Disable 'Instant Book' - can't find option anywhere.

[Jan54]

After using AirBNB as a traveler on my last holiday I decided to join the hosts and offer my own apartment.

One problem;

After creating my listing and looking at the preview I saw quests can book my apartment without prior agreement; the so called 'Instant book' option. I check all the help pages, but every answer points me to options that are no longer there, or at least not for me.

I would still like to have some kind of control over the guest, for example when because of work the guest schedules and mine doesn't match up for exchanging the keys.

I really am *NOT* up to letting people book without a quick exchange beforehand. Is there some way to disable this instant book setting? Or maybe a way to contact the airbnb team about this?

This is really frustrating, even more so since everybody else in my town is able to host without instantbooking enabled. I was looking forward to hosting, now not so much. 😞

My option screen without a single option to disable instant book.

Thanks for any help.

[Debs3]

I also have that on the mobile app.  it is fine on my computer.

[Craig85]

I'm shocked to read here that Instant Book cannot be disabled now! I had guests use it late in the afternoon a few days ago and they turned up an hour later expecting to get into the apartment. I didn't know they had booked and the flat wasn't cleaned. They were calling me from outside and later demanded a 25% refund of their stay because they had to wait 3 hours for me to travel there and clean the place.

I want to turn this feature off and now I can't find anywhere to do it. I'm shocked. I will have to change the settings to say guests cannot book same day anymore, which I am sometimes fine with, when the flat is prepared, but other times I can't get in and would be grateful to be able to disable it and get more warning before a guest wants to come.

[Lawrene0]

Before you get too upset, @Craig85, just note that this is an old thread. I think mandatory IB did not last. So, from a laptop/desktop, go to Dashboard -> Your Listing -> Calendar and More -> Booking. There you will find "Who can book instantly". Check "No one."

Give it a try, and let me know whether it worked for you.

[Wendy-and-Frank0]

@Lawrene0, I use Instant Booking and I love it but I just went to turn mine off and I no longer can.

I may be missing something but I've gone everywhere and can't find the button to shut it down.  Even if the "help" section for reservations no longer addresses this.

It seems the home-based concept is turning into a hotel concept.

[Lawrene0]

It wasn't under Booking, as I described above, @Wendy-and-Frank0? Mine still is, but that does not mean anything, since we are in different countries. We even have different Help Centres. Mine says this: 

You can turn Instant Book on or off from the Manage Listing section of your account under booking settings. To turn Instant Book on or off:

1. Go to Manage Listings on airbnb.com
2. Click Manage Listing and Calendar for the listing you want to edit
3. On the left side click Booking
4. Under Who can book instantly? make a selection for which guests can reserve your listing using Instant Book

[Wendy-and-Frank0]

@Lawrene0, two days ago I could do it from my laptop.  Last night, when this post showed up, I checked and found I can no longer do it from my laptop but I can still do it from my phone.

I tweeted ABB and they're looking into it.

[Niki24]

I am extremely upset about this.  I have had a number of queries from people who appear extremely dodgy (examples:  one guy who wanted to bring his daughter for free because she was 'sharing his bed'; one lady who double-booked, changed bookings, and then eventually telephoned me to cancel both bookings - then I was penalised for cancelling; one person with no bio, no references and a false name: people who want to book for one night but then want to 'wait and see' if they want to stay longer; one lady who 'might or might not' get her husband to join her - the room is for a single person only; etc).  This is my home, and I want to be able to say NO to people without being punished.  If this is how Airbnb is going to work, then I will have to reconsider my participation.

[Lyn38]

The fact that you can't turn off instant book is appalling.  I have now finished with Airbnb.