Comments on: Airbnb Can’t Understand How Cancellation Policies Hurt

By: Whitney

Whitney — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:06:06 +0000

I’m so sorry you had to go through this. I have had a similar experience and what I realized was I don’t think I will be using Airbnb much anymore especially if its for multiple nights. Basically what I realized is be willing to give up all your money you spend for this as their customer service is very hard to get a hold of and difficult to get a refund. I ended up paying four times what the hotel charged per night by booking through Airbnb and realized I should of done my research. The place was horrid and I didn’t even stay in the room. Still had to pay tho.

By: john

john — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 03:08:46 +0000

I agree … it is very misleading and will only cause guests to leave the platform. I am actually happy about guests leaving the airhead platform at this point …. even as a host! It give me hope to get more VRBO action.

Use VRBO next time … or even better contact a host directly using the 48hr option to cancel(you get 3 100% refunds a year). You just book … get the phone number and then cut airheadbnb out of the loop using your 48hr option!

By: john

john — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 03:05:38 +0000

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 20:32:42 +0000

Did you sign a separate rental agreement with the property management company?

If not, the cancellation policy is governed by the cancellation policy posted on the unit description & part of your Airbnb itinerary when you booked. Also Airbnb does the payout. The host/agency can’t make you pay anything because they don’t have your payment information.

The Airbnb cancellation policies are fairly clear:

For all: the guest can cancel 48 hours after booking & receive full refund including Airbnb service fees if the reservation is more than 24 days in the future; after 48 hours no refunds on Airbnb booking fees

strict-in general no refunds

Moderate-cancel 5 days in advance full rental refund

Flexible -cancel 1 day in advance full rental refund

The host or agency doesn’t receive ANY money from Airbnb until the guest has been happily in the rental for 24 hours.

It sounds like you made the mistake of NOT cancelling a reservation made through Airbnb with Airbnb.

Does your situation qualify as an extenuating circumstance (illness, death in family, natural disaster?) which would allow you to cancel & receive a refund from Airbnb?

Did you contact Airbnb Customer service for assistance? It sounds like you didn’t. Again this sounds like you are trying to book then cancel off the platform

It is true that hosts with a strict cancellation policy pay higher service fees. It isn’t a huge difference but it is more.

I’m not sure why you felt the need to comment on Airbnb’s offices. What does that have to do with you booking through Airbnb then moving off platform for a cancellation?

This sounds like you didn’t read the cancellation policy before booking, didn’t cancel the reservation through Airbnb, and you are blaming Airbnb because you chose to go off the platform for the cancellation. The second you go off the platform especially if you sign a separate rental agreement Airbnb is extremely limited on how they can help you