Can I show my customers alternative flights if the one they want to book is no longer available?

Yes, you can show alternatives, but how smoothly this works depends on how your portal is set up and what the airline systems tell us at the moment your customer tries to book. When someone searches for flights, they see real-time availability from the suppliers, but between the search and the final booking, an airline might release more seats, close off a fare class, or sell out completely. Your portal can be configured to automatically suggest the next best options based on price, time, or convenience so your customer does not have to start their search over from scratch.

The way this works in practice varies depending on which airlines and booking methods you use. Some airlines make alternative inventory available instantly through their systems, while others have delays or restrictions on what can be shown as a backup option. If you are using scheduled flights from major carriers, you will generally have good options to present. If you work with smaller airlines, charter operators, or niche routes, the alternatives available might be more limited, and you should check what your specific suppliers can offer.

Your portal can also be set up to let you manually add fallback flights or create rules that suggest certain routes when others sell out, giving you more control over the customer experience. You should talk to your account team about how your current setup handles flight availability changes and whether you want to add features that show alternatives automatically or if you prefer to manage suggestions yourself.