How to Cancel an Airbnb Booking Without Being an Asshole
As part of a major product update last month, Airbnb announced a change to its cancellation policy. The change, which was driven in part by industry-wide ripple effects caused by the pandemic, is intended to make cancellation more flexible for both hosts and guests.
Airbnb’s cancellation policies are largely set by the hosts, which can make canceling bookings quite difficult – your ideal vacation may have a strict policy, which means you will still be charged a portion of the booking fee even if you have to cancel your booking for legitimate reasons … … The change, however, aims to give hosts and guests more wiggle room, with the addition of a new category to the cancellation level . However, providing slightly more cancellation options is not a reason to use this more flexible policy to cancel your reservation like a jerk, potentially leaving the host in trouble.
What is Airbnb’s new cancellation policy?
Airbnb’s normal cancellation policies are flexible, moderate, strict, and long-term (there is also a “super-hard” category for stays longer than 30 and 60 days). Refunds are based on when you cancel your booking, and some of the stricter policies allow you to count on at least some of your money goodbye in case you cancel your booking shortly. Of course, if COVID-19 affects any of the parties , many of Airbnb’s previous policies are overlooked : if someone falls ill, they must provide proof of their positive test result, and then the company will cancel the booking with a full refund. (Please read the company policy in detail if you are interested in knowing all the contingencies).
The new policy adds a new level to the mix. Airbnb calls this a “hard” cancellation policy, and it falls somewhere between strict and moderate. The hospitality giant clarifies the policy:
Under this new policy, guests booking well in advance have more options for free cancellation up to 30 days prior to arrival. In pilot trials of this policy, our data showed that hosts that switched from strict to permanent saw their total bookings increase by an average of nine percent *.
He’s more forgiving, which internal company data shows is good that guests find popular. But renewal and more leeway don’t give guests carte blanche to get all cancellation etiquette out of their minds.
How to cancel Airbnb without being an asshole
There are things you can do to make your canceled reservation less bothersome for your host – and if you can, you should. Canceling within a reasonable time frame (or once you know what you need) is always the best way. But if something happens at the last minute that jeopardizes your ability to travel – such as an injury, car malfunction, or an accident – be honest and frank with the owner.
If possible, provide evidence of what is stopping you from traveling, as this would be your best option to ensure your host’s understanding (and refund if customer support should step in). Your message should be written thoughtfully and sympathetically to the host, who probably had to do something about it and pay the cleaning ladies in anticipation of your arrival. Don’t just say, “Hey, we need to cancel; how can i get my money back? “
You are required to provide a legitimate reason why you are physically unable to be there, and something like “I forgot my niece’s birthday” will not really help. On the other hand, it’s okay to be willing to fight for a refund if your host stubbornly refuses to listen to you. As has been very widely reported, some hosts go out of their way to rake in money from travelers, so try to avoid this by choosing a well-rated host with sound policies.