Reservation Requests- Friction Point

[Donny34]

I keep getting Reservation Requests for one of my bookings....Im finding this started happening after the latest app update.  This was my most popular unit last year and this season the bookings have been down thus far. 

I have Instant Booking on, so I am wondering why I keep getting these Requests, does anyone else have this issue? 

Wondering if I missed a setting somewhere as I dont have this issue with any other units. 

Feels like an added friction point and potentially why my bookings are a bit down, superhost support has been....well, not super supportive.  

Thanks in advance!  

[Joan2709]

@Donny34 

Do you have the optional settings selected for Instant Book?

Did you opt-in early to the new software?

[Donny34]

i do, hmmm not sure on the opt in time...was there an early glitch?  I did find that when the new airbnb "ai" reordered the room photos things got a little goofy. 

Any of those issues?  Its just super weird that Im getting reservation requests now on the 1 unit, even though its set for instant booking....superhost support, not very supportive at diving into this. 

[Joan2709]

@Donny34 

Airbnb offered the opt-in early to new release on 05/13/25.

Are these requests from guests with good reviews and as such, should automatically be allowed to Instant Book?

[Donny34]

Yes they are, thats why I thought it was weird....at one point I did have this unit clicked that they needed good reviews, but have since changed that.  

I do have this unit linked to Beyond Pricing and at one point I had it tied into Lodgify, wondering if something got weird when I de-coupled from Lodigfy as it did with the Beyond pricing?! Thx for the followup! 

[Tara0]

@Donny34  and @Joan2709 

The so-called 'only guests with good reviews' feature doesn't mean what it ought to mean. In reality, it means any guest with ONE good review can Instant Book, even if they have ten other negative reviews. 

[Greystone0]

HI @Donny34 ,

oddly, I am getting more requests as well. It's odd. We have instant book on as well.

And opted in for the early release @Joan2709 , is this connected somehow?

My initial thought is that the new pricing model is causing great hesitation on the guest side.

We don't rely wholly on this platform and so it is hard for me to suggest if our overall business is down as our calendar is nicely booked. My AIRBNB business is down but not my calendar, if that makes sense.

And I agree, something is causing friction here that is hard to put a finger on. Thank you for brining up, will check back for insight here.

[Joan2709]

@Greystone0 

Do you have the Instant Book Optional Settings On?

Have you selected the extended dates option on the calendar for Instant Book under Calendar Availability? This was a new feature that Airbnb defaulted to ON:

[Greystone0]

HI @Joan2709 ,

The requests weren't for an extended future stay, but thank you for pointing that out.

The requests all had to do with pricing or other terms that the guest wanted to amend. Can we have two dogs? what is your check out time and can we stay until 3pm? can you adjust your minumum night stay? Can we have significant discount? NO, no, no and no thank you.  

All these reservations were ones that I would not have wanted but usually we just plug away with our reservations on AIRBNB and people who want to stay with us as our listing is marketed find us and we make a good match. Now we are getting mis-matched somehow? I can't quite put a finer on it.

[Joan2709]

@Greystone0 

Then I would suspect that this is all due to traveler caution right now and it seems to be on the rise. Some is due to ongoing protests in various cities regarding ICE policies (LA, WA) and reported hate crimes occurring (Denver). Price sensitivity appears to be growing as well.

AirDna 2025 Outlook

https://www.airdna.co/outlook-report

[Greystone0]

HI @Joan2709 & @Donny34 ,

Thanks for bringing up and insight. I also think that the new AIRBNB pricing structure is causing pause across the board. As most do, guests are generally making an overall judgement between a whole house or hotel option. In our case we offer a better value (as most do for a whole home option) than a hotel for all the known reasons, however, now that the AIRBNB fee is hidden in the nightly rate this is causing pause as the value isn't as easily distinctive, based on questions we are getting, etc.

@Donny34  thanks for brining up and interested in any comments you might get here!

[Joan2709]

@Greystone0 

Agree. Airbnb should have continued the Price Includes All Fees option slider. Some jurisdictions don't allow this. In that case, then at least show a full price breakdown on the page PRIOR to confirming a booking, or include a "click to see entire pricing details". Airbnb is "hiding" their Service Fee in my opinion:

Another platform has price includes all fees, but shows the Service Fee as a separate line item before booking:

[Donny34]

@Donny34 Interesting, yeah its super weird as this is only happening on one of my 5 airbnb listings....this was my most popular unit last summer, so Im a bit concerned as it shouldnt be a pricing issue at all.