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PUT
/
transactions
/
inflight
/
:txID
curl -X PUT https://api.blnkfinance.com/transactions/inflight/txn_inflight_xyz789 \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "status": "commit"
  }'

{
  "transaction_id": "txn_commit_abc123",
  "parent_transaction": "txn_inflight_xyz789",
  "source": "bln_card123",
  "destination": "bln_merchant456",
  "reference": "auth-67890",
  "amount": 50.00,
  "precise_amount": "5000",
  "precision": 100,
  "currency": "USD",
  "description": "Card authorization",
  "status": "APPLIED",
  "hash": "committed_hash_123",
  "created_at": "2024-01-15T10:45:00Z",
  "meta_data": {
    "inflight": true,
    "committed_at": "2024-01-15T10:45:00Z"
  }
}
Commit or void an inflight transaction. Inflight transactions reserve funds without finalizing the transfer, allowing you to either commit (finalize) or void (cancel) them later.

​
Path Parameters

​
txID
string
required
The transaction ID of the inflight transaction to update.

​
Request Body

​
status
string
required
Action to perform on the inflight transaction:
  • commit - Finalize the transaction and transfer funds
  • void - Cancel the transaction and release reserved funds
​
amount
number
Amount to commit in major currency units. If not provided or set to 0, commits the full inflight amount.Note: Can only be used with status: "commit". Amount must not exceed the original inflight amount.
​
precise_amount
string
Amount to commit in minor units as a big integer string. Takes precedence over amount if both are provided.Use for high-precision amounts or to avoid floating-point errors.

​
Response

Returns the updated transaction object.
​
transaction_id
string
ID of the committed/voided transaction (child transaction created from the inflight transaction).
​
parent_transaction
string
ID of the original inflight transaction.
​
status
string
New transaction status:
  • APPLIED - For committed transactions
  • VOID - For voided transactions
​
amount
number
Final transaction amount.
​
precise_amount
string
Final transaction amount in minor units.
See Get Transaction for complete field documentation. 
{
  "transaction_id": "txn_commit_abc123",
  "parent_transaction": "txn_inflight_xyz789",
  "source": "bln_card123",
  "destination": "bln_merchant456",
  "reference": "auth-67890",
  "amount": 50.00,
  "precise_amount": "5000",
  "precision": 100,
  "currency": "USD",
  "description": "Card authorization",
  "status": "APPLIED",
  "hash": "committed_hash_123",
  "created_at": "2024-01-15T10:45:00Z",
  "meta_data": {
    "inflight": true,
    "committed_at": "2024-01-15T10:45:00Z"
  }
}

curl -X PUT https://api.blnkfinance.com/transactions/inflight/txn_inflight_xyz789 \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "status": "commit"
  }'

​
Inflight Transaction Workflow

​
1. Create Inflight Transaction

POST /transactions
{
  "amount": 50.00,
  "reference": "auth-67890",
  "currency": "USD",
  "description": "Card authorization",
  "source": "bln_card123",
  "destination": "bln_merchant456",
  "inflight": true,
  "inflight_expiry_date": "2024-01-20T10:30:00+00:00"
}
Balance Changes:
  • Source: inflight_debit_balance += 50.00
  • Destination: inflight_credit_balance += 50.00
  • No change to actual debit_balance or credit_balance

​
2a. Commit Transaction (Full)

PUT /transactions/inflight/txn_inflight_xyz789
{
  "status": "commit"
}
Balance Changes:
  • Source: inflight_debit_balance -= 50.00, debit_balance += 50.00
  • Destination: inflight_credit_balance -= 50.00, credit_balance += 50.00

​
2b. Commit Transaction (Partial)

PUT /transactions/inflight/txn_inflight_xyz789
{
  "status": "commit",
  "amount": 35.00
}
Balance Changes:
  • Source: inflight_debit_balance -= 35.00, debit_balance += 35.00
  • Destination: inflight_credit_balance -= 35.00, credit_balance += 35.00
  • Remaining 15.00 stays in inflight balances

​
2c. Void Transaction

PUT /transactions/inflight/txn_inflight_xyz789
{
  "status": "void"
}
Balance Changes:
  • Source: inflight_debit_balance -= 50.00
  • Destination: inflight_credit_balance -= 50.00
  • Funds released back to available balance

​
Partial Commits

You can commit less than the full inflight amount: 
// Original inflight: $50.00
await commitInflight('txn_inflight_xyz789', {
  status: 'commit',
  amount: 35.00  // Only commit $35.00
});

// Remaining $15.00 stays inflight
// Can be committed or voided later
await commitInflight('txn_inflight_xyz789', {
  status: 'commit',
  amount: 10.00  // Commit another $10.00
});

// Final $5.00 can be voided
await commitInflight('txn_inflight_xyz789', {
  status: 'void'  // Void remaining $5.00
});
Important: When partially committing, track the remaining amount to avoid over-committing.

​
Error Responses

​
error
string
Error message describing what went wrong.

​
Common Errors

400 Bad Request - Missing ID 
{
  "error": "id is required. pass id in the route /:id"
}
400 Bad Request - Invalid Status 
{
  "error": "status not supported. use either commit or void"
}
400 Bad Request - Not Inflight 
{
  "error": "transaction is not in inflight status"
}
400 Bad Request - No Transaction to Commit 
{
  "error": "no transaction to commit"
}
This occurs when the inflight transaction doesn’t exist or has already been fully committed. 400 Bad Request - Amount Exceeds Inflight 
{
  "error": "requested amount 75.00 exceeds remaining inflight amount 50.00"
}
400 Bad Request - Already Committed 
{
  "error": "cannot commit. Transaction already committed"
}

​
Use Cases

​
Card Authorization and Capture

// 1. Create authorization (inflight)
const auth = await createTransaction({
  amount: 100.00,
  reference: `auth-${orderId}`,
  source: 'customer_card',
  destination: 'merchant_account',
  inflight: true,
  inflight_expiry_date: '2024-01-20T00:00:00Z'
});

// 2. Capture full amount when order ships
const capture = await updateInflight(auth.transaction_id, {
  status: 'commit'
});

// OR capture partial amount if order partially ships
const partialCapture = await updateInflight(auth.transaction_id, {
  status: 'commit',
  amount: 75.00  // Customer only ordered $75 worth
});

// 3. Void remaining authorization
await updateInflight(auth.transaction_id, {
  status: 'void'
});

​
Hotel Reservation with Incidentals

# Create hold for room + estimated incidentals
hold = create_transaction({
    'amount': 500.00,  # $400 room + $100 incidentals
    'reference': f'hotel-{reservation_id}',
    'source': 'guest_card',
    'destination': 'hotel_account',
    'inflight': True,
    'inflight_expiry_date': checkout_date
})

# At checkout, charge actual amount
actual_charges = room_rate + actual_incidentals  # e.g., $450

final_charge = update_inflight(hold['transaction_id'], {
    'status': 'commit',
    'amount': actual_charges
})

# Release remaining hold
if actual_charges < 500:
    release_hold(hold['transaction_id'], {
        'status': 'void'
    })

​
Pre-Authorization with Tip Adjustment

// Restaurant pre-auth for meal
const preauth = await createTransaction({
  amount: 50.00,
  reference: `restaurant-${tableId}`,
  source: 'customer_card',
  destination: 'restaurant_account',
  inflight: true
});

// Customer adds 20% tip at payment
const totalWithTip = 50.00 * 1.20;  // $60.00

// Commit with tip
const final = await updateInflight(preauth.transaction_id, {
  status: 'commit',
  amount: totalWithTip
});

​
Refundable Deposit

# Create deposit hold
deposit = create_transaction({
    'amount': 200.00,
    'reference': f'deposit-{rental_id}',
    'source': 'customer_account',
    'destination': 'deposit_holding',
    'inflight': True,
    'inflight_expiry_date': return_date
})

# Property returned undamaged - release deposit
release = update_inflight(deposit['transaction_id'], {
    'status': 'void'
})

# OR property damaged - commit deposit
if damages:
    charge = update_inflight(deposit['transaction_id'], {
        'status': 'commit',
        'amount': damage_amount  # e.g., $150
    })
    
    # Refund difference if damage < deposit
    if damage_amount < 200:
        refund_difference = 200 - damage_amount
        # Release remaining hold
        update_inflight(deposit['transaction_id'], {
            'status': 'void'
        })

​
Gas Station Authorization

// Pre-authorize $100 for gas purchase
const preauth = await createTransaction({
  amount: 100.00,
  reference: `gas-${pumpId}-${timestamp}`,
  source: 'customer_card',
  destination: 'gas_station',
  inflight: true
});

// Customer pumps $45 worth of gas
const actualPurchase = 45.00;

// Commit actual amount
const charge = await updateInflight(preauth.transaction_id, {
  status: 'commit',
  amount: actualPurchase
});

// Void remaining authorization ($55)
await updateInflight(preauth.transaction_id, {
  status: 'void'
});

​
Inflight Expiry

Inflight transactions can have an expiry date. After expiry:
  1. The transaction remains in INFLIGHT status
  2. You can still commit or void manually
  3. Consider implementing automatic expiry handling:
// Check and auto-void expired inflight transactions
async function autoVoidExpiredInflights() {
  const now = new Date();
  
  // Get all inflight transactions
  const inflights = await fetch(
    '/transactions?status_eq=INFLIGHT'
  ).then(r => r.json());
  
  for (const txn of inflights) {
    if (!txn.inflight_expiry_date) continue;
    
    const expiry = new Date(txn.inflight_expiry_date);
    
    if (now > expiry) {
      console.log(`Auto-voiding expired transaction ${txn.transaction_id}`);
      
      await updateInflight(txn.transaction_id, {
        status: 'void',
        meta_data: {
          void_reason: 'auto_expired',
          voided_at: now.toISOString()
        }
      });
    }
  }
}

// Run every hour
setInterval(autoVoidExpiredInflights, 60 * 60 * 1000);

​
Best Practices

  1. Set appropriate expiry dates - Match your business workflow (e.g., 7 days for hotel holds, 24 hours for restaurant tips)
  2. Handle partial commits carefully - Track how much has been committed to avoid over-committing
  3. Always void unused holds - Release customer funds promptly when authorization is no longer needed
  4. Store inflight transaction IDs - Keep reference to inflight transaction IDs for later commit/void operations
  5. Implement expiry monitoring - Monitor and handle expired inflight transactions
  6. Use precise_amount for accuracy - When committing specific amounts, use precise_amount to avoid rounding errors
  7. Add metadata for tracking - Include void reasons and timestamps in metadata for audit trails

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