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.

[Dede0]

@Ruth1 As @Clare0 said, I'm pretty sure there's a 0% chance that AirBnB would consider a House Rule like that to be legitimate. House Rules apply after a guest arrives (and can't be capricious), not before or after or when they're not on the premises. (I mention that last part because some very angry host was all riled up when a guest smoked a block from his house, which he explained was forbidden by his House Rules.)

[Mynor0]

Some hosts are offering a room or apartment in a home where a wife and young kids are alone during the day. It isn't unreasonable to get a feel for who is coming under any circumstances, but especially in cases like that, imho. Or when there are cats to feed. 🙂

Worst part is that MOST hosts get to choose and SOME don't. Grrrrr.

[Ruth1]

On the idea that this might be AirBnB's response to the recent publicity regarding hosts racially profiling guests, if that is the case, it is very misguided way to try and resolve it.

At least in the US, regardless of which protected class we're talking about, discrimination laws do not apply to private home owners who are renting out their primary residence or a portion of it. Example: it is unconstitutional to force a male homeowner to accept a female tenant in his private home. The law says homeowners are allowed to filter the renters of their private homes. Its when you are a landlord of multiple units, or the landlord does not use the unit as his private residence (i.e, rental apartment and property management businesses), that the discrimination laws apply.

If AirBnB forces instant book, and takes a fee from a homeowner who wants to filter his guests, the writing on the wall says LAW SUIT.

[Robert123]

Sounds like a terrible idea...I wouldn't want to stay in an apartment with someone who discriminates against me.....maybe would make a difference for entire apartments but def not for shared units

[Diana65]

I just sent them a message and told them my profile will be on snooze until my instant book is turned off.

[Karen122]

Same here.  Fed back that I won't enable my listing until I have the ability to turn IB off.   

[Harri1]

I noticed this policy this morning. I listed my appartment on Monday and I am not able to turn Instant booking off. This goes totally against the fundamental concept of AirBnB: Trust. This is a disaster. 

[Clare0]

@Harri1 Many hosts are upset with this.  You can leave feedback to Airbnb here: 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback

[Harri1]

@Clare0 Thanks, I chatted with @AirBnBHelp on twitter. They promised to take message to the right team. I also shared my thoughts about the policy in twitter https://twitter.com/hjuntunen/status/740422831935238144

Let's hope the dear people at AirBnB will come to their senses soon and fix this.

H

[Ondřej-and-Lída0]

I managed to switch it off on their mobile application. There's a pretty visible icon:-)

[Manuel47]

can you please detail me how you deactivaded in your mobile app?

[Kelly49]

I too cannot disable the instant host setting and it also seems that ABB has made it even more difficult to contact them directly -- I followed the links in this conversation (posted a two weeks back) and the "contact" option has been removed from the help page. I've left feedback, but have no faith ABB will listen or care. What a ridiculous experiment! So frustrated with ABB. I guess I won't be listing here. 

[Pat-And-Tom0]

While signing up as a new host I realized that I had no option to turn off instant booking so have decided not to list. It is a terrible policy.

[Mynor1]

Hi, all -

I read through the Terms and Conditions and decided to delete my account and start over. with the hope that the new account wouldn't be a part of the dreaded Instant Book kidnapping. This was possible since I hadn't opened my listing for reservations yet and didn't have feedback or anything else to lose and after someone from the phone help department told me you can't have 2 active accounts at once but creating a new account once you have deactivated your first one wouldn't be considered a violation. 

IT WORKED! When we signed up again and added in our listing it gave us the options we didn’t get the 1st time around. I am still angry that we spent much of 3 days trying different things, searching the internet, waiting on hold, emailing back and forth, and creating new listings and accounts in order to get here, but at least we’re ready to list now without the dreaded Instant Book requirement. I hope Airbnb will see how unfair it is and fix the problem for everyone.

Good luck!

[David293]

to add insult to injury, if Instant Book in activated, that is the only way guests can book. They are locked in also. I can't believe this company is doing this to new hosts, and their prospective guests.