WHY WILL COVID-19 BANKRUPT HOSTS AROUND THE WORLD?

[Michael303]

COVID-19 WILL BANKRUPT HOSTS AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE AIRBNB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF TRAVEL INSURANCE!

Travel Insurance is easy and inexpensive for Guests to purchase. The lack of travel insurance protection is completely devastating for Hosts!

For 3 1/2 years I have been trying to get AirBnB to listen. Well, unfortunately, a global pandemic is going to bankrupt hosts around the world because AirBnB refuses to make legitimate travel insurance available for booking guests.

VRBO and HomeAway do such a superior job offering travel insurance to their/ our guests.

1. If you drive a car without insurance and get into an "unforeseen" accident, you are responsible, not the person you ran into. If you book a trip without travel insurance and something "unforeseen" happens, you are responsible, not the person who is hosting you. 

2. I have to carry liability insurance, flood insurance, homeowners insurance with an added hotel policy on top of that on my building to protect me and my guests for short term rentals. I would carry travel insurance for all my guests if I could... no wait it do?! It is AirBnB's insane policy of refunds?! Hosts are not Insurance companies. 

3. I think it's beyond unfortunate for Airbnb, hosts and guests that Airbnb does on hold guest accountable for travel insurance. The simplest way to handle this is to explain travel insurance up front - prior to booking and let guests know it's their responsibility to purchase it or guests will be taking the risk themselves. Travel insurance has existed since the beginning of modern travel. 

4. Airbnb Actually Recommends Travel Insurance. (the AirBnB link is blocked by AirBnB) Airbnb offers refunds at the host’s expense. It is completely unacceptable as a policy and puts the hosts in an untenable situation of loss that cannot be recouped for last minute cancellations – which, by the way, is why trip insurance exists.

5. Suggestion: if Airbnb wants to act like an insurance company and refund guests their money then charge a fee ($35 – $45 to be competitive with trip insurance companies) for that service.

This part of the Airbnb & Host relationship is 100% unfair and 100% unprofessional. Hosts are not Insurance companies. This policy is insane. Travel insurance has existed since the beginning of modern travel.

Airbnb is hurting the small business owners who are the reason Airbnb is in business at all. Shame on them for allowing this and for interfering with legitimate trip insurance companies who protect the owners as well as the traveler when situations happen outside of either parties control. Airbnb clearly is not protecting owners and their businesses with this kind of policy.

[Paul351]

It is time hosts got organised.

we were stabbed in the back

can we form a plan?

[Jillian132]

Yes! Class Action is necessary here.

[Chill-and-Relax0]

What exactly are you expecting to accomplish through the class action?

CAS were invented to make lawyers reach, punish companies a bit (but not really) and to provide false impression of justice done right to the masses. 

[Zivka1]

What exactly are you expecting to accomplish through the class action?

To get the truth about Air#$% misleading advertisement.

They marketing themself as guest/host "community" - that lie should be punished by law.

[Michael303]

We are getting it together Paul. 

[Jake4]

So, how do we band together to make an impact? Without hosts Airbnb wouldn’t exist. If we made a stand they would have to listen. Don’t forget the IPO that’s about to happen. The value would be Diminished if a good chunk of people from Airbnb made a stand and  left the platform. United we stand and divided we fall. 

[Jillian132]

Class Action law suit is necessary here.

[Rosemount1]

Given that it's a 'community' based arrangement - has anyone reached out to the 'guest' community and asked them to help by contacting their insurance company?  Any % refund at this time would be helpful and in line with the spirit of host-guest relationship.   Most of my cancellations are from North America.

[Michael303]

Yes, and my all of my guests that have travel insurance said that they were instructed by AirBnB that they did not have to file a claim with their travel insurance providers. AirBnB would be refunding them 100%. The arrogance and irresponsibility of AirBnB is beyond shocking.

[Sheila22]

I'm sure they will also collect from their insurance companies.

[Adriano78]

@Michael303  you are 100%true

AIRBNB=SHAME

for airbnb, hosts are like an insurance travel company.

No problem with Booking, Trip Advisor, Home away, Expedia  the problem is just Airbnb

with this shame company hosts are loosing a lot of money!

Thank you Airbnb!!!! , here in Euope we can not  do Class action but i really hope american guest can do it.

Today a new message from Airbnb

Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic 

We are now offering Guests full refunds and Hosts no charge cancellations for reservations booked on or before March 14th with a check in date of April 14th or earlier. Please note this policy will not cover any new bookings.

[Adriano78]

AIRBNB=SHAME

for airbnb, hosts are like an insurance travel company.

No problem with Booking, Trip Advisor, Home away, Expedia  the problem is just Airbnb

with this shame company hosts are loosing a lot of money!

Thank you Airbnb!!!! , here in Euope we can not  do Class action but i really hope american guest can do it.

Today a new message from Airbnb

Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic 

We are now offering Guests full refunds and Hosts no charge cancellations for reservations booked on or before March 14th with a check in date of April 14th or earlier. Please note this policy will not cover any new bookings.

[Joan2113]

I'm on the other side of your conversations -- I was supposed to be traveling with 7 other friends in April to France.  Half of the group was coming in from a tour in Portugal that has been canceled.  I have 2 ABnB reservations - in Paris and south on an island.  I have to cancel both.  The host of the larger, rented longer home on the island is very understanding, has offered to let me cancel completely but has asked me to contact Abnb about the fee which I will happily do.  I AM NOT happy that we have to cancel.  4 of the people I am traveling with are over 70.  2 of them care for elderly parents.  New York State now has the highest confirmed cases in the US and this is just the beginning.  Can someone tell me what kind of fees you are charged as hosts?  Is it a percentage of the booking?  Why isn't ABnB stepping up to help you?  We did get travel insurance, but for flights.  No one ever dreamed this would occur, we booked last year.  Leaving a very bad experience for all.  I'm sure we will go with the 'normal' cancellation policy, we really don't have a choice.  But it will definitely make me think twice about using ABnB when we book again....and that is a problem for you that host.  There are alot of companies that will lose money during this event, but they need to back the people that make them money -- the hosts and those who rent from them.  

[Adriano78]

@Joan2113hi, i'am in strict conditions policy, the guest gets 50% refund if he cancels the reservation ..

Yesterday i had a cancellation for the 6 April and Airbnb refund 100% the guest without my permission.

I lose all the money !

Hosts are not an insurance company!.

[Joan2113]

They need to make insurance available.  I have never had this happen before. Of course, I would like all my money back...but how can they justify just taking it from the hosts.  I have to believe they will lose a lot of you...

[Michael303]

Sorry Adriano... because we are In essence time brokers, when the time is gone, we do not get it back. There is no way for me to recoup the loss of the next two and possibly three months. There is no rainbow on the other side. There is no...  you’ll make up for it next year. There is no way to make up for lost time. The mortgage, taxes, the insurance, the flood insurance, the cable, gas and electricity, they all expect to be paid next month.