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What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

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Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#21

Post by clamprecht »

webwright wrote: post #20

Airbnb should have a public % number for hosts for both acceptance rate for "open" dates on their calendar and for cancellations. I was traveling the world for the last 9 months and we fairly quickly stopped using AirBnB in favor of Booking.com and Agoda (which had hotels, guesthouses, and even hostels if you're so inclined). Host behavior was the problem. We'd contact a place that supposedly had an opening. Nope. Co…

What part(s) of the world did this happen to you? I've used it at least a dozen times and this hasn't happened to me. I've only used it in the US (SF & DC), a few countries in Western Europe, and in South America. Maybe hosts' behavior is different in different countries?

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#22

Post by exelius »

graupel wrote: post #14
exelius wrote: post #12

If you think this is bad, wait until you see what regular hotels can do to you during busy season. Most hotel chains have a "frequent guest" program. One little-known feature of those programs is that people with the highest status can "bump" other guests from the hotel when the hotel is full with about 24 hours advance notice. Now, usually they'll give you a free night or two in exchange for that happening to you, b…

I have top-level status with Marriott and have used the Guaranteed Room feature a few times; it's hard to say that using it results directly in displacing another guest since hotels don't really know how many people will show until the end of the day - what is does is guarantee you a room at rack-rate. That said, as a top-level guest I would be THRILLED to get walked to another hotel due to no room being available si…

Well, generally hotels overbook their rooms regardless -- they know with 90% confidence that X% of people will no-show on a given day, so they can overbook (airlines do this too). Generally when using the guaranteed room feature, you ARE displacing someone. But you're right, you do have to pay the rack-rate (which is often $500 or more)

Airbnb hosts can't do any of this because they don't have enough rooms, so there are some definite advantages to the traditional hotel model. I like Airbnb and I have used it many times, but I do consider the rooms I get off Airbnb as less "guaranteed" than a hotel room.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#23

Post by inmygarage »

ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

If there is a double bed, single bed, and a couch, that accommodates 4 people.

Remember, Airbnb is a marketplace so it is your responsibility as the guest to clarify the exact sleeping arrangements. If you want a higher level of service, go to a hotel. You'll pay a lot more, but if you require great service then it's probably a better option.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#25

Post by Nicholas_C »

ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

Is it really that big of a deal that you didn't get 4 beds? 3 beds and 1 couch does accommodate 4 people, albeit not as nicely as 4 beds. I would have been a little miffed and left a review stating my experience.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#26

Post by jMyles »

lotharbot wrote: post #17

> "I can’t even leave feedback... as we never got to stay there." I think this is a bigger deal than the cancellation -- the fact that, on a site that's all about reputation, there's no reputation hit for a host canceling someone's rental. Airbnb should create a feedback system that allows feedback to be given for various steps of the process, not just the stay itself.

Yeah, I think this is the single biggest improvement they can make.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#27

Post by blackdogie »

arthurgibson wrote: post #8

I understand the sentiment, there should be some way to flag the listing on AirBNB or penalize the renter, but lets be fair to the renter and leave their address out of the post. I'm sure everyone is breaking leases and condo regulations to give out a discount to us.

fair point : exact address redacted now.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#28

Post by ashray »

inmygarage wrote: post #23
ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

If there is a double bed, single bed, and a couch, that accommodates 4 people. Remember, Airbnb is a marketplace so it is your responsibility as the guest to clarify the exact sleeping arrangements. If you want a higher level of service, go to a hotel. You'll pay a lot more, but if you require great service then it's probably a better option.

Uhh no. AirBNB has a field on listings that clearly indicates "Bed Type". In this case "Bed Type" said Real Bed. Random example: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1229577?checkin=02%2F21%2F2014&...

One isn't likely to clarify that with the host prior to arrival given that it's on the listing. AirBNB needs to take responsibility for this kind of thing given that you pay about 15% as AirBNB fees and 3% is also paid by the host. Refunding just the fees isn't what you pay the fees for. It is to take care of situations such as this.

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#29

Post by ashray »

Nicholas_C wrote: post #25
ashray wrote: post #10

Well, this is some way similar to the experience I had when renting through AirBNB in Rio de Janeiro during carnival. We were 4 people and booked a place with two bedrooms which said it accommodates 4 people. Sounds right. When we showed up at the place, there were just 3 beds - a double bed in one room and a single bed in another. Mind you, this being carnival season and stuff, we were paying a handsome amount for o…

Is it really that big of a deal that you didn't get 4 beds? 3 beds and 1 couch does accommodate 4 people, albeit not as nicely as 4 beds. I would have been a little miffed and left a review stating my experience.

It is a big deal because the listing clearly indicated that the place has real beds and accommodates 4 people.

I would expect AirBNB to take responsibility given that the incorrect info is on their website and you pay pretty hefty fees to use the service. (AirBNB charges about 15% to the tenant and 3% to the host so a total of 18% - not bad ;))

Re: What happens when a host cancels with Airbnb?

#30

Post by moondowner »

One thing that I cannot find on AirBNB is how to post a review and attach photos to it. Is it possible? On several occasions the apartments were not even remotely the same as in the photographs. (For example, on photos they look spacious and clean, in real life they are not.)

Amazon customers can upload their photos of the stuff they bought. This functionality is really something we need.

I think that AirBNB by doing things like this gives the hosts too much power (which in turn they abuse).

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