GETTING PENALISED FOR NOT ACCEPTING A REQUEST WHEN THE GUEST DOES NOT MEET MY CRITERIA

[Peter888]

Hi. I allow for instant booking, as long as I get 24 hours notice. I need 24 hours notice to make preparation for guests due to  my life circumstances. I cannot prepare the room in less time. It seems the system allows a guest to send a "request" if they don't meet my instant booking requirement.  Probably because I am a superhost and because I am among the cheapest listings in our town, I keep getting requests for bookings - sometimes with as little as 2 hours notice, but always less than 24 hours notice - or from people who have infants or animals, which I don't allow, etc. I decline all these requests because they don't meet MY requirements. AirBnB then penalize me because I decline too many requests. It is simple. Meet my requirements, you can have instant booking. Don't meet my requirements and the system lets a guest send a request which I respectfully decline. 

Do others have this problem?

How can we get AirBnB not to penalize us for declining requests that don't meet our requirements?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Peter888 

Try going to 'listing' 'availability' and then edit 'reservation preferences'. The option to 'For Instant Book hosts: allow guests to send reservation requests without advance notice.' might be checked.

To see this you need to edit your reservation preferences.

We actually like this option as it has given us last minute bookings when guests let down by others but allows us to decline if we are not ready.

Hope this helps

[Peter888]

You solved my problem. Many many thanks.

[Sarah977]

@Peter888 You should check your settings. On your calendar, today, the 9th, is shown as available, so there is no advance notice set. If you needed 24 hours notice, today would show as blocked. 

As far as guests asking for things that are against your booking rules, like bringing children or pets, what most hosts do with inappropriate requests is to message the guest back, explaining why they can't take the reservation and asking the guest to please withdraw the request so they will be free to look for a place which suits their requirements. In other words, do what you can to get the guest to withdraw the request before the 24 hour clock runs out for you to have to either accept or decline. And if the guest is expecting to contravene your requirements, you can contact Airbnb and ask them to void the request, rather than you having to decline and getting warnings about too many declines.

[Peter888]

Excellent advice, Sarah. Much appreciated.

[Peter888]

Thanks for the replies. You have solved my problem.  The problem was on the 'For Instant Book hosts: allow guests to send reservation requests without advance notice.' 

Oh well. Will just have to work harder to retain my superhosting because i'm not below the required rate of Not declineing guests!!!! Really appreciate your help in this.