Apparently we can no longer change the number of guests after check-in. That sucks.
Do I ask for cash?
Yes, ask for cash at check-in to make up for the added guest(s).
We used to be able to change this after check-in. I sent a request for payment. I prefer to keep the transactions on Airbnb.
Wierd. Today I fond they cannot extend a reservation. These people were never in the hotel business.
No kidding! We really ought to be able to make changes even after check-in. Cancel no, change yes.
I have found that it depends on how much money Air stands to make/lose. When I have this happen for one or two nights they tell me to use Resolution Center and that ends up costing them their service fees (but saves guests that and taxes, and saves hosts 3%). My most recent one was for 28 nights and you can believe that Airbnb was happy to change that one themselves! That’s $448 vs. $20-$40.
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What are hosts supposed to do when the guest shows up with 8 people for 10 nights and they only booked for 6 people and you charge and extra $20/guest/night? Hosts should eat that extra cost and Airbnb should miss out on the income? Are they thinking straight?
As indicated above @Brian_R170 you request the additional guest fee through the resolution Centre.
And if you’re the sort of anal-retentive person 
who wants the guest count to be correct in the official reservation, you have to now call in so CS can make the adjustment.
Insurance and city regulations require I maintain an accurate guest count and list.
I’ll never understand Airbnb coding projects. They removed the functionality of hosts to react to last minute changes. That means they put in hours of work…they put in EFFORT to make their product offering WORSE. Erg.
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They want you to call them. They then will either tell you to use them Resolution Center or they will change it themselves. This is exactly what I have experienced and I have a $20/person over 1 fee.
I don’t know that I’m as anal about it as much as I’d like to know who and how many are sleeping in my house with me.
And the fact the guest kept referring to himself in the first person singular in his messages, I was never made aware he was traveling with his GF.
Also, we do have a single twin guestroom, so had he booked that room, and our double room was booked, we’d have a problem. Likely, I’ve caught those booking inquiries before they went through.
I think guest count is an important detail to know.
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Sorry if my tongue-in-cheek comment didn’t translate…I’m that anal-retentive host, too. 
Some hosts just want the fee paid, and don’t care about what’s on the official itinerary. In that case they just collect money.
Air has made it difficult for those of us who want an accurate count on the official itinerary - we now have to call. I don’t want some insurance company weaseling out of a claim because the injured person wasn’t on the official reservation.
Should there ever be an emergency, I want to know how many people should be retrieved from my home.
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I think it raises liability issues too. If they aren’t on the intinerary, they don’t exist. There may be tax implications too.
The guest used to be able to request changes that were subject to host approval. Is that no longer possible as well?
I charge extra per guest per night over 2 guests. I’ve had requests to add another guest for a couple nights in the middle of a stay. They could add a guest for the entire booking, which was very expensive of course.
I’ve adopted a policy of no changes after check in to avoid one night stands and other issues, not to mention sitting on hold with Airbnb to make changes.
If the guest could manage to make the changes with Airbnb I might be persuaded to approve it, but I’m not going to jump through a bunch of hoops.
I work very hard to give 110% and have a clean safe venue with all the amenities as offered. If they can’t get their travel plans organized and make simple communications before arrival, it’s not my issue. Adding more guests seems to be such an obvious thing to communicate about. Of course, they may not want to inform the host due to extra costs and hope that you won’t know, or think that putting you on the spot at check in is a good tactic.
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We’ve asked twice now, and submitted a request for the difference. Still no response.
Luckily this is rare. This a young college-age couple in town for a large, 3-day drinking event at the local university. I’m not holding my breath, not holding back on my review. They have zero reviews, and I needed to approve this booking, so they have nothing to lose as far as their credibility on Airbnb if I give them a poor review.
This and insurance claims are legitimate worst-case-scenario concerns.
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