Sign a petion: Airbnb Refund ALL COVID Cancellations (Both Hosts and Guests)

[Yoko131]

http://chng.it/Tz7FVWdnqc

News media has announced that Airbnb has updated their refund policy. However, it is totally superficial: few people realize that Airbnb's COVID policy only protects themselves. It is a stark difference from the airlines and hotels that are waiving their cancellation fees and issuing full refunds to assist their customers. Airbnb's COVID policy forces the hosts to issue refunds, placing all the burdens of income loss on them OR the guests will receive no or little refund if their hosts refuse to refund.

Airbnb's COVID full refund policy applies only if a check-in date is before April 14, 2020, or within one month of the National Emergency declaration. However, we do not know how the virus situation will develop, and many events that were scheduled beyond April 14 have already been canceled, forcing many guests to cancel their Airbnb reservations. The new policy does not protect reservations with a check in date of April 14, 2020, or later except where the guest or host has contracted COVID-19. It is still extremely difficult to receive COVID-19 tests at this point. This Airbnb restriction encourages both hosts and guests to spread the virus unknowingly, endangering the general public as well.

Airbnb currently has a $1M giveaway: "The Unique Airbnb Fund: $1M for 10 groundbreaking ideas" with the entry deadline of 11:59pm EST on April 15, 2020. Isn't this a time for Airbnb to cancel this giveaway and use the fund to help their current customers, the hard-hit GUESTS and HOSTS? Airbnb has a right to cancel the contest without any legal consequences as stated in its Official Rules.

[Sarah977]

@Thomas977  Your multiple spamming of every single thread with these links is getting really annoying. 

[Sky13]

@Jeanni--and-Brent0

Was your money returned per your original cancellation policy?

[Sky13]

@Jeanni--and-Brent0

It does appear Airbnb violated these terms by making a unilateral decision to cancel reservations, and give refunds from the host pocket, regardless of the host cancellation policy.

But does the extenuating circumstance policy void the original terms?

I'm guessing Airbnb is covered 6 ways from Sunday when it comes to this subject

https://www.airbnb.com/terms

[Jim402]

Yes, with you on all of that. I have just discovered that Airbnb are going to punish me as a 74 year old who has been instructed to self isolate as from the day after tomorrow. if I respect the law and comply.

THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

[Todd7]

Couldn't agree more! Having been a host for over 10 years, I have seen the gradual and seemingly intentional efforts to skew policies more in favor of the guests, than for hosts. These policies have led me to go from only being an Airbnb host, to diversifying with over 6 different 3rd party hosting sites. This is just another example of a decision that did not take into consideration Airbnbs most important customers, their hosts. By creating a rule that allows for guests to cancel last minute without any compensation whatsoever for hosts is a huge mistake and oversight. Even an option to allow hosts to keep a partial or full amount in exchange for a future compensated night, or discounted rate, to a guest would have been a better compromise than just allowing all guests to get full refunds with no consequences. 

[Lisa1222]

@Todd7  So true. I’m relatively new to hosting and have just Airbnb and VRBO. They both have made about the same, but I’m thinking of leaving Airbnb. What other platforms do you use that you like? 

[Todd7]

booking dot com and then I use sites for non-traditional rentals as well. 

[Lisa1222]

Thanks. Best of luck 

[Doug149]

Hi Todd,  Agree with your post.  I would add that Airbnb offered to host the ability to use a moderate or strict cancellation policy to offer some protection for their business.  What has happened is their Covid-19 policy totally voids that.  Worse, it means there is zero protection for the host in terms of the potential for a guest to cancel.  Airbnb's has no product without the hosts.  

And just wait, Airbnb will be extending this policy beyond April 14th.  

[Ryan-and-Darnie0]

So you are asking hosts to sign a petition to extend Airbnb's extenuating circumstances to ALL bookings? Wouldn't that mean all hosts would lose all of their income, not just income from bookings before Apr 14th?

[Yoko131]

No. The purpose of this petition is to have Airbnb to cancel their $1M giveaway and use the money to help and protect both the hosts and guests.  If you lost money because Airbnb refunded your guests due to COVID, please, please ask those guests to join this petition.  They should be made aware that the hosts lost money but not Airbnb itself.  Even if they're not willing to give your money back, they should be happy to help you. They have nothing to lose.  Help yourself by helping others. This goes both ways.

[Simone387]

Exactly, this is not a petition for hosts to sign! Airbnb can't compensate everyone! Split it 50/50 end of

[Supriya-And-Alan0]

Petition signed!

currently, I have a situation where I have a multi month reservation (Feb-end April) and a new reservation by the same party end April - early May. They are asking for a refund for April in the first reservation and refund the second one. I have agreed in principle but what do you all think/ are doing in a situation like this?

[Jana27]

Thank you for doing this Yoko131. Hope you make it through the storm tonight. I hear Fairbanks is getting a big weather pattern. 

[Guillem2]

I had a guest cancel, legitimately I think, because of weather problems and no way for several days to get here. He got his money back in FULL ... and he filed a claim with his travel insurance and collected a second time.... I lost everything.... And Airbnb doesn't seem to understand or care that I lost all and guest got a prepaid future trip for free and lost zero.  This is happening now with Covid-19... Guests gets money back and most get double because most guests here carry travel insurance... And HOSTS get totally screwed, we lose our income and have ZERo chance now of renting to another guest... If I don't go under it will be a miracle.