Buffer time included in meeting time

Question

Hi, I have started using Bookings again and a new issue seems to have popped up that never occurred before. Each meeting has a buffer time of 15 minutes prior and 15 minutes after. Once booked, this shows a 75 minute block for a 45 minute meeting. When clicking on the event, it correctly displays that the meeting time is 45 minutes and the buffer time is 15 minutes either side but it is very confusing as it looks like the meeting starts when the buffer time begins. Please advise thank you

wealthsmyth · Answer

Agreed - such a terrible way to "buffer" and is causing a lot of confusion for the client AND the agent. Seems to be a low priority to MS as the reports on this are going back for quite awhile. Can we just block the time on my calendar during a "buffer" without showing it as part of the meeting time? If not, our entire organization of 2000 is going back to Calendly where it's simple and clear.

thetommercer · Answer

Debasish_Thakur&nbsp;&nbsp;This behaviour is bizarre though, and is definitely not the way it used to behave. A booking of 30 minutes, with fifteen minute buffer either side is now showing as a single booking of one hour. This is causing much confusion with people as they're going to log on to a meeting at the event start time when it doesn't actually begin for another fifteen minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Either buffer time needs to show separately on Outlook calendars as 'buffer time' OR it doesn't show on the calendar at all as a physical entry, but the buffer logic still applies.

debasish_thakur · Answer

Sunnygirl1210250,&nbsp;are you opening this event from the Bookings calendar or outlook calendar ?

sunnygirl1210250 · Answer

You mean to create the event? Yes I am creating this event in the Bookings app via MS office web version. It then shows in my outlook desktop app and online app as the extra buffer time included as part of the meeting.

debasish_thakur · Answer

I meant where you are accessing the event, I think you are accessing it from Outlook calendar.

The booked slot will appear as per the service duration on the Bookings calendar. Outlook calendar will keep the entire chunk of time (including buffer time) to avoid double booking during same time. This is not a recent change in Bookings behaviour. Thanks.

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Buffer time included in meeting time

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