Why do some hosts get 25% payment for Covid related cancellations and others not?

[John2654]

So if you have a strict or moderate cancellation policy you get something back from Airbnb during this Covid crisis. If you have a more guest-friendly policy that offers free cancellation you get nothing. Why is this? I have had over 30 cancellations owing to Covid19 and thought we were all in this together, that is until I heard that AirBnB was offering hosts with stricter cancellation policies 25% of what they were expecting to get. This seems somewhat unfair. Would probably be fairer to offer something to everyone who is suffering during this crisis. I rent out a room in my home and as a pensioner this is the only income I receive. Why discriminate against hosts based on their cancellation policies?

[Bob40]

We're partners when it comes to wealth generation. When there's a major problem, instead of consulting these partners - some of whom have been in the holiday rental sector a lot longer than Airbnb's 12 years - management takes unilateral action and is now apparently trying to undo some of the damage but instead is further demonstrating its inexperience.

[Susan1188]

@John2654  
You have the choice of your cancellation policy.

If you chose "flexible", that boosted your listing, got you the top of the search results, and gave you a competitive advantage over others who chose "strict".

Your guests perhaps sought out with a filter your property, knowing they could cancel up until arrival week.

There is no bait-and-switch here!  You chose flexible, a global crisis happened, people reacted according t what they agreed with you from the start.  Difficult then after the fact to want to change the terms to "strict" so you can get some compensation.

Hosts with "strict" knew that they had staff, mortgages, investments, renovations to cover.  They knew their property was booked 6-12 months in advance.  They wanted to protect themselves against cancellations, despite knowing they would not be boosted in the search results for this.  They thought that in hard times they would be assured of at least a minimal income as defined in the booking terms!  Most of them could have also rented on other platforms with more fair cancellation policies to the host.

I understand your frustration, I wish everyone the best and keep safe .

[Elena87]

@Susan1188 

I've seen this a few times now but not backed up with any credible evidence.

Where is the evidence that having a flexible cancellation policy takes you to the top of the search results.

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/39/what-factors-determine-how-my-listing-appears-in-search-resul...

Doesn't even mention cancellation policy in the help article.

[Susan1188]

@Elena87 

Of course, having flexible cancellation doesn't skyrocket you to the first page of search results.

The Airbnb algorithme for search results is highly engineered with all kinds of things such as prior reviews, number of clicks on your site from outside, all kinds of data they hire all kinds of specialists for this.

ONE of the factors, that you AGREED to and that boosted your listing, was the cancellation policy.

The point is Elena, you agreed out of your free choice to have flexible or moderate on your listing. 

The forum is full of hosts complaining that GUEST DONT READ THE RULES.

Did you READ THE RULES.

IF you picked "flexible"" or "moderate" , you are basically required to let people cancel, there is no bait and switch. 

Please stop blaming Airbnb for your own personal choices.

[Bobbiecool0]

I have always had a strict cancellation policy yet my listing is always in the top 20 of search results in my county in England. I've never quite worked out how to be in the top 10. I asked Airbnb once but got fed a load of nonsense, even their telephone operators don't know. 

[Helen3]

If you are a host, why are you posting anonymously in this forum? @Bobbiecool0

[Bobbiecool0]

I didn't realise I was posting anonymously. 

[Sarah977]

@Bobbiecool0  Well, when your profile photo is a grey sillouette, and your profile itself is blank, and you have no Airbnb listings on your profile, nor any reviews as a guest or host and it shows you just joined in 2020, that's about as anonymous as you can get, and raises questions about why you are weighing in on these topics.

[Bobbiecool0]

I don't like the sound of your paranoid voice @Sarah977 

I'm a host from Norfolk, England who's property does very well in terms of occupancy, we are around 85% full all year round. We have been going for nearly 4 years.

When I joined I joined with my Google account, I'll have to see if I can add my property. I did look a couple of weeks ago but I couldn't see where I can do it. 

We're all struggling right now and can do without paranoid accusations. Raises questions indeed!!

[Sarah977]

@Bobbiecool0  I'm not paranoid and I'm sorry you took it so personally. You may not be aware of how many spammers and internet trolls appear on this forum and I'm not the only host who calls them out as being suspicious..

Every legitimate host whose profile I've looked at here over the years has had their listings displayed on their profile. I assumed that a host who was an Airbnb host wouldn't have a separate profile on the CC than the profile they use for their hosting account. I obviously assumed wrong.

[Mary996]

@Sarah977 Thanks for your trouble Sarah. I learnt something here!

[Robbie54]

This is @Bobbiecool0  @Sarah977  I found how to log in with my Airbnb account. 

Maybe you should have given me the benefit of the doubt. What happened to innocent until proven guilty??? Now, let's move on shall we?  

[Mary996]

@Robbie54 Gosh Robbie, if wanting to move on you might have chosen a more friendly tone towards Sarah who kindly guided you. I very much appreciated the trouble she took.

[John2654]

@Susan1188  

That is what I see as one of the problems of AirBnB. It has or has allowed itself to be hijacked by businesses, moving far away from what I consider was and should be the main purpose of Airbnb ......people renting out a room in the family home or maybe renting out the family home/apartment while they themselves are away. Mention of people having staff, mortgages, investments, renovations and so on leave me cold. That to me is not and should not be a concern of AirBnB in my opinion. There are other platforms that these 'businesses' can use to promote their properties.

I am certainly not wanting or ever will want to change my cancellation terms. I just don't see why those who have strict/moderate cancellation policies get some form of compensation while those of us who adhere to the spirit of AirBnB get nothing. As I said before, I thought we were partners and all in this together. It leaves a sour taste to have 30 cancellations plus and get nothing while others with a different and less flexible cancellation policy get some compensation.