@Corona Virus and Super host credit

[Michele1248]

Hi All- just wanted your thoughts. I host in Australia and my Host voucher (1 night credit) expires in June 2020. I recently asked Airbnb if it could be extended just until the Corona virus is sorted out as travelling is becoming more difficult here both domestic and internationally and this was the response from Airbnb support   :David wrote         "I was able to check it out Michele and my apologies we're not able to extend a travel credit. You still have some time before it expires and you don't need to travel in a far and distant land. The travel credit is there for you to enjoy and relax"

My thoughts are I don't think anyone could" enjoy and relax "until the Corona Virus is contained and I was a bit disappointed with Air BNB's response .Would like to hear if anyone else had a similar experience `Stay safe everyone Cheers  Michele

[Huma0]

@Jessica-and-Henry0 

I had the same idea and floated it to a few hosts. However, they are so upset with Airbnb that they do not want to give Airbnb any more of their money right now, including the fees which would have to be paid on both bookings in the swap. 

On the other hand, Airbnb would be spending lots less if lots of hosts do not use the vouchers, wouldn't they?

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  According to what a few other hosts who have travelled as guests said, the voucher can also cover the fees- it's just a matter of making sure the total doesn't exceed $100. 

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

Yes, you are right. I used my last voucher to book an Airbnb in Athens and didn't have to pay anything as the fees were also covered.

The objection from the hosts that I mentioned this idea to was that Airbnb would be taking a cut in terms of earning fees from the booking and these hosts are absolutely opposed to giving Airbnb any of their money right now as they feel so badly treated. They would rather lose the voucher than pay Airbnb a penny.

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

But actually this is flawed logic (people are understandably very emotional right now) because, like you say if you keep the booking under the total amount of the voucher, you are not giving them anything. The voucher they gave you is paying for the fees and the rest of it is paying the host you are booking with. That host would pay their 3% fee to Airbnb out of the money they are receiving, so no one is reaching into their pocket except Airbnb.

I think it's a good idea. Okay, it's not a lot of money, but I'd rather give some of it to another host in need that let Airbnb keep it, and all those vouchers must add up, right?

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  Haha, we posted the same thing at the same time.

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  Sorry, that makes no sense to me. If the voucher covers the fees, Airbnb isn't earning any fees. No money is changing hands for the fees. They are, in fact, having to pay out the cost of the reservation from their own coffers, so it hurts them, rather than helps them.

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

Great minds think alike.

Maybe we should start another thread on this and get hosts to pair up and just do it! 

One could always book with a local and then maybe even use the voucher down the line. I believe the cut off date is only when you have to book it by, but you could potentially book a stay for several months down the line or even next year depending on how far in advance that host allows bookings. If not, well nothing lost!

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  I'm thinking if there is a thread on this here (actually, there already was one started a couple days ago) that they've find some way to shut that down. Not the thread, but the proposed exchange- maybe better to make trade arrangements through PMs.

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

Now, why would they shut that down? There's nothing illegal or against Airbnb policy about it. If a host wants to use their voucher, naturally they are booking with another host. If two hosts book each other's places, how does that break any rules? Whether they stay or not makes no difference to what Airbnb pays...

Do you reckon Airbnb was reckoning on saving a fair amount of bucks from hosts not being able to travel and therefore not using their superhost credit? They don't actually have any right to stop us booking available listings. Even if listings are not available right now due to travel restrictions, you can still book them for the future.

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  I don't know, I just don't trust them. They manage to come up with all kinds of underhanded things. They may not have the right to stop hosts using those to help each ther out, but then a whole lot of hosts maintain they didn't have the right to overrride their cancellation policies, either.

And yeah, I've hosted several Host/guests and I was surprised at how uninformed they were about so many things Airbnb. 

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

Yes, I know. I was being rhetorical because I was thinking the exact same thing.

However, if there's nothing in it that's breaking policy, how are they going to try to justify that on top of everything else?

I'd love to see what reasons they would come up with to stop superhosts using their credit. Maybe we would get the same weird blocking emails...

"Book somewhere else! For your own safety, we have decided you can't book this listing but we're not going to tell you why. Book one of our hotels instead!"

"Warning! There were four unspecified INCIDENTS in this area. We're not going to tell you what we mean by that or where that information came from, but we're going to try to stop you booking this listing."

Hopefully the experienced superhosts will not be baffled by this like unsuspecting guests...

[Sarah977]

@Huma0  Or we maybe book for Dec. and horribly, the travel restrictions and lockdowns are still in place, or again in place due to a second or third outbreak, and Airbnb just cancels all the reservations again and we lose the credit.

[Huma0]

@Sarah977 

True. That would be one tactic. However, if guests are allowed to change dates for a booking, i.e. push them to a later date, why not us?

You are right though, anything could happen right now. However, I believe that a cancellation has to be made by either the host or guest? Airbnb have been doing a lot of random stuff during this time but, as far as I am aware, they are not initiating cancellations, only blocking future bookings.

So far...

[Huma0]

PS It's a shame not all hosts know about these underhand type of tactics, but then a lot of hosts don't use the CC or are not even aware of it. I have been in touch with hosts lately whom I know as friends or acquaintances. It's amazing how little they knew about what has been going on and they are truly shocked when I break it down for them. If ALL hosts knew about this stuff, perhaps Airbnb would not be able to get away with it.

At some point, if I go on questioning and criticising Airbnb's actions, I am sure I will end up getting delisted, but so be it. One must speak out.

[Susan-132]

I contacted AirBNB only to find out they would not extend a voucher date that expired on December 20 2020

$600 down the drain. Customer service would not give me corporate number but I found it anyway and plan to call tomorrow

i am over 65 and therefore I could not go anywhere during this pandemic much less travel!

Customer service didn’t even attempt to help me, just a fake apology.

i have also tweeted my complaint on AirBNB CEO’s twitter page

if anyone is interested I was able to find these contacts:

brianchesky@gmail.com or Brianchesky@airbnb.com

415 615 2490 

Don’t let them make money off of us for years and then slap us in the face for something that is beyond our control 

CUSTOMER LOYALTY MEANS NOTHING