Ms. "Null" is blocking my calendar?

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It says that this person is ‘awaiting ID’ so my calendar is blocked.

Other times this has happened I got stalled for 16 hours and then I got a message from the ‘guest’ angrily saying they did not want to give ‘airbnb’ their id - how dare airbnb have their credit card, too!

As if I would be ok with folks without ID or $$$s.

Any thoughts on these ‘holds’? In my opinion, someone who wants to book but (as in my case) is required to provide government ID should not be able to hold my calendar. Also, wtf about people signing up with (in this case) just their phone number???

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I have had many of these and only one guest didn’t confirm their ID and the booking request dropped off. I did not mind it. YMMV.

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How long was the ‘wait’?

And are these all eventually reservation requests? Or are some IB?

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I’ve had quite a few of them. Generally, they turn into a booking rather quickly and don’t cause a problem for me. Only once was the hold for a full 24 hours and it didn’t turn into a booking. I guess I just let it go because that’s easier than contacting Airbnb. However, I remember @RiverRock, somewhat heroically IMHO, calling in and getting the hold removed. Maybe he will enlighten you about his technique.

In my experience, it’s always been guests who signed up years ago and had several reviews. It’s not that long ago that Verified ID became a thing.

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IBs. These are guests that meet all of your requirements except for the Verified ID. They don’t do the hold for Requests. For requests, you just have to notice that they don’t have their ID verified and then require them to do it if you want it.

Other than the one time, the hold always turned into a booking for me (within 2-4 hours).

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Guess you missed Chesky announcing proudly a couple years ago that it’s now easier than ever for guests to sign up and book- that they could book in 30 seconds. Seriously, that’s what he said.

Hosts have to wait 24 hrs while their new listing is reviewed before it gets published, yet guests can sign up with nothing but a name and phone number, book something, and then dilly dally around uploading the necessary info while holding hosts’ calendars hostage. I actually don’t get that one, in spite of Airbnb’s guest-centricity. Isn’t it better for them that a calendar never gets blocked by a pending booking, so a guest who has their shit together and is ready to pay can book? The former often falls through, so no service fees for Airbnb.

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Usually a few hours. Some of them over night.

Since they translate into bookings, I don’t mind it.

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I personally don’t think our calendars should be blocked until a new guest gets all their credentials in order but honestly Airbnb is not going to lose a customer if they can help it.

I would say over the years about a 50/50 booking rate from these. In the past I wouldn’t have minded but my bookings are much slower right now (Boston - one o the most affordable STR and close to the city) so if someone cancels, it doesn’t get booked.

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