Requests for dates that are booked

[Laura2592]

I get quite a few requests for dates that are already booked. I am not 100% sure why people do this, but its quite common with my listing. 

If I decline too many of these requests, of course I get a warning, despite that my calendar is unavailable.

I do wonder if these requests are ever effective for people? Are there hosts out there who can boot other guests or open up blocked days? (I have had a few guests ask me to cancel existing stays for them, but I can't imagine there are hosts who do this. Maybe I am wrong...)

How do you handle these requests? Do you note anything about this in your listing?

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  So they enter dates that are available, but in their message say they don't really want those dates, but ones that are blocked? That's a serious issue that Airbnb should address, since they frown upon and punish hosts for declining requests.

There should be a message before a guest can send a request, telling them that if they are just asking the host a question, they need to send an Inquiry, not a Request. And a red warning that if they have entered dates they don't actually want, just to ask for other dates that aren't shown as available, if the host accepts the request, that they will be charged for a booking for the unwanted dates they entered.

I've had a guest inquire about blocked days before, but they did it through an inquiry, not a request. She did it because she had actually stayed just up the block from me the previous year, said she'd walked by my place several times, loved the look of it, and wanted to stay here, but she had stupidly not booked when she saw the dates available, and now they were blocked. She just said if by chance the guest who booked cancelled, to please let her know. In fact, that guest did cancel, and I sent her a message right away, but she said, Oh darn, I just booked another place 2 days ago, because I thought if I waited any longer I wouldn't find anything.

[Lisa723]

@Laura2592 @Sarah977 if I get an inquiry asking about other, unavailable, dates, I just reply saying the preferred dates aren't available. If someone sent a trip request for dates they don't actually want-- which has never happened to me so far-- I would reply telling them that because Airbnb penalizes hosts for declining they should please withdraw their request, otherwise I will accept it and they will be charged for dates they don't prefer.

[Laura2592]

@Lisa723 that is a good response! I have not asked guests to withdraw before. Do they typically comply?

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 I got one yesterday for open dates that said something to the effect of:

"Hi! We have a wedding to attend on the weekend of (booked dates) so I am hoping you get a cancellation or can make those available."

This isn't unusual for us. Typically these are inquiries which can expire, but we do also get requests that I have to reject. I think ABB would have to read through the thread to figure out that this was happening, instead of just allowing the bot to ding the host after so many rejections. 

[Lisa723]

@Laura2592 yes, they have a strong incentive not to be charged for dates they can't use. I haven't had to use it for this reason, but I have for others (e.g. wanting to arrive by seaplane).

[Colleen253]

@Laura2592 Wow. I would be incensed if I got actual requests like that, for dates not available. I would message back and basically say if they don’t retract the request within 1 hour, it will be accepted and they’ll have a confirmed and paid for booking for the dates of the request. 

[Laura2592]

@Colleen253 I think guests generally have no idea the difference between a request and inquiry (many hosts don't either) so I am inclined to give them a pass on that piece. I don't understand why you would ask anyone about blocked dates. Maybe because we use our space too? People may think we have some latitude about our own stays and wouldn't mind the income? I get these often enough that I just figured everyone did. Could just be my guest population....

[Colleen253]

@Laura2592 It’s pretty clear when making a request that you’re requesting to stay for your chosen dates and are ‘checking out’. I mean, payment method required and all that. You’d have to be pretty dim not to get that. 

No need to be harsh with these dim bulbs, but I would still make it clear that they need to retract immediately, or get packing. 

I think this issue may be pretty much unique to you. A combo of your particular guest species, and the uniqueness of your place, being that it’s quite sought after. 

[Mark116]

@Laura2592 I would play dumb, if they don't withdraw the request, I would say 'we were a little confused by your message and the date range that you wanted, but we're happy to host you on XX dates per your request, blah blah.  if you have by chance sent this message in error, and do not want the dates you selected, you can cancel penalty free within 48 hours'.  I would not waste a decline on that kind of request.

[Sarah977]

@Mark116  I think it would be better to do as Lisa suggested, just ask them to withdraw it. If you actually accepted it, telling them to cancel within 48 hours if they don't want, it could still block your calendar if they didn't cancel right away.

But if they don't withdraw it immediately, I guess your suggestion would be better than declining.

[Laura2592]

@Mark116 this is also a good strategy. I typically just say "Thanks for checking us out! Sorry those dates are not available. I am going to close out this inquiry and hope  you will stay with us another time." I don't give any indication that it could cost them, or me, anything. I think I need to. 

[Mark116]

@Laura2592  Yeah that would be fine for an inquiry, but if its a request to book, then you will get dinged for the denial.  It seems like your listing is in demand enough that Airbnb wouldn't drop it down to invisibility, but it's still annoying that you, the host, have to bear the brunt on your stats of people who don't pay attention or care about what is right in front of them:  the dates they want are not available. 

I'm fairly sure that if you accepted the request for the dates they gave but didn't really want, you would see them cancel ASAP.  

[Helen3]

When you decline a request there's an option to say you're declining  as dates requested are not available I think  @Laura2592 

[Sarah977]

@Helen3  Yes, but Airbnb might view that as meaning the host didn't have their calendar in order.