Airbnb COVID cancellations

[dajop]

Airbnb have instituted a full refund policy for cancellations of bookings that have a check in date between now and 14 April.

Existing reservations made on or before 14 March 2020 for stays and Airbnb Experiences with a check-in date of 14 April 2020 or earlier, and with at least one night occurring between 14 March 2020 and 14 April 2020 are covered. Guests who cancel will receive a full refund, and hosts will be able to cancel without charge or impact on their Superhost status. The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual to reservations made after 14 March 2020, and to existing reservations made on or before 14 March 2020 with check-in dates after 14 April 2020.

Sounds great.

However, it seems that whilst Airbnb will refund the hosts fees to original form of payment, they only refund their own service fees (up to 25%) as credit, which is not fully disclosed ....

As a host that is hosting just to generate some cream (and ensure our holiday house gets regular cleaning ), I'm Ok with it, but do find it a bit disingenious that airbnb won't return any of their service fee to the guest.

Some owners are probably doing it quite tough too, and it would probably be fair to share in the burden (perhaps a 10% cancel fee instead of usual 50% or no refund for cancellation).

 

[onemore]

I wonder if there is any AIRBNB hosts accepting travellers who have to self isolate?

 

[dajop]

I wonder if there is any AIRBNB hosts accepting travellers who have to self isolate?

We would happily if we didn't have other bookings (or for the fact that we are way too big/exxy for just 1-2 travellers). I think "room" hosts most certainly wouldn't, but for "entire place" hosts, I think it's entirely manageable, especially for those that do their own cleaning (just wear mask in addition to gloves), and upgrade to a bleach based disinfecting cleaning solution. With mattress and pillowcase covers, laundry at high temperatures, and a dishwasher, I think the risks re manageable.

 

[AisleSeat]

I have two reservations I need to cancel. One has a check-in date of 10 April and the other 14 April. Looks like I just squeezed in the cut off!

 

[OATEK]

I have cancelled a three week stay in South London starting 29/3, and waiting to see how much comes back.

 

[wendlle]

We have 3 air bnb booked for early - mid May. Sure hope we can still even go on our trip to QLD but at the moment I don't think it's looking good.

 

[samh004]

I have a booking for CPH that I have already checked the policy on and believe will return me 50%. I'm lucky I didn't book the other part of our trip in Chesterfield, and lose even more money.

 

[dajop]

I have cancelled a three week stay in South London starting 29/3, and waiting to see how much comes back.

Please let us know if Airbnb refunds the service fee or just provided it as credit for future use. It would help validate or invalidate the claims in the video link I posted.

 

[wendlle]

I wonder what will happen if a domestic travel ban is put in place in Australia?
I'd hate to lose a lot of money on this. Would make me not want to use this service ever again if they don't offer refunds - like most hotels would.

 

[ksthommo]

Got a booking in early May for Honolulu, waiting on AirBnB to extend the check in date for full refund.
Final payment is 21 April. Emailed the host yesterday, no response.

Cancelled a Vancouver booking on the weekend, receiving full refund for that one, AirBnb emails states refund can take up to 15 business days to reach your account.

 

[OATEK]

Please let us know if Airbnb refunds the service fee or just provided it as credit for future use. It would help validate or invalidate the claims in the video link I posted.

I made three separate payments in USD, as I extended the booking dates twice. The three separate refunds hit my account today, and the USD amount was exactly the same as I paid, so as far as I am concerned it was a full refund including service fees.

 

[Peter78]

Please let us know if Airbnb refunds the service fee or just provided it as credit for future use. It would help validate or invalidate the claims in the video link I posted.

My experience, on Sunday I cancelled a one week stay in Kauai commencing Mar 28, for what it's worth the original cancellation policy was 50% refund if cancelled prior to Mar 21. With the new and updated policy, we got a full refund, including 100% of the service fee. Funds back already though they said refunds might take up to 10 business days.

Now off to cancel the Hilton (Kings' Land), two rental cars and airport parking, airlines might be tricky: JQ will be voucher unless they cancel, which I hope they will, Hawaiian for intra island flights also only give travel credit, which is unlikely to be used.

 

[OATEK]

I made three separate payments in USD, as I extended the booking dates twice. The three separate refunds hit my account today, and the USD amount was exactly the same as I paid, so as far as I am concerned it was a full refund including service fees.

I should add that thanks to the exchange rate changes I got back more in AUD than I paid out. Will help a little bit against the non-refundables.

 

[wendlle]

Any ideas if they are going to extend this?
We have 3 booked Starting May 3 in QLD (we are in NSW)
I hightly doubt that we will be going on this trip, especially as my Mother is coming and she is in a risky bracket for the virus.

 

[Jurahn]

Any ideas if they are going to extend this?
We have 3 booked Starting May 3 in QLD (we are in NSW)
I hightly doubt that we will be going on this trip, especially as my Mother is coming and she is in a risky bracket for the virus.

I certainly hope so, this COVID-19 situation is going to affect travel WAY past 14 April!

I'm in the same boat, two bookings (NSW and ACT) starting 10 May - the main purpose of the trip was to visit my elderly father, so that won't be happening, and with the current 14 day self-isolation rule for those returning to Tassie and the subsequent winding back/suspending of the majority of flights in/out of here as well, I can't see my trip happening either.

 

[wendlle]

I certainly hope so, this COVID-19 situation is going to affect travel WAY past 14 April!

I'm in the same boat, two bookings (NSW and ACT) starting 10 May - the main purpose of the trip was to visit my elderly father, so that won't be happening, and with the current 14 day self-isolation rule for those returning to Tassie and the subsequent winding back/suspending of the majority of flights in/out of here as well, I can't see my trip happening either.

Thanks for this. Yes, we are 100% cancelling and I am about to cancel the flights now and get a travel bank credit. I've been in contact with all 3 hosts, 1 is great and will give a full refund now the other two are honestly jerks and have no intention of doing anything unless they have to.
Very frustrating. Wish I had of booked hotels instead.

 

[onemore]

Will you be using Airbnb again? I certainly am not, after a airbnb property wanted a doctors certificate, a scan of every page of my passport to be verified on arrival, I did reply to them saying it would take me a while to get a police clearance together with everything else.
Another frequently property I book with just said NO, even though I had only been to New Zealand for 3 days.
That is the way of things.

 

[wendlle]

Jury is out as to if I'll use them again. I probably will because we travel in a large group and it is better to get a house rather than multiple hotel rooms.
Travel Insurance isn't covering the pandemic so it was useless anyway.
Just wish they would extend this policy past Mid April - no way this is all going to be over by then.

 

[Jurahn]

Just wish they would extend this policy past Mid April - no way this is all going to be over by then.

I know, it's very frustrating as it's obvious things aren't going to improve for quite some time yet. I feel sorry for the Airbnb hosts but unfortunately this isn't a situation of our making, there's no way we're going to be able to travel, so Airbnb should just extend the policy for a more reasonable timeframe and be done with it. I'm looking at possibly doing some travelling within Tassie instead, and support some local Airbnb owners, but that depends on whether I can get the funds back from my existing bookings.

 

[wendlle]

I know, it's very frustrating as it's obvious things aren't going to improve for quite some time yet. I feel sorry for the Airbnb hosts but unfortunately this isn't a situation of our making, there's no way we're going to be able to travel, so Airbnb should just extend the policy for a more reasonable timeframe and be done with it. I'm looking at possibly doing some travelling within Tassie instead, and support some local Airbnb owners, but that depends on whether I can get the funds back from my existing bookings.

Exactly, we WANT to travel, but can't. It will honestly kill my Mother and Father if they get this virus.
I had 3 bookings, one host has given me a full refund as that is their flexible policy. The other two i've put in "requests" for full refunds otherwise we only get 50% back. Will find out today if they are approved or not.
certainly makes you know for next time to check for more flexible hosts.