Extenuating policy

[Alexandra1096]

We are all watching the Coronovirus developments which are having an impact on individuals and businesses alike. In the UK it was the final straw to bring down a national airline, and there will be many businesses going under this year as a result of cancelled bookings. This is why I find it surprising that without apparent consultation, Airbnb has changed the cancellation policies for all Airbnb hosts, all of whom are now subject to the new extenuating circumstances cancellation policy.  Firstly, presumably this is permitted within the terms and conditions by which hosts sign up with Airbnb?   Secondly, whilst the financial impact on a holiday maker is for that holiday alone, and a holiday maker may well have insurance in place to cover cancellation,  the financial hit of Coronovirus for hosts could be the majority if not all our bookings being cancelled  over an entire season or more, with the consequent financial distress, and possible business/ hosting closures if hosts cannot meet their running costs (mortgage, insurances etc.) Surely the 'extenuating circumstances' policy is disproportionate in the way it affects hosts compared to guests?  I myself have only moderate cancellation policies in place to date, so little protection anyway. But what about the hosts chose stricter cancellation policies for the financial protection that gave them?  Guests who booked with these hosts did so with full knowledge of the cancellation policy, and could have made different choices. With prior knowledge that Airbnb can simply change these cancellation policies, might some Airbnb hosts have preferred to take up platforms elsewhere; and is it the right of Airbnb to have prevented that choice by not being transparent about their willingness and ability to change cancellation policies without any consultation or prior warning?  I think that Airbnb has made a poor decision here and that hosts should have the right of reply. 

[Lilly28]

@Cathie19  Agree! With everything you have wrote and think - it affects all businesses, not only the travel business - hosts, guests, airbnb, financial sector, energy industry, food supply... everything. Insurance companies would never be able to cover all who think they should - even if they be willing to do so. There are two things I cannot understand - guests can cancel and take FULL refund just of fear, and also when traveling to China, South Korea and North Italy. BUT hosts cannot cancel in the same situation!!!  Neither of fear, neither guests coming from infected places - and otherwise we are penalized!!! or are told that we are discriminating guests!

I wrote in another place - airbnb should impose NEW RULES exactly for coronavirus cancellations from guests - 10% to stay in the account of the host, and 50% of the service fee of airbnb not to be refunded. This means very small lost on guests part, but at least some very little compensation for hosts and airbnb. The same when a host cancel gusts from infected places or even out of fear - 10% to stay in their accont and 50% of the service airbnb not refunded - the rest 90% to be fully refunded to guests.     

[Cathie19]

I like @Lilly28 , your ideas. Yes Airbnb should be considering a separate clause, and a separate funding system. This is not a normal situation, and individuals do not have much control over government and global announcements. To work a separate payment system for hosts and guests, within the Covid19 bubble makes sense, to protect both guest and hosts.

Thanks for having a different perspective but also coming up with different solutions. Brainstorming is what will get us there in the end. 🌻