How do you handle double reservations?

[Inna22]

Someone has booked my property for two separate sets of dates and is deciding when to stay. They have a while to go before they pay anything if they cancel. Would you say something to the guest?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Inna22 I wouldn't do anything as this is just a consequence of the chosen cancellation policy. Sadly Airbnb don't provide very strict cancellation policies except to large operators and, bizarrely, their competitor sites!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Inna22 I looked up our strict policy in the Airbnb Help and it says the following:

Strict

• To receive a full refund, guests must cancel within 48 hours of booking, and the cancellation must occur at least 14 days before check-in
• If they cancel between 7 and 14 days before check-in, you’ll be paid 50% for all nights
• If they cancel after that, you’ll be paid 100% for all nights

This implies that cancellations more than 14 days out get a full refund and yet this isn't the case when I simulate a booking on my listing.

Anyone know why Airbnb don't make it clear that under a strict policy that you only get a 100% refund within 48 hours of booking?

[Amanda1775]

@Mike-And-Jane0I read the policy as needing to meet 2 requirements to receive a full refund: 1. Cancel within 48 hours of booking AND 2. Cancel more than 14 days in advance.

Some guests make reservations less than 14 days in advance and thus wouldn't get a full refund even if cancelling within 48 hours of booking.

[Inna22]

@Mike-And-Jane0 this was actually on another site, I did not want to complicate my post

[Sarah977]

@Inna22  Yes, I would say something. It's quite rude to tie up your calendar from other bookings while they "decide".