Wow! From Jan 20 personal illness/injury is no longer an Extenuating Circumstance

[Susan1188]

I was thrilled - and amazed - that Airbnb has modified their extenuating circumstance policy!

They admit that "personal illness" is the number one reason people cancel and they are - allegedly- putting the power back in the hands of the host as to how to handle these issues?

The host should be allowed to judge, and through your correspondence with the guest you know which ones are cancelling because of a true - and surprise - issue, or just because they changed their minds, it's raining or there is no fresh snow on the slopes.

This was the number one reason I no longer open my reservation window over 3 months ahead or took bookings for high season on airbnb.  Guest could book without taking insurance, block my high season, and cancel last minute for full refund basically regardless of my terms. 

No other operator in the travel industry operated this way to my knowledge.

However, they are giving free refund for any new travel restriction in place.  Which I was doing anyway!  While not "fair", it is the way we have to work this year.  

I found myself refunding for travel bans (not refunded by Airbnb, then dealing with upset guests who still had to pay Airbnb fees) and then having Airbnb refund for anything anyone can get a doctors certificate for.  I'm so glad that they noticed and changed this.

But now, if this is true, I can start renting my high season dates in advance on Airbnb.

What do you think?

[Susan1188]

@John5097 wow you must have started hosting during Covid, it's not usually like that!

Yes guests can threaten or give a 1 star review if you don't refund their cancellation.  

My main thing is, there is a difference between something, and zero.

Why shouldn't that guest pay a 10% cancellation, or first night rate, or something, even in case of a travel ban?  That would seem fair to me i fI were a guest!  Why does the host get zero?

I usually try to offer some kind of refund (not full), to get them to push the cancel button so they can't leave a review.  If you put a realistic cleaning fee, they might also want to cancel to at least get that back.