My host won't cancel my booking, advise please!

[Jolene53]

I have requested my host to cancel my reservations due to the COVID-19 and they will not oblige. This is my first time booking with AIRBNB. This is sad as everything is closing and we will have to be quarantined for 2 weeks after getting back. I wish hosts cared more about their paying guest. I want this trip but I want to keep my family safe and to be able to enjoy the trip not stay indoors with nothing to do. Defeats the purpose of a vacation! *sighs* 

[Zivka1]

Do you have travel insurance? 

Or your credit card has a travel insurance policy?

[Lisa723]

@Ruttakan0 

You agreed to the host's cancellation policy when you booked. Now you are asking the host to depart from it, and absorb the entire cost of your cancellation, which is not their fault either. This may present an extreme hardship for your host, and/or their support staff.

If it is in fact impossible for you to make the trip, then you qualify for free cancellation under Airbnb's regular extenuating circumstances policy, regardless of the host's cancellation policy:

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1320/what-if-i-need-to-cancel-because-of-an-emergency-or-unavoid...

We had a guest who cancelled a reservation beyond Airbnb's covid 19 free cancellation window. We offered to refund the additional 50% if we can rebook their dates, or if that policy is extended to cover their dates. They were completely understanding.

I'm glad that in these incredibly difficult circumstances most people are showing empathy and kindness to their fellow human beings. 

[Ruttakan0]

When I agree the term, the borders are not closed. I booked their places before COVID-19 outbreak.

[Mark116]

@Ruttakan0  My goodness.  Just call airbnb and have them cancel on your behalf.   If the borders are closed then you will get a full refund.  Why the need for so much drama?  There is really no need to wish ill on your hosts, who undoubtedly are suffering financially due to the virus. 

[Sue49]

I am also a host and sympathise completely... however I was also asked 'for me' to cancel and a full refund for a stay in June. To be fair to all guests hosts have to draw the line somewhere and adapt with the changes. In this case I also declined AT THIS TIME (I have the same 50% cancellation policy) but offered a change of date or advised them to wait. The 50% refund applies until 7 days before checkin and much can change by then inc an extension to Airbnb's policy or a different policy. There is no need to do anything until nearer that time.

For many hosts this is their only form of income and can't fully refund every guest at any time in the future. They have to develop their own rules aiming to be reasonable for everyone's sake. 

If you are leaving the country or flights are involved they may well be cancelled. If you have travel insurance that may well kick in at that point. It will not if too early! That will likely refund the remaining 50% but I would speak to your insurer.

You may also find that your host may not be in a position to host you in May ie if in lockdown or unsafe. For myself in that situation I would have no choice but to refund in full... hence the advice to wait and see! You have time. A knee jerk reaction may cost you! Hope it works out.

[Sandra126]

Wait, it will get extended .

[Pilar1]

In response to @Jolene53, the OP, as others have pointed out, asking a host to cancel  will rarely work given the negative implications for us; the request to cancel (with or without penalties) needs to come from you as a guest I’m afraid. Did you discuss the option of rebooking for a later date? If not, that’s the first thing I’d do.

We are all losers here, don’t forget that, your host will probably have had cancellations already and will need to deal with many requests like yours, so try to put yourself in their place. Even though I’m sure you’d rather sort it out as soon as possible, if the host wants to enforce the terms of their cancellation policy as it’s their right (I’d need other details to see if I agree with this) it’s just a waiting game. As a newbie you may not know this but it’s a well known fact that in the case of a dispute Airbnb tends to side with guests. 

I’ve never wished I was wrong more than right now but I think sooner rather than later AirBnB will be forced to review their policy again as travel restrictions will be extended shortly and more and more cities, if not countries, will go into lockdown like they already are in Italy and Spain, my home country. Here in London we are about 2 to 3 weeks behind them, or so I’ve heard, and our government actions now reflect that trend after being heavily criticised for the lack of adequate measures just a week ago. Not sure how far behind you’re over there (or where you were travelling) but it’s like to be a similar situation, so sit tight and ,above all, keep safe. 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Jolene53 

IMO, airbnb will extend the covid-19 EC sooner or later. It was exactly the same situation for flights to/from S. Korea just 1 month ago. 

After the # of covid-19 cases spiked in Korea mid-Feb, all the airlines immediately announced flight cancellations and full refund of flights scheduled for end of Feb~ end of March. Then in March they extended it to end April. Very recently to end of May~early June. 

Some people who had April or May flights were too nervous to wait it out and decided to pay the cancellation fee to cancel their flights end of Feb~ early Mar when the full refund coverage was only till end of March, just to put their minds at ease. I'm sure you can imagine how very upset these people were when airlines announced cancellations with a full refund of all flights just a few weeks later. So just wait it out. 

@Ruttakan0 

Guests do not need host permission to cancel. If you want a full refund under the covid019 EC, contact Airbnb for help. If you ask a host to cancel on your behalf that is the same as asking the host to eat all the penalties for you. Hosts have no control over avoiding penalties for host-cancellations or guest cancellations. ONLY Airbnb can influence the system to allow for a full refund to guests while there is no penalty to both sides. It's how the platform is set up. The host is entitled to do what they have to do in order to avoid unfair penalties, just as you are entitled to a full refund due to covid-19. Getting mad at your host or taking a "screw you" attitude for something that isn't the host's fault won't help you at all. Contact Airbnb directly for help.