"I'm flexible" on dates should still show apples to apples on results

[James3008]

We use dynamic pricing from a 3rd party.  Further out dates are likely to be higher priced and high-demand times are definitely going to be higher priced.  So why does AirBnB choose those dates (local graduation weekend in May next year) to show a price for my place when it is showing prices for next month for other properties (at half the rate, even though I'm competitive in that month too)?

It seems that a guest selecting "I'm flexible" should be able to compare properties on an even footing.  Default to next 3 months or something, so that the results make sense and don't discourage looking at some properties just because AirBnB chose to show a higher price for some.

[Huma0]

@James3008 

The dates shown make no sense whatsoever. It looks like they are chosen at random.

Apart from the pricing, it gives the impression to the guest that those are the first available dates, when they are not. A similar search brought up a couple of my listings with dates in May/June 2023, when in fact there was availability in September or October.

When I was searching recently as a guest, I almost missed out on the listing I wanted to book because it was showing dates in November and I didn't want to go to the coast in the winter. Luckily, I thought to go to the listing and scroll back on the calendar and saw that there were dates available in July, August and every month after and ended up booking, but most guests wouldn't think to do that.

It could default to the next three months, but if a guest is choosing to be flexible on their dates, they aren't necessarily going to only be looking to book something that soon. Some people book their summer holidays months in advance for example.

Another suggestion would be for the results to show the first available dates. If the guest likes the look of the place, they will then maybe go to that listing to see what availability it has going forward. But, if it's not showing availability for months and months or even a year, then they are going to assume it's booked up until then. That would be a natural and logical assumption.

I don't know what genius at Airbnb thought it made sense to show completely random date selections like this...