6. Testing & environments

6.1 Is there a sandbox to test in?

Yes; a full parallel environment with its own GraphQL endpoint. Use https://api.sandbox.deal-engine.com/v3 (US tenant) or https://eu.api.sandbox.deal-engine.com/v3 (EU tenant); credentials are provisioned by the Deal Engine team via your account manager, same as Production. Full endpoint matrix: Environments & access.

Sandbox validates:

• API contract: request/response shapes match the documented schema.
• Quote amounts: fare, taxes, penalties, and fees for your test tickets.
• Decision logic: approvals and rejections match your configured business rules.
• Status flow: refund requests and candidates move through their expected statuses.
• Webhook delivery: events arrive at your configured endpoint.

6.2 Do you provide sample data or test tickets in sandbox?

Yes, jointly. During the PoC, you assemble a sample of tickets covering the scenarios in play; fully open, partially open, government, staff, miles, and anything else that needs to be certified. These usually come from your sales contact or your airline's internal refund department. Before go-live we run sandbox tests together against that sample.

6.3 Why doesn't my refund reach REFUNDED in sandbox?

Fulfillment (the final step that executes the refund in the airline system) is not available in sandbox. Refunds therefore never reach REFUNDED there, and ticket coupon statuses in the airline system do not change. This is expected, not a defect.

6.4 How do I verify a refund in UAT?

Since fulfillment doesn't run in sandbox, don't look for REFUNDED or PSS coupon changes. Validate instead:

1. Quote amounts and breakdown against your test tickets and fare rules.
2. Decision values (VOLUNTARY, REJECTED, etc.) against expected rule outcomes.
3. Candidate creation and status flow up to READY.
4. Webhook delivery for quote-stage events (refund_request.status_updated).
5. A coordinated test report with Deal Engine before go-live to sign off refund execution.

6.5 What can't be tested in UAT?

• The REFUNDED terminal status (fulfillment unavailable in sandbox).
• PSS coupon status transitions.
• BSP settlement.
• Final executed amounts; the airline recalculates taxes/penalties and applies FX at execution, so production amounts may differ slightly from quotes.