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Policy: Strict
Cancel up to 30 days before your trip and get a full refund. Cancel within 30 days of the trip and get a 50% refund of the total nightly rate, as well as a full refund of fees
Does anyone else see this on their listing.
So now guest can cancel penalty free on a strict policy up until 30 days before travel. And only 50% charge up until they travel?
When did this happen?
Mine is still like Gems
Mine is still like Gem’s, too. I’m in the US with a property in the Caribbean.
Ah @Joan @Jess @Magwitch could you check your listings for me if you have a strict cancellation policy.
Thank you 
I’m in the UK. Really hope they dont change it
Ah thanks @Gem20.
I am going to double check I think the guests were from Korea and somewhere in the back of my mind, I think there government ensures there are different consumer protection policies for them???
Here’s hoping
Oh yes. Theres a special policy for Koreans they can cancel and get full refund 30days before.
Yes, I think that’s it.
Funny that one country gets to dictate contractual terms for their citizens when they’re outside of their own country!
The cancellations policy (US-based) still have the same terms. https://www.airbnb.com/home/cancellation_policies?host_facing=true#strict
I am seeing 50 percent refund if cancelled greater than 7 days before reservation on the strict policy. They can also cancel within 48 hours of booking if the reservation is greater than 14 days out and receive a full refund.
Sorry but I’m on moderate. I think the Korean angle is correct, although odd it applies outside of their own jurisdiction.
It’s a concession Airbnb had to make in order to get permission to operate in S. Korea.
I would be happy to say to Koreans or anyone, it’s my cancellation policy, take it or leave it! It’s discriminatory of Airbnb to have different rules for one nation.
Sounds like a good way to get your Airbnb account suspended.
I see what you’re saying but I think hosts should have the same policies for all nations and vice versa. I am amazed they want to be seen to have such a policy and surprised it’s legal internationally.
Hosts can have the same policy, this is an Airbnb policy. And if you read the article I posted you will see that there are hints of the policy going worldwide (though as of last year Airbnb was denying it). I expect Airbnb to move towards more flexible cancellation policies because that’s what hotels have.
The Airbnb policy favouring Korean guests overrides host policies, that’s the point. It’s discriminatory, plain and simple.
Making policies more flexible worldwide is another matter.
Also hotels are another matter. They can easily absorb or refill one room out of 50. If a home host only has 1 or 2 rooms it’s more financially devastating.
Exactly. So it really doesn’t matter what you or I want. Airbnb will do as they please and we can continue to use the platform or not. I expect they will continue to move in guest friendly directions. It doesn’t affect me as I have flexible policy and don’t want people forced to stay here just because they clicked on a button. I also expect them to force everyone onto instant book. I’m not saying I agree with it, I just think people should be prepared for these eventualities.
As has been pointed out, renting out rooms can exist outside of Airbnb. I won’t let myself be an Airbnb victim.
For those of us with larger homes and in fly-to destinations, I suspect we’d change how we use AirBnB if they make the policies really flexible. If I had to have a flexible cancellation policy, I’d only open up dates a month or so out, not a year ahead of time.
By the way, hotels are starting to take a second look at their flexible cancellation policies. Since you can now search last-second for hotels to find the biggest discount and then cancel your other reservation for free, they are starting to feel the pinch of this, too.
