booking requests / pending host decision

[Steve2584]

Hi. The system needs to be changed so that when someone requests to book, and we have 24 hours to decide yes or no, OUR LISTING SHOULD REMAIN VISIBLE FOR THE DATES PENDING BOOKING, SO OTHERS CAN ALSO BE ABLE TO REQUEST THE SAME TIME PERIOD. There could easily be someone ask to book that wants a time frame that is better for us hosts than the one awaiting a decision. It can make giving a potential guest an answer faster, and if host ultimately declines that request we'd not have lost any other possible bookings from the listing being hidden. How it is now gives us only 1 choice for 24 hours. Not blocking the dates/listing is especially logical for hosts that DO NOT allow instant booking. Example: someone requests to book 30 consecutive days; I have 60 consecutive days available until the next already booked dates; it's much more likely that someone would want to book (as has always been the case for my listing and location) 60 days; if I accept the 30 day request, i have a much greater chance of those other 30 days never being booked. AT LEAST MAKE IT A SETTINGS OPTION FOR US. 

[Laurelle3]

 @Steve2584 if the guest has sent you an inquiry and is not a booking request and you reply with accept. The booking will remain open until the guest decides to complete it. When an inquire is being made Airbnb do inform you that until it is accepted by the guest making the inquiry, it is still open for other people to book. 

If the inquiry is accepted by the guest, it will be converted into a confirmed booking immediately and the dates are blocked on your calendar. Sometimes there is an issue with their payments or identification validation (drivers’ licence or passport) and the request is still open and Airbnb will usually tell you this until they have updated the requirements. This has happened to me before. 

[Steve2584]

Maam, I know all that you said. That is not at all what I posted about. I know well how the inquiries and requests work. If youll notice, I wrote that the problem is with the request to book ( it's even in the title of the post). Also, it's not possible to "accept" inquiries. Only requests can be accepted or declined. Sounds like you may be confusing inquiries vs requests. Again, I'm saying that it needs to be set up so that the dates remain visible/open even when a REQUEST is sent. This is when the dates for the listing are hidden/blocked and then nobody can inquire or request that listing for those dates until I accept, decline or it expires at 24 hours. 

[Nikita187]

Thanks for raising this, @Steve2584. I completely agree with your point.

It would make a big difference if Airbnb allowed hosts the option to keep the calendar open during a pending request. That way, we’re not forced to miss other potential bookings while deciding. It’s especially important for hosts who don’t use Instant Book and want the flexibility to compare inquiries or evaluate longer stays.

A settings toggle for this would be a smart solution. Hope Airbnb considers it, and thank you to everyone sharing insight here!

[Dave52]

@Steve2584 I agree calendar should remain open til booking is confirmed.