the intended room reservation ID returned under the reservation's products.
3. Confirm that the reservation is active and has a booked status.
4. Submit the modification request with the correct room reservation ID.

Error: The booked rate has a fixed guest occupancy and does not support changes to the number of guests.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Cannot change number of guests when rate-level occupancy is in effect"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

The booked rate does not allow the guest count to be changed.

If a different guest allocation is required, review the applicable cancellation conditions and consider creating a new order with the required number of guests.

Error: The requested number of guests exceeds the room's maximum occupancy.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Number of guests exceeds the allowed limit for this room"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Check the room's maximum_occupancy using /accommodations/availability.
2. Adjust the requested number of guests to comply with the room's occupancy limits.
3. If additional guests need accommodation, consider a room type that supports the required occupancy, subject to availability and booking conditions.

Error: The requested number of guests is zero or a negative value.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Invalid number of guests specified"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

Ensure that allocation.number_of_adults contains a positive integer within the room's supported occupancy limits.

Error: The requested number of guests matches the existing guest count.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Number of guests is already set to the requested value"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Retrieve the current room allocation using /orders/details/accommodations.
2. Compare the existing guest count with the requested value.
3. Submit a modification request only when the requested guest count differs from the current allocation.

Error: The requested smoking preference conflicts with the room's fixed smoking policy.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Cannot change smoking preference; room is designated as '{smoking_type}' only"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

1. Retrieve the room attributes using /orders/details with the rooms value in the extras array, where supported.
2. Check whether the room is designated as smoking or non-smoking.
3. If the room has a fixed smoking policy, the smoking preference cannot be changed to a conflicting value.
4. If a different smoking preference is required, consider alternative accommodation arrangements that meet the guest's needs.

For example, a room with the non_smoking attribute does not support changing its smoking preference to smoking.

Error: The request contains an unsupported smoking preference value.

Example response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "id": "incorrect_parameters",
      "message": "Invalid smoking preference value: '{smoking}'"
    }
  ]
}

How to resolve:

Ensure that smoking_preference contains one of the supported values:

Check that the requested preference is compatible with the room's smoking policy before submitting another modification request.