@Debra300 (speaking as another software engineer), that isn’t the case here, though, as they have recently prioritized implementing the ability to add linen fees, as well as taxes, Resort Fees, Community Fees, and Standard Fees and Charges via their Professional Host tools.
The Pet Fee would be the exact same implementation with a different name. They just need a hook into that code with a parameter specifying the name of the fee.
I know what you mean about unstable code in which one change breaks a dozen other functions, but due to the speed in which they implemented the above fees and taxes, my gut feel is that it wouldn’t be difficult to implement additional line items. I haven’t seen the code, though. 🙂
I think the reason for the resistance of Airbnb to include a pet fee option might be less technical. For instance, guests have been complaining about the tacking on of extra fees in general. Maybe they don’t want to exacerbate that kerfluffle right now, even though a pet fee would be an optional fee.
Or maybe, as @Lisa723 pointed out, they don’t want to handle a pile of service calls in which guests with service/emotional support animals are being charged a fee, and don’t feel by law that they should be required to pay it. I can see where Airbnb may just not want to go there.
I would like to see Airbnb rework the software a bit to be able to support a custom fee of any kind, with a name and amount of the host’s choice. However, that is where concerns about industry standards, adherence to protocols, etc. that you mentioned might come into play, @Debra300, so maybe it can’t be that wide open.