@Annet3176. For the past year, AirBNB has not kept the fees if the guest canceled within the cancelation period.
EDITED to CORRECT: It was December 7th, 2016, not a year.
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Good information. Thank you.
Got the message yesterday or was it the day before …I am fine with it and have applied it across all my listings. And if it helps with the search results, the better.
It has been applied to mine, was not notified or given an option just appeared.
Received a booking request from a guest in South Korea. When I went to approve Airbnb paused it with an announcement that this would be covered under South Korean regulations and guest would be able to cancel 30 days out with a full refund. Um, my ranch is located in the United States. What gives?
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The South Korean government imposes that restriction on everyone in an attempt to protect their citizens, but its going to really result in the poor guests getting declined more often than not.
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@shashdineecoretreat - I agree with what kona wrote about the likelihood of their requests being declined but I’m curious what you’re going to do. Are you going to chance it?
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I went with it as the booking in for the 10th of December. From March to November I will not consider this at all and would decline without hesitation as we are jamming.
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Probably won’t cancel, but annoying that they have essentially changed your policy to flexible. Whether you like it or not.
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Would you believe we are still waiting on this booking?
Unfortunately you won’t know if it helps unless you were able to split test with exactly the same listing/reviews/placement on the listing. And the only difference being the 48 hour grace period.
A more significant question for the group: I am less concerned about the actual flexibility to cancel within 48 hours (this seems right for the consumer) and the financial risk but I AM VERY concerned about someone getting my address and/or entry instructions to my home and then being able to cancel. I use lockboxes and electronic codes for my places vs a live check in.
Does anyone know if Airbnb will hold this information back from the guest until the 48 hour window has passed? I’d be far more likely to opt in for this flexibility if Airbnb will protect me and my property by minimizing this risk.
That’s a very good question. I will not be turning that on optionally, but mark my words, this will soon be something that is not optional.
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Good point. Do let us know what they say.
Do not give the codes out until just before arrival,
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Right again, Kona. I have a strict policy. I’ve had 2 cancel almost immediately after booking in the last month. It appears that they are penalty free (to the guest). So in effect the policy appears to be implemented in practice.
I haven’t bought in to it officially, as there is no advantage to me other than rumours of superior seo’s. But I do believe that this will become the norm.
Has anyone been able to tell if this affects their bookings or not? I just turned it on, but was thinking it was an easy way for someone to get an exact address and then decide. I guess that’s okay though, I’d rather them cancel than feel stuck.
I turned on the setting almost immediately and have had a fair few bookings and none have cancelled within the grace period (or at all).
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I turned it on. Didn’t see any increase in bookings. But two people cancelled within the period. Turned it off again.
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It’s a two way street. If someone cancels on me no one sympathies however if I cancel on a guest I’m the worst person ever. I would not cancel on a guest so I feel I’m owed the same. When I travel accommodation is the last step I know when I’m coming and going prior to booking.