Airbnb calendar opened dates without my permission

[Olga966]

Airbnb calendar opened dates about 1 yr in advance. Someone was able to make a booking for June 2024. This is my own flat and I have no idea if it will be available 1 yr from now.  Not only Airbnb is making no effort to investigate this issue, they keep telling me that I will have to pay a penalty and lose my superhost status if I cancel this booking. I sorely regret switching on Instant Book, which I only did because platform was prompting me to do it. I am only an occasional Host and now I lost all trust in this platform or customer support. I didn't feel looked after or taken care of.  It looks like this is a recurring issue? Can anyone help with advice?

[Joan2709]

Hi @Olga966 

Hmmmm....what did you have set for your availability window?  The suggestion is to select "Unavailable by Default" and then manually open only those dates your want booked. If you only have iimited availability it will impact where you appear in search results though.

[Olga966]

Hi Joan,

Thanks for your reply. I had it set to "Dates unavailable", but somehow it changed itself to 12 months in advance. Yet it also was making dates available only from 8 June onwards, which seems weird, but dates between Sep - 7 Jun 2024 were not available. I told Airbnb this is clearly a glitch in your system, but they keep giving me the same stock replies without actually addressing the points that I have raised.

[Joan2709]

Yikes! 🤥 I have not had this problem, but I'm not using the new software release. If you are, it seems there has been alot of Calendar "bugs" with the new system. Others have mentioned the random "unblocking" of their calendars.

Since you only occasionally host, I agree it is advisable to turn OFF instant book for now (until this is resolved). You can't always be checking to see if your Calendar Availability has been changed due to a glitch.  I would take a screen shot of your Calendar showing "unavailable by default" and hold on to that just in case.

[Joan2709]

Hi @Olga966 

This is just strange?  I find the new regular calendar functionality difficult to use and easy to make mistakes with the way dates are selected. I think the selection of dates on App or Laptop is too "sticky".  I prefer using Pro Tools and the multicalendar instead. It's easier for me and I don't have the issues with thinking I selected something and I didn't, or selecting dates by accident and applying blocks/unblocking, or applying price changes. 

You may have to turn off IB until you get Pro Tools turned on and get familiar with using the multicalendar instead of the regular calendar. Then turn on IB and only use the multicalendar to block/unblock. With the multicalendar view, you will see a black slash across a date that is blocked vs just dark shading on the regular calendar. 

How to Turn On Use Pro Tools & MultiCalendar

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Community-Guides/GUIDE-Use-Pro-Tools-to-Set-Calendar-Custom-Pric...

[Sandra5883]

I'm glad I read this. Airbnb has me feeling like I'm crazy. I actually had my whole month of September automatically open up. Only that month despite being in July and only opening up a few days to weeks in advanced. A few guest booked in september and I Managed to get two booking to cancel. But the 3rd never replied . Airbnb swears that they don't open up dates automatically. I have my whole calendar marked as unavailable by default and explained that I certainly didn't go that far in advanced and opened up just September. They are now penalizing me by blocking those dates. 

[Joan2709]

Hi @Sandra5883 

Seems like a similar situation to @Olga966 ? Very strange...🤔

You may also need to start using Pro Tools and the multicalendar.  I have not had this issue with the calendar mysteriously unblocking itself, but others have posted about it.  You may need to turn off Instant Book until you get used to the Multicalendar and blocking/unblocking with it. I find the new regular calendar functionality a bit "clunky" and the date selection difficult to use.

How to Use Pro Tools and the Multicalendar

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Community-Guides/GUIDE-Use-Pro-Tools-to-Set-Calendar-Custom-Pric...

[Roseanne18]

For two years in a row, Airbnb has unblocked Memorial Day weekend on our calendar, which I keep blocked for family. I let the first year go with just a complaint to Airbnb, but this year the guest was understanding and cancelled her reservation. I don't know what their issue is, but I'm getting pretty tired of it. Airbnb said they will call back, but I'm sure they will not.