Anyone Using Airbnb Scheduled messages?

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I found a couple threads about the NEW scheduled messages from last Dec, Jan, Feb.

Now that rentals are increasing in some areas, is anyone seeing the benefits of using scheduled messages? Are they working as expected?
Is there a type of message or two, you think are good to start with?

This is new to me. I’m not sure I trust it. I just implemented two precheck in messages.

  1. A link to the local Chamber of Commerce Tourism Catalog (see e-copy or order free hard copy)

  2. Check in instructions

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I am a new host of two listings, since January '21. I started using scheduled messages a couple months ago despite my hesitations… and it has been AWESOME! I have never had problems I was worried about such as skipped or mixed-up messages.

It has saved me many hours of work making sure each of the two listings had every reservation message sent at the right time, then double-checking again. And not having to worry about the inconsistencies in timing that are inevitable when scheduling messages myself is a bonus.

I wanted the templates I created to appear as genuinely unique, individualized messages NOT boilerplate “Dear Guest(s)” auto-generated junk. I believe only a very discerning guest would suspect some of my messages were templates, and perhaps most guests don’t have the aversion to ‘fake’ messages as I have.

One giveaway is that the option to schedule are at even hour slots, that is 9:00 or 10:00 or 11:00. I would prefer a choice of at least four times per any given hour, or open-ended (5:48 for example).

Scheduled messages make the necessity of repeating certain information way easier as the reservation date approaches (but some people still don’t read everything and will invariably call needing a key code or directions or whatever).

I believe most guests renting my entire space listings are not interested in meeting me or having me show up at their door. Utilizing scheduled messages gives me the opportunity to project a warm, welcoming and communicative host without being perceived as intrusive or creepy.

One detail I am unsure of is how Airbnb would react to a scheduling error it’s vulnerable to, so I avoid the possibility. For example, I do not send a scheduled message too close to a fixed date like check-in or checkout date. Since I send a checkout reminder message the evening before checkout, I send a “How’s the space?” message the day of check-in instead of the day after because I don’t know how the messages would be delivered for a reservation of only one day.

I have about six scheduled messages sent to every confirmed reservation as I prefer IB. Each message is spread over about ten days or so and varies by length of stay. Each message is chock-full of personal info unique to each guest and each message is highly specific as I like to include as many details as I can so guests can more likely spot mistakes they may have made before it’s too late.

Another benefit of scheduled messages is the short-code feature. These enable me to automatically modify all messages containing that short-code at the same time, instead of modifying each scheduled message with that info one at a time. For example, if I change my check-in time on a listing it will update that change on every future message that contains that piece of info.

I highly recommend scheduled messages! Good luck!

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Never used it but we would not trust Air to do it properly. Their system is far too chock-full of glitches.

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It’s not that I’m like @Jefferson and wouldn’t trust Airbnb (although it is a valid point) but my problem with scheduled messages is that all guests and all stays are different.

For instance, someone coming from 5 miles away needs handling differently than guests coming from Russia. That’s an extreme example, but you know what I mean. Another example is that regular repeat guests are likely to need a different message than first-timers. A solo teenage guest requires a different tone of voice to that required for an elderly couple.

I go heavily on the personal approach which works very well for me. I have standard messages saved (and also on the phone) but almost every time they have to be adapted. This takes under 60 seconds usually.

I don’t send out many messages to guests - thank you for booking, a reminder of check-in time the day before, a reminder of check-out time the evening before and that’s about it. Obviously, there may be messages replying to guest questions too but they are outside the scope of ‘scheduled messages’.

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I pretty much do the same as you. A guest who is planning on taking a taxi from the airport, doesn’t need the bus schedule info. A seasoned Airbnb guest with pages of great reviews doesn’t require the same level of info as a newbie guest. A Mexican guest doesn’t need info or advice on setting up or using their phone here as a guest coming from outside the country.

I pick almost all my guests up at the bus station, so they don’t need directions to my house.

And because I don’t offer self check-in, there’s no door codes to send.

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My guests are there to enjoy the beach; not the new friend experience. Maybe that’s a key difference between seeking whole home with self check in vs. home sharing.

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I’m using the automated messages and so far I like it. I like to send a, “I hope you are enjoying your stay. Check out is tomorrow…”. I forgot to send it to a guest Saturday. I checked & it auto sent. SCORE!!

The upside is the scheduled messages merge into the message thread. You can also access them separately using the scheduled message icon.

I found the scheduled messages will display based upon a first character sort

Numbers sort 1, 11
2, 21,22
3, 31,32
Etc

Alpha is
A, AA
B, BA, BB
C, CA,CB, CC

I don’t have many scheduled messages so I skipped letter(s) so I could easily add new messages.
C,

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Yes you are correct. You can opt out of a scheduled message going to a specific guest. Meaning Guest A flying in, Guest B driving in-you can opt to send different scheduled messages.

I kept my prewritten messages too so I can quickly edit them for unique circumstances

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I like that feature too

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That’s good to know. Now I can organize my list of scheduled messages by renaming slightly so they appear how I prefer - listed in the chronological order they will be sent! Thank you.

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Update: I’m loving using the scheduled messages on Airbnb

I have only a few that I send to every guest but it seems to be working well.

I don’t trust it yet so I checking my guest messaging to confirm appropriate messages sent. Yep all works well

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I send my guests three scheduled messages:

  1. two days before check in- includes the house rule book, check in/out date/time, check in procedures/lock instructions, driving directions (google maps sends people into the bushes).
  2. post check-in message, 24 hours after check-in: asks guests if everything in the home is satisfactory or if they have any issues. Many potentential probs have been headed off at the pass by sending a message that a guest can reply to.
  3. night before check-out: reminds them of the check out time and instructions for garbage, laundry, dishes, etc. I ask them for a great review and give them my host email address in case they want to communicate.

So far it’s flawless and guests seem appreciate the communication.

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