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One of the filters I always use is the “free cancellation” one. It’s grouped with the “booking options” including self check in and instant book. I know I’m not a typical guest but it’s hard to imagine guests aren’t checking them.
What is your assertion based on?
The fact that when I checked with over 50 guests when I changed my policy from strict to flexible during Covid not one of them remembered checking the cancellation policy when they booked.
(I’m a sad marketing geek so when I make major changes I always ask guests for feedback.)
Good to know about the free cancellation option I didn’t know as a guest, this existed 
That is one difference. Changing to the Moderate policy will have increased your search ranking so guests likely came across your listing more often, thus more likely a booking. Likewise, when guests filter for “Free Cancelation” your listing will come up more often and for a longer time, all the way to 5 days before the stay.
A lot of people have gotten burned in the last couple of years by quarantines, travel restrictions, Covid, etc so I believe they’re looking for more flexibility than ever before.
The other difference is that many Airbnb guests, and IMO the more quality guests, look for a smaller host who is more personally involved in their listings rather than having to deal with a property manager.
Like @muddy, I’ve always used the moderate policy and only very rarely had a cancelation. I don’t believe that it encourages it or anything like that. And also this too:
I know I am not going to uphold a strict policy. It doesn’t make sense for my listing and location. I know I don’t need a month or even two weeks to be able to rebook. I really only need 5 days to rebook. Truthfully, I really only need a day or two to rebook. However, I’ve stopped doing last-minute bookings because I’ve come to abhor them so prefer the 5 days over the Flexible policy’s 24 hours.
There would be no point in me having a strict policy. It would only serve to cause more work and more angst. I’d either spend a lot of time sending refunds that could’ve been automatic, having elongated relationships with canceled guests who want me to rebook their dates and then refund them or spending a lot of time arguing and trying to put my foot down about the policy. It’s just not for me, not worth it and there’s no real benefit.
I always use it too unless I’m booking very close to the stay. Like yesterday I booked for this Saturday. But when I was searching last month for this Saturday, I used the free cancelation filter. Apparently, I was having trouble committing 
I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t use that filter when searching well in advance. Same with SH filter or IB? Finding a good Airbnb takes a lot of time, especially in advance with so many choices available. But I’m atypical.
It must depend on the trip. Thinking about it now, it’s probably not a coincidence that I found the right place for this one after I stopped using the filter. I looked off and on for a month.
We were flexible with the dates and extremely flexible with the location. It didn’t matter if it was woods, beach, village or city in any one of 7 states. It only needed to be dog friendly, provide some privacy and have a heated pool. Not as difficult as it may sound. There must be 1000 places within driving distance that fit those criteria, but in hindsight, I’ve realized most of them are using a strict cancelation policy.
But it worked out perfectly. As you mentioned, without the filter I would’ve been inundated with listings and probably not found the one I’ve booked. And I think it is the right one.
And if you’re making the trip last minute and are sure about it, the cancellation policy is nearly irrelevant. I was looking at Asheville, NC for one night Nov 1. 501 listings without filters, 191 with just free cancellation… self checkin, IB and SH I’m down to a managable 103. Zoom in on the map and set a price range and I’ve got 20 choices that look good at first glance.
If a guest doesn’t use a lot of filters then they are offered whomever Airbnb has decided is worthy of being on the first page.
Absolutely it’s about knowing your market. I know that I am unlikely to get re-booked if someone cancels within a few weeks of their stay so have a strict policy. @JJD
I do offer to nice guests a refund if the listing gets rebooked. If they get shirty I don’t bother.
Ah, but the managing agent only managed the place for 2 months before we took over, so I think we both got a new listing boost. Good point about most guests not actually reading the cancellation policy – therefore, I assume the difference is that we got a boost in the Airbnb algorithm.
Absolutely. As you must know, I’m all for everyone using whichever policy suits them best. 
This guest does! I think you are right that newbies don’t check, but seasoned travellers will check.
@lisanddavid
And given how touchy we Aussies might still be over travel and those dreaded “LGA zones”, I think the 5 days thing is the right choice.
the policy is like 2inches to the left of the pricing box, even if they don’t understand the nitty gritty of it, the policy is obvious to all .
@gillian Your a host as well as’re a guest so of course you would
I can’t see the cancellation policy displayed next to the pricing when I go to book on my phone .
ah, i never book on my phone unless i’m desperate.
I never book anything on my phone unless I’m on the road. If I were on the road I’d be just a day or two out and highly unlikely to cancel.
No, it is visible before booking. Do you mean when you search not when you go to book? When you click on a listing and scroll down it’s right there ahead of the listing details. Or it’s different in the UK? Or it’s only if you turn on the “free cancellation” filter? This is what it looks like in the US:
Thank you for your post!
Please send feedback to airbnb about the changes and how it negatively affects us as hosts… If we all sent feedback, they just might take notice!
I did indeed send them feedback and they offered a different cancellation policy to me. I was very pleased with the speed of their service and ability to make that change on the spot.
i know all markets are different, but i live in denver which is fairly saturated with airbnbs. i have used flexible for the most part and strict, i saw more bookings under flexible and in the last year i have only had 4 or 5 cancellations, and only 1 of them really hurt me as i wasn’t able to re-book some of the days.
i would rather have the bookings, than the impact from cancellations.
for a while after getting into this business the risk of cancellations really worried me, but if giving people some peace of mind helps them book my place over someone elses, ill take it, as it has been more profitable for me so far. again i recognize that there are different markets and different strategies work better based on demand for your location.
i am only posting this for other hosts who might be on the fence, not trying to argue anyone elses points in the thread
So glad you were able to get results…Please share how you were able to make that happen!
I am getting hit with folks booking just because they might travel… Tying up my calendar, and then canceling… Or requesting to change their booking date…
Oh dear! That’s not good. Do you offer a whole house or shared? I think that may make a difference. People tend to book whole homes out further in advance so it’s hard to fill last-minute cancellations.
*Edit - I see that you live on site on an organic farm and offer several options including a guest house (cool experience!).
From what I’ve found doing a little research - you have more than one property, you offer two whole house options, and you’re a superhost. All of those should help your case to have stricter cancellations.
I’d recommend sending a message to Superhost customer service and let them know that the strict cancellation doesn’t work for you. Ask what other options they have available.
