---
title: Prevent orphan/gap seats
slug: prevent-orphangap-seats
description: Learn how to prevent orphan/gap seats in your seating arrangements to maximize capacity. This document provides an example of a gap seat and explains how enabling the "Check for orphan/gap seats" feature can help avoid this issue. Follow our step-by-step 
docTags: 
createdAt: 2023-08-16T20:24:41.243Z
---

We understand that, with certain events/event times, you need to sell every possible seat. Fortunately, we have a way to ensure that each party selects seats that do not leave gaps!

Orphan/gap seats are individual seats that are left between parties or at the end of a row. Without this feature, a patron could choose to place a singular buffer seat between their party and another existing reservation. If you'd like to prevent this and maximize your seating, you will want to enable the **Check for orphan/gap seats** feature.

### Example of Gap Seat

Without the feature enabled, a patron might choose a set of three seats as seen below.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/hZcZIA5As4EsukOh0OMVE/vlmIFZMeDIj8osez20Ns5_screen-shot-2023-09-04-at-115725-am.png" size="54" width="310" height="156" position="center" darkWidth="310" darkHeight="156" showCaption="false"}

This leaves two single seats in a row instead of accommodating a group of three and a group of two that would like to sit next to each other.

When the feature is turned on, the patron will see a message like this when they try to add tickets to their carts that leave a single seat between parties or at the end of an aisle.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/hZcZIA5As4EsukOh0OMVE/op_Sfkx3A3KRVEwHz22Ub_screen-shot-2023-09-04-at-115814-am.png)

Before proceeding to checkout, they will have to adjust their seating selection to remove single-seat gaps.

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/hZcZIA5As4EsukOh0OMVE/9fVUZxHv7NKTFE63LKt7O_screen-shot-2023-09-04-at-115844-am.png" size="54" width="228" height="160" position="center" darkWidth="228" darkHeight="160" showCaption="false"}

### Prevent Orphan/Gap Seats

To enable the check for orphan/gap seats:

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Click the **Settings wheel icon** (⚙️) in the upper right-hand corner of your admin panel.
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Click the tab titled **Labs**.
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For the section titled **Check for orphan/gap seats**, click **On**.
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Click **Save** at the bottom of the page.
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