Why would I get a request to book?

1

I have Instant Book on my settings and the guest has 12 reviews. I see a portion of the last review and it was positive. I’m curious why I would get the request and not an instant booking… anyone else experience this? Thanks!

2
  1. Maybe the guest likes that method because it encourages more communication before booking or they might just be more accustomed to using requests from their previous bookings.
  2. If you accept, you effectively override any instant book requirements the guest doesn’t meet.
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3

I have IB and occasionally get RTB’s. It’s usually because they don’t meet requirements (too many guests, infants when I don’t allow infants, etc,)

I also had RTBs for the first few bookings after some COVID cancellations (CS did the cancellation). ABB said that was standard after admin cancellations. That could be wrong, but it’s what I was told.

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4

Thank you! I wasn’t sure if it was a red flag of some sort. I didn’t realize a guest could still Request to Book when Instant Book was the default.

5

I didn’t think there were any IB requirements anymore except “No negative reviews”, whatever that means.

6

@heh1975 - just to reassure you even more, I use instant book but still get requests to book a few times a year.

In addition to people who want to request something that you don’t offer, it’s sometimes simply to clarify something such as perfume-free or local bike hire or how long it takes to walk to the conference center or (so often) if they can bring their boat. (No.)

So it’s nothing at ll to worry about. In fact, it’s a good way to show what a great host you are with your prompt and accurate answer. :slight_smile:

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7

There are also guests who’ve had bad experiences with Instant Booking a place and then finding the host is non-communicative, so they may want to make sure the host answers messages in a timely manner.

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8

When I get a request to book before I accept, I send them a message that says that they have to agree to my IB rules and send them to them. It’s things like profile picture of their face, legal name and address, phone number, etc.

I then send them the accept right away but have it documented that if they accept they have to answer these questions. Never had an issue.

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9

I’ve never used IB, but you can have a profile pic requirement if you use RTB. I read the guest profile and reviews before accepting. If I have a question about something, or their RTB msg. doesn’t make it evident that they understand what they are booking and that they’ve read the listing info, I dialogue with them before accepting.

And once the booking is confirmed, it’s only happened a couple of times that it says “phone number not available”, and the guest gave me their number, no problem, when I asked for it.

So there is nothing less safe about RTB, quite the opposite.

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10

I get a request to book when the renter is below age 25, which is my cut-off. Since I have a large beach house, new high school graduates try to rent my house for June week. I have had utter destruction from that age group, so am glad they do not use instant book.

11

It always surprises me that hosts are permitted to discriminate against people under a certain age.

One of my favourite ever guests was 18 - her partner was 17.

Airbnb doesn’t allow hosts to discriminate age-wise, or so they say. I wonder if they mean at the top end rather than the bottom?

On the site:

Airbnb’s Nondiscrimination Policy

We prohibit users, including co-hosts and co-travellers, from discriminating against others on the basis of the following protected characteristics:

  • Race
  • Religion
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Familial status (having children)
  • Marital status (being married or not)
  • Ethnicity
  • Nation of origin
  • Sexual orientation
  • Sex
  • Gender identity
  • Caste
  • Pregnancy and related medical conditions
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12

Yes, I thought that a host could only have an age minimum like 25 if it’s in a senior’s complex or HOA where those age limits are mandated. But hosts seem to get away with it who aren’t in those types of living situations.

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Our airbnb, which is my home, is exempt from these restrictions, as airbnb says that because it is in our private home, we do not need to allow service animals, people under 25, or (my favorite) anyone who supports DonOLD…

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