Is the guest charged when they book?
No. The guest confirms their card with their bank and nothing is taken. The table is held for a few minutes while they do it.
Restaurant no-show protection that charges nothing at booking.
Ask for a card on the bookings you choose. Guests see your fee before they book and nothing is taken. If a table stays empty, you open the booking and decide: charge or waive.
- Included from the Service plan
- Fees go to your own Stripe account
- No commission on fees
1 · Your rules
Ask for a card when guests book online
Matching bookings hold the table for 20 minutes while the guest adds a card.
Fee per guest€25
Charged only after a no-show or late cancellation, and only when you decide to.
From party size6 guests
Smaller parties book without a card.
Free cancellation until24 hours before
Use 0 to only charge no-shows.
Services
LunchDinnerTerrace
2 · What the guest sees
Add a card to confirm
Alpine Lake House holds your table for 20 minutes while you add a card.
Card guarantee
No payment now. Alpine Lake House may charge €25 per guest (€150 for 6 guests) if you don’t come, or if you cancel less than 24 hours before.
4242 4242 4242 424212 / 28
Confirm with card
Card details go straight to Stripe, the payment provider of Alpine Lake House. AlpineTable never sees your card number.
3 · If they don’t come
Thomas Martin · 6 guests
Sat 26 Dec · 20:00 · Dinner
Card guarantee
Card saved€25 per guest · €150 for 6 guests · free cancellation until 24 hours before
Visa •••• 4242
Charge €150Waive feeOnly if they don’t come
Why it matters at altitude
A no-show on the mountain costs more.
Mountain restaurants work with short seasons, tight lunch windows and guests whose plans depend on the weather. An empty table is hard to fill again.
01
One seating, no second chance
At altitude, lunch is often a single service. A table that stays empty at 12:30 usually stays empty.
02
Plans change with the weather
Wind closes a lift or fresh snow sends skiers to another valley, and guests forget to cancel.
03
Groups hold more than one table
Large groups sometimes book at several restaurants and choose on the day.
How it works
Your rules. Your decision.
Card guarantees only apply where you switch them on, and AlpineTable never charges a guest on its own.
Your rules
A fee per guest, from the party size you pick, for the services you choose, with free cancellation until the time you set.
Nothing taken at booking
Guests confirm their card with their bank. The table is held for a few minutes while they do.
You decide, never us
After a no-show or a late cancellation, open the booking and choose Charge or Waive.
Phone bookings too
Open the booking and email the guest a link to add a card.
Straight to your Stripe
Fees go to your own Stripe account. We take no commission; Stripe’s standard card fees apply.
Cards don’t linger
Saved cards are removed when the guest arrives or cancels in time.
Card guarantee, deposit or prepayment?
Protect the table with the least friction.
Three common ways restaurants reduce no-shows. They differ in when money moves and how much work refunds create.
Card guaranteeAlpineTableDepositPrepayment
When money moves
Card guaranteeOnly if you charge after a no-show or late cancellation
DepositPart of the bill, when the guest books
PrepaymentThe full amount, when the guest books
What the guest does
Card guaranteeConfirms a card with their bank and pays nothing
DepositPays upfront; it comes off the bill
PrepaymentPays everything upfront
Refunds to handle
Card guaranteeNone, because nothing was taken
DepositWhen guests cancel in time
PrepaymentWhen guests cancel in time
Often used for
Card guaranteeEveryday services, larger tables, peak days
DepositHoliday periods and special evenings
PrepaymentSet menus, events and private hire
AlpineTable offers card guarantees. It does not take deposits or prepayments.
Before you need to charge
Most guests only need a reminder.
A text the day before
Guests get their confirmation by text, then a reminder 24 hours before with a link to manage or cancel.
Alpine Lake House
Text message
Tue 18:03
Alpine Lake House: your table for 4 on Sat 26 Dec at 12:30 is confirmed. Manage or cancel: alpinetable.com/b/7Hq2
Fri 12:30 · 24 hours before
Reminder: your table at Alpine Lake House for 4 on Sat 26 Dec at 12:30. Manage or cancel: alpinetable.com/b/7Hq2
Delivered · no texts between 21:00 and 08:00
Know who might not show
Past no-shows and cancellations follow the guest onto every new booking, and anyone who hasn’t confirmed waits under Needs action.
Tonight · Dinner
1 needs actionJonas Keller
19:30 · 2 guests
Paul Moreau
20:00 · 4 guests
Lea Novak
20:15 · 3 guests
Claire Dubois
20:30 · 4 guests
FAQ
Common questions
Who decides whether to charge a no-show?
You do. After a no-show or a late cancellation, open the booking and choose Charge or Waive. AlpineTable never charges a guest on its own.
Can I ask for a card on some bookings only?
Yes. Set a fee per guest, the party size it starts from, the services it applies to and how long guests can cancel for free.
Does it work for phone bookings?
Yes. Open the booking and email the guest a link to add their card.
Where does the money go, and what does it cost?
Fees go straight to your own Stripe account. AlpineTable takes no commission; Stripe’s standard card fees apply. Card details are entered in Stripe’s payment form.
Which plan includes card guarantees?
Card guarantees are included from the Service plan, which also includes Pause Mode for when you close between seasons.
Protect your busiest services. Set your rules once.
Choose which bookings need a card, and guests see your rules before they book.