Refund and Cancellation in the context of Co-vid 19 outbreak

[Ashwaq-Pasha0]

If the guest is cancelling the booking because of the spread corona virus in the arrival country and the travel/ health care advisors are recommending  not to travel. In this context, if the guest cancels it based on the fear and not necessarily got infected but has a risk of getting infected. Should his booking amount need to be refunded partially.

In my case I have made a reservation for 1 month and cancelled it before ten days of my arrival. Therefore I had to loose my entire amount.

While the host can now take new booking for my cancellation duration. In his calendar till now about 20 days is already booked. Isn't it the moral responsibility of the host to at least refund partially for those days wherein he got new booking and for remaining days he can deduct from my amount.

I think Airbnb should review their cancellation policy, it is pro hosts and should make only those as host who has some ethical and moral responsibility.

It is not even possible to write a review for such host so that the next guest will be bit more careful.

Thanks

[Camber-Caravan-Holidays0]

Yes financial impact its having on my business I've had no guests fro over a month quite  fed up with it now

[Camber-Caravan-Holidays0]

Do you know anyone looking to stay in camber sands

[Anonymous]

@Camber-Caravan-Holidays0  The outbreaks are affecting business in every corner of the world. People become very reluctant to travel in times of uncertainty, and there's nothing you can do about that.

Still, the Coronavirus has nothing to do with the fact that many of your recent reviews  and ratings - especially on cleanliness - are scaring away potential guests.  This might be a good time to do some renovations and deep-clean the properties so they're more competitive when travel picks up again.

[Kath9]

@Camber-Caravan-Holidays0, you're not the only host being affected by Covid-19. My bookings are down by 50% or more. You might be 'fed up' but what can be done? We need to let this thing run its course and frankly, you should be glad you don't have heaps of guests who have just got off planes going in and out of your caravans. People SHOULD be staying at home right now to minimise the spread of this virus. Also, it shouldn't really be affecting your bookings from England, which I assume is most of your guests anyway. Maybe you should take the time to overhaul your listings. 

[Susan17]

@Ashwaq-Pasha0 

"Isn't it the moral responsibility of the host to at least refund partially for those days wherein he got new booking?"

Is it not the moral responsibility of any ethical traveller to purchase their own comprehensive travel insurance, in order to protect themselves in the case of any and all eventualities, rather than expect/demand total strangers to take the hit for them, and act as their free travel insurers? 

In this day and age, with freak weather conditions, political unrest and all manner of other things that can - and do - go wrong, resulting in serious travel disruptions, it should be up to the individual to take ownership of covering their own backs for any travel mishaps. 

Additionally, you have no way of knowing for sure whether or not your host has rebooked those days, or whether or not he/she has simply blocked them off for their own purposes. 

And finally, if there's one thing Airbnb is not, it's "pro hosts"

[Sam397]

 My bookings have definitely dropped since the virus showed up in the US,  I have had a few cancellations because of the virus and customer service deemed it extenuating circumstances and gave a full refund.  Customer service has considered everything to be extenuating circumstances, I have had people cancel because they didnt want to drive in the snow (even though they booked in the winter months and had to drive through the mountains to get here),  or because somebody was sick, and because they lost their job every one was deemed extenuating circumstances and given full refunds so its surprising to me that they haven't given you a full refund as well.

[Kath9]

@Ashwaq-Pasha0, you may be able to get a refund based on Airbnbs extenuating circumstances policy. I would have a look at that.

[Sam397]

@Ashwaq-Pasha0  I was wandering if you contacted customer service about the extenuating circumstances to get a refund. I myself have had 2 more cancellations in the last week because of the virus and all were given a full refund. Even though I do think that people who cancel because of the virus should be given an exception I dont think its fair for the host to be the one who has to pay. My feelings are they should do away with the extenuating circumstances all together and anytime a guest cancels no matter the reason the guest gets refunded for all days that get re booked and they split any days that dont get re booked. To me thats fair to both parties. 

[Michael4828]

I wonder if you have a chronic respiratory illness like I have making you at high risk, will it be considered an extenuating circumstance even in a location not yet with an advisory? I am awaiting a reply from airbnb for just this issue.

[Kara146]

I don't think it is the moral responsibility to refund. The policy is the policy. You were aware of the policy when you scheduled the booking. If s/he received a new booking for those dates, I would think it would be a nice thing to do, to offer you more of a refund, but there is really no way to know if they booked the dates. It's possible they blocked the dates for some other reason and it's not generating income. Even if they did rebook, it would be up to them whether they want to refund something.