Modify Yale Access welcome message to guests

[Kyler40]

We are new hosts and are using the Yale smart lock with Yale Access and Airbnb integration. Guests guests are now automatically supplied with a unique access code to the lock immediately when confirming a reservation — they can also the Yale/August app for Bluetooth access to the lock. An automated message is sent within the Airbnb message system providing their unique code and explaining the options for accessing the Airbnb lock. Once set up, the functionality is very nice! I’m very impressed! However, I’d like to modify the default message that goes out — it is quite long.

Is it possible to modify the automated message that is sent out about the Yale lock integration and instructions to guests?

[Paul10454]

As far as I can tell from the outbound messages in my Airbnb Inbox, yes, that entire message seems to go to the guest!

I will have to look into changing to Keypad only. I can't see any way to alter the integration without Disconnecting first and then reconnecting. Is that the way to go does anyone know? Hopefully there's no impact on existing future codes already set...

[Jenn13]

@Paul10454 It may very well delete the existing ones but I don't know if that impacts a large volume for you or not. I also don't know if this can be done remotely or if you need to be within Bluetooth range. 

[Jenn13]

@Paul10454 Turn off app access or select pin access only for Airbnb syncs  

[Sam7114]

It's crazy that the "answer" to this is to buy another product. Like some of the other commenters, I also write software, this would be very easy to fix. Why has @Airbnb not done anything about this?

[Carlos5575]

Love the lock (for the most part), hate the long winded message that makes it difficult for guests to locate the code on . @Airbnb, we need a solution please. 

[Keith931]

Hacked together my own solution...

Airbnb has locked down their API to regular folk, but was able to find a workaround that uses the .ical feed to spot upcoming bookings and then create Yale lock codes using the Seam API (which is compatible with Yale).

I've now been able to turn off the official Yale-Airbnb integration. It'll generate lock codes on-the-fly (using the guests last 4 digits of their phone number). And show the code at the top of the messaging page with the guest to make it easy to copy and paste.

I'd love to automate the messaging (but make it much more friendly!), but I can't do that without official API access. If the community can get some attention on this from Airbnb, and they let me use the API, then I'd be happy to share this solution with other hosts 🙂