The Instant Book pre-booking message feature is returning

[Emilie]

As part of our Winter Release 2022, we shared changes that we are making to Instant Book requirements, including the removal of the pre-booking message. 

We read your questions, feedback, and concerns around the removal of this message and shared it with our product team. 

Because of your feedback, the pre-booking message feature will be returned to Instant Booking settings starting today, December 12th. You’ll find it on your desktop view first, and it will return in your mobile app in the coming weeks. Guests will automatically see your message in the booking experience starting today. If you previously had a pre-booking message required, the same message will appear back in your settings. No action will be needed from you. 

With each release and update, we spend time listening to our Hosts, and thank you for your continued support, constructive feedback and partnership here in the Community Center.

Thanks,

Emilie

[Nutth0]

This is great! Thanks for return this important function. 

[Emily96]

Great news. Now please make pet fees again transparent. We have guests not declaring their pets in the guest count because there is no “pet fee” broken out in the nightly cost, and then when being asked to update the booking and pay the pet fee in the resolution center they are balking because the pet fee is not visible as a separate FEE; guests never know they are paying it. This is definitely a two-edged sword.

[Emilie]

Hi @Emily96, 

Thanks for your feedback on how the price could be more clearly displayed, I'll share it with the team!

Emilie

[Ruthie12]

Thanks Emilie.  Speaking of pets, it would be wonderful if guests could filter for "pets allowed"   Your main competitor makes it very easy with a filter.  With airbnb, I have to search each individual listing to find out. 

[Emilie]

@Ruthie12 That's also possible to filter on Airbnb! When searching for a listing to stay in, if you indicate you'd like to bring pets, it will only show you listings that do accept them: 

I hope this helps 🙂

Emilie

[Gillian166]

@Emilie  mmm, and yet somehow the filter doesn't work for kids or infants. my couples only max 2 listing can be found AND booked with 2 adults and up to 5 infants. If they can successfully filter for pets, why can't airbnb make the "no infants" filter work as well?

[Fernando225]

I agree, I have an infant and have had this issue. I put there is an infant in the filter and yet are shown listings that don't accept kids. 

[Emilie]

Hi @Justine275, @Gillian166, @Amy439, @Trude0 and @Debra300, 

Just to clarify, new guests or guests with 0 reviews will not be able to book when you have the “good track record “ requirement on. We have noted those cases where it seemed this didn’t work as intended and are investigating. 

Thanks,

Emilie

[John5097]

Good news for the return of a message before guest can Instant Book! 

But how do other host handle a guest with zero stays, zero reviews, only uses one letter in this case "G" for their name? And doesn't fill out their profile? 

This person would have been able to Instant Book with no message. Host just sees a the letter "G" for a name. 

So now this person could still Instant Book and only one letter for the message or "Vacation" for message. 

Is it too much to ask that guest provide a name? 

This creates stressful situation for host. Host will likely decline or cancel reservation. 

Why not have option for host to require a first and last name be filled out? And more than say 15 characters for the first message? 

 

[Federica400]

 Totally agree

[Bhumika]

Hello @John5097,

Thank you for taking the time to share these details!! I have made sure to relay this feedback to the relevant team. Please keep sharing such insights🙌. You can also share such product suggestions over the  Feedback Form too.

We're happy to announce the Month of Celebration!

Can’t find what you’re searching for? start a conversation

[Ruthie12]

The option isn't in the filters.  Now that i know that you have to add the pet as a guest in the search criteria, I found it.  However, I don't think the average airbnb guest will know that.  It would be more easily found if it were one of the filters. Unfortunately I already booked with vrbo where it's in the initial screen.

[Lance198]

When you answer "No" to the question "Would you host this guest again?"  where does that rank/affect them as far as them being a "good" or "bad" guest? 

[Christine615]

I often wonder if Airbnb has put ANY thought into all the feedback hosts have given over the years in focus groups? 

Individual hosts who where the original backbone of the company have different needs than absentee investor hosts. We’re on sight or renting our private sauced and are NOT hotel equivalents with security guards, 

So many colleagues thinking of quitting the platform. 😡

[Cheryl904]

This is a great - I'm glad Airbnb has chosen to revert to the presence of a prebooking message. While it's great that retaliatory reviews can be removed now, it would be awesome if Airbnb ALSO reverted to the policy of having a policy against allowing reviews for things outside of a host's control. They are now actively ENCOURAGING guests to review things that a host can't control and it's terribly unfair to hosts who depend on good reviews for the things within their control.