Airbnb COVID cancellations

[Jurahn]

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.

I feel exactly the same - I have been hanging out for this trip for months, was intending to visit Dad first and then have some blissful "alone" time in some lovely properties before heading back home to Tassie. Simply not an option now, I can't risk exposure to the virus whilst travelling up there and then passing it on to Dad, and it's quite likely my flights aren't going to be happening either (still waiting to hear from VA). Even if they were, and I did take the trip (without visiting Dad), I would then have to self-isolate for 14 days on return to Tasmania, which isn't an option either, I can't afford an additional two weeks off work!

So with the requests, did you just email the hosts or has Airbnb put something in place whereby you can send through an official request to a host? I did have a look through the policy, but as the dates didn't didn't include my bookings, I haven't had a chance to look much further into it yet.

 

[wendlle]

So with the requests, did you just email the hosts or has Airbnb put something in place whereby you can send through an official request to a host? I did have a look through the policy, but as the dates didn't didn't include my bookings, I haven't had a chance to look much further into it yet.

I cancelled my flights with Virgin by using their online form, should get a travelbank credit within 2 weeks.
With Air BnB, I just went to the individual trip pages and chose Cancel/Change, there is an option to choose Covid-19 as an option which puts the full amount in as a refund which will then be either approved or not by the host. I then sent each host a personal message explaining my reasons for cancelling.

If your dates fell in the "approved" zone then you don't have to wait for host approval it would do it automatically, but this way they need to approve it.

 

[onemore]

With all these cancellations, maybe some of the hosts will drop their prices to a realistic figure, here's hoping.

 

[dajop]

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.

Yes until Airbnb extends their policy, you are the whim of the hosts, and will get nothing from Airbnb service fees even if host gives full refund.

As a host I can see how some may face difficulties with this, Basically all but 1 of our bookings in the next two months have been cancelled. And waiting for that one to be cancelled also.

For a cancellation almost a couple of weeks ago (before there were policies) we refunded the cleaning fees (of course) + ~2/3 of the stay fee for a group that cancelled a week out + promise discount (by the amount we didn’t refund) should they rebook, but note we had already incurred some expenses for that group to accommodate a special request.

Since about a week or so ago we’ve just been giving everyone full refunds.

Perhaps for hosts that aren’t so cooperative, a 10-20% cancel fee might be OK.... just to share a little in the pain of this thing. We’d still do 100% but can see how some hosts are hurting.

 

[wendlle]

Well, one host has been AMAZING, and one has been nothing short of an A-hole, the other I haven't heard from yet.
I understand it is a buiness to some of these hosts, but c'mon, a refund is the responsible thing to do here.
I'll just have to wait until Air BnB extend the policy and make note not to book any of the hosts properties that is being a complete jerk. Which I wouldn't anyway because his listing wasn't honest either - said check in was with yourself with a lock box only to find out we have to go to his office and collect keys, info we didn't get until AFTER we booked.

One host refunded 100% of everything. Still waiting and seeing what the 3rd one does.

 

[OATEK]

PMs announcement just now to end all non-essential domestic travel migth lead to some changes for AirBnB, Booking dot com etc.

 

[Jurahn]

I cancelled my flights with Virgin by using their online form, should get a travelbank credit within 2 weeks.
With Air BnB, I just went to the individual trip pages and chose Cancel/Change, there is an option to choose Covid-19 as an option which puts the full amount in as a refund which will then be either approved or not by the host. I then sent each host a personal message explaining my reasons for cancelling.

If your dates fell in the "approved" zone then you don't have to wait for host approval it would do it automatically, but this way they need to approve it.

Thanks for that information. I don't want to cancel my Virgin flights yet as I've got them on two different bookings, and one is fully refundable - other people with refundable fares have had issues with funds being sent to Travel Bank instead of back to the original form of payment, so will wait until things quieten down a bit and I can speak to someone at the call centre.

I will leave it for a little while to see whether Airbnb decides to extend the policy, as that will make it easier. As @OATEK said, the PM's announcement might push things long a bit in that regard.

 

[samh004]

I've sent a message to my host, but as yet received no reply. I can play the long game though and wait for AirBNB to come to the table. Would be willing to pay for something, but 50% is far too much.

 

[onemore]

What 50% loss?

 

[Jurahn]

I've sent a message to my host, but as yet received no reply. I can play the long game though and wait for AirBNB to come to the table. Would be willing to pay for something, but 50% is far too much.

I agree - an 50% cancellation fee in the current situation is way over the top. I would LOVE to take this trip, but it's not going to be possible and it's not a decision I take lightly either.

 

[wendlle]

I've sent a message to my host, but as yet received no reply. I can play the long game though and wait for AirBNB to come to the table. Would be willing to pay for something, but 50% is far too much.

agreed, 50% is excessive and like I said Host's need to realise that this isn't a decision we have made, we were forced. I'd cop 10 - 20% but not 50% that's just too much.
So I'll now wait until the Host is forced to pay it to me.

 

[Jurahn]

SA to impose 14 days self-isolation for anyone crossing their borders from Tuesday afternoon, NSW and VIctoria pushing for shutdown of non-essential businesses and activities - surely Airbnb hosts are going to have to start agreeing to these full refunds now, regardless of when (or whether) Airbnb extends the COVID-19 policy or not, although I can't see how they can still stick with a cut off date of 14 April given today's developments.

 

[wendlle]

SA to impose 14 days self-isolation for anyone crossing their borders from Tuesday afternoon, NSW and VIctoria pushing for shutdown of non-essential businesses and activities - surely Airbnb hosts are going to have to start agreeing to these full refunds now, regardless of when (or whether) Airbnb extends the COVID-19 policy or not, although I can't see how they can still stick with a cut off date of 14 April given today's developments.

yep, honestly I was disgusted with the host who flatly refused my refund and said word for word "you won't be getting a full refund until I'm forced to give it to you"
Disgusting! I know who NOT to book with in the future, and this is a business who can get support from the Govt as he has a shopfront. The lady who is just trying to make a few $ on the side gave a full refund immediately and could not have been more nice.
Air BnB need to step up NOW.

 

[onemore]

yep, honestly I was disgusted with the host who flatly refused my refund and said word for word "you won't be getting a full refund until I'm forced to give it to you"
Disgusting! I know who NOT to book with in the future, and this is a business who can get support from the Govt as he has a shopfront. The lady who is just trying to make a few $ on the side gave a full refund immediately and could not have been more nice.
Air BnB need to step up NOW.

Are you allowed to name them and shame them?

 

[wendlle]

Are you allowed to name them and shame them?

well I don't see why not, but I'm not really that kind of person I guess.

 

[onemore]

Up to you.

 

[wendlle]

Up to you.

will see how it plays out over the next week. My tune might change

 

[RB]

Perhaps some posters from the last couple of days could just have a bit more patience and compassion. Our hosts in Italy (booking for May and not through Airbnb) are refunding but are not allowed out of the house to go to the bank. It is a very mixed up world at present

 

[dajop]

Perhaps some posters from the last couple of days could just have a bit more patience and compassion. Our hosts in Italy (booking for May and not through Airbnb) are refunding but are not allowed out of the house to go to the bank. It is a very mixed up world at present

It’s different with Airbnb - as a host, we don’t get Airbnb payments until about 2 days after the checkin date. All payments are held by Airbnb until then.

 

[renatts]

I am in a similar situation to a lot of you. Bookings from mid May to mid June in Europe. It's very unlikely we'll be able to go, as I don't think all the countries will be open, and most of our flights are 'cancelled until further notice'

Luckily the first deadline for our fully refundable bookings is May 2nd, so we have until then to sort everything out.
I don't think AirBNB is being realistic with April 14th, but I also understand that its a hell of a lot of money for a company to refund if they extend it - so you have to make dame sure that it's necessary.
I'm fairly confident that as it gets closer to April 14th AirBNB will change their policy to reflect the current situation. If half the world is still locked down, and they refuse refunds, I think that will be the end of anyone using their service again.

It's also worth noting that their Extenuation Circumstances policy (not the one specific to Covid-19) has the following inclusions;
Transportation disruptions that make it impossible to travel to your destination, including road closures and flight cancellations where there are no alternative methods of travel.
Government-mandated obligations including jury duty, travel restrictions, court appearances, and military deployment.

So I think most people would currently qualify for that. I know that 4 of my 6 flights are currently 'cancelled until further notice', including getting from Australia to Europe. Most of my holiday was in Scandinavia as well, and the majority of countries we're going to are closed to foreigners. Also the Australian Governments 'Do Not Travel' advisory voids basically all travel insurance if you ignore it, so that effectively constitutes travel restrictions.

I'm going to wait it out for a month, and I'm honestly happy to get a full AirBNB credit instead of refund - as we love using AirBNB, and when we rebook our holiday we will be most likely trying to stay in the exact same apartments. It took us months to decide on the right accommodation, don't want to have to try and decide again!