We were booked at an AirBNB in Uruguay for arrival June 3 for a month's stay, booked after March 14. As it turns out the airline cancelled the flight, as the government of Colombia closed the airspace to all traffic for a month. We rebooked for July 3 arrival, thinking by then the airspace should be re-open. As it turns out Colombia recently stopped all incoming and outgoing flights through August 31.
We then tried to cancel the trip as it was clear we couldn't get there for minimum of four months, likely more. The booking did not qualify for covid 19 protection because it was booked after March 14. I then read the extenuating circumstances policy closely, and while border closures and flight disruptions are covered there are significant caveats. You need to submit documentation to AirBNB, they need to review and approve, but their judgement is not final. Ultimately the host makes the decision of whether or not to cancel and our hosts refuses to despite the fact that we can;t get there. Our host, who is very nice simply refuses to refund.
After a close reading, the covid policy is designed to protect hosts, not guests. Guests have very few rights and several limitations. In effect AirBNB doesn't care about guests. AirBNB can make a judgement but ultimately the host decides, so really it is a marketing ploy and a complete waste of everyone's time.
I am a frequent user (136 trips as guests and 50+guests as superhost) and I'm completely shocked at AirBNB's indifference towards guests. If toy can't get to your destination, you will not get a refund of any sort. As a result, I will never book an overseas trip for fear of border closures , flight cancellations, etc as you will 100% lose your money.
The March 14 date is completely irrelvent today given it is now May and people are initiating bookings which the covid policy simply doesn't apply. It's a pure marketing ploy on AirBNB's part. And the environment changes daily, yet the policy doesn't reflect that. We're planning a trip to Brasil. Health conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Trump just stopped flights between the countries more or less and between all of this if I book a trip to Brasil today for travel in the next few months there is a reasonable chance that the health situation will be so bad we'd choose not to travel, the border could be closed, airports closed. Why would anyone in their right mnd prepay for a trip like this under these circumstances.
I understand AirBNB's compassion for hosts - they are hurting. I do not understand AirBNB'd draconian policy towards guests. There are simply no remedies for refund if you cannot travel even if it isn't your choice (ie- a government decision out of your control. Several airlines have refunded me immediately when they cancel flights, airports shut down. AirBNB leaves guests twisting in the wind and on the hook financially as the host makes the refund decision. Our host in Uruguay refuses to outright refund.
As a result I will not be using AirBNB for overseas travel and highly, highly recommend you do the same. There's far too much risk for the guest. In the end this hurts the hosts as well as if you read AirBNB policies you will choose not to go and this hurts hosts too if guests don't book.
They are completely out of touch with reality on this matter and I simply can't understand their sheer stupidity. They've lost a very loyal customer as a result. I can't imagine what they are thinking
