Answers to your top Instant Book questions!

Lizzie · ‎19-07-2017

Hello everyone,

One of the most active discussion topics here in the Community Center is on Instant Book. During our conversations, many of you have raised important questions regarding this hosting tool. So we brought your most-asked questions to the Instant Book team and have gathered the answers for you.

I really hope you find the responses helpful. To make it easier to read all the information here, please click on the 'Read more' sections to view the replies! 🙂

Why should I use Instant Book? What are the real advantages?

There are lots of reasons you might consider using Instant Book.

1. For many of you, hosting is your business. You put a lot of effort and time into creating a welcoming experience, and you also rely on the income you generate. Hosts who use Instant Book often get up to two times as many bookings than hosts who require reservation requests. Here’s why:
2. Guests usually prefer to book instantly, if they have that option. It saves them time and allows them to get on with planning the rest of their trip.
3. We have a filter on our search page that allows guests to filter for Instant Book listings, and nearly 2 out of 3 bookings on Airbnb are made using Instant Book.
Instant Book saves you time because you don’t have to respond manually to every reservation request from travelers.

Besides your investment in your own business, as a host you’re on the front lines of creating a world where everyone belongs. Instant Book is a powerful tool you can use to help foster that sense of belonging:

1. Instant Book is one of the best ways to ensure that every guest can receive equal treatment on Airbnb.
2. Our data tells us that a guest who tries to book on Airbnb and gets rejected (or doesn't hear back from a host) is less likely to ever use Airbnb again -- even less likely than a guest who has a 1-star trip on Airbnb!
3. We consistently find that the quality of guests and types of trips booked using Instant Book are nearly identical to request to book trips. Instant Book guests receive the same average ratings from their hosts as any other guest.

There are lots of reasons you might consider using Instant Book. 1. For many of you, hosting is your business. You put a lot of effort and time into creating a welcoming experience, and you also rely on the income you generate. Hosts who use Instant Book often get up to two times as many bookings than hosts who require reservation requests. Here’s why: 2. Guests usually prefer to book instantly, if they have that option. It saves them time and allows them to get on with planning the rest of their trip.3. We have a filter on our search page that allows guests to filter for Instant Book listings, and nearly 2 out of 3 bookings on Airbnb are made using Instant Book.Instant Book saves you time because you don’t have to respond manually to every reservation request from travelers. Besides your investment in your own business, as a host you’re on the front lines of creating a world where everyone belongs. Instant Book is a powerful tool you can use to help foster that sense of belonging: 1. Instant Book is one of the best ways to ensure that every guest can receive equal treatment on Airbnb. 2. Our data tells us that a guest who tries to book on Airbnb and gets rejected (or doesn't hear back from a host) is less likely to ever use Airbnb again -- even less likely than a guest who has a 1-star trip on Airbnb!3. We consistently find that the quality of guests and types of trips booked using Instant Book are nearly identical to request to book trips. Instant Book guests receive the same average ratings from their hosts as any other guest.

Will Instant Book help me get more bookings?

Yes, you’re more likely to get more bookings if you turn on Instant Book. Here are some reasons why:

Guests prefer Instant Book. More than 60% of bookings on Airbnb are now booked instantly.
Instant Book listings get a boost in search results.
Turning on Instant Book means your listing will show in search results when the Instant Book filter is applied.
More views often translates to more reservations. And, our data shows that Instant Book hosts often get up to 2x more reservations than request to book listings.

Yes, you’re more likely to get more bookings if you turn on Instant Book. Here are some reasons why: Guests prefer Instant Book. More than 60% of bookings on Airbnb are now booked instantly. Instant Book listings get a boost in search results. Turning on Instant Book means your listing will show in search results when the Instant Book filter is applied. More views often translates to more reservations. And, our data shows that Instant Book hosts often get up to 2x more reservations than request to book listings.

I'm a new host. I wasn't aware of Instant Book and got a booking without accepting and haven't updated my calendar yet. I have cancelled the booking and now have been fined. Why is Instant Book a default?

We’re careful to make it clear to new hosts that they can be booked instantly when they set up their listing, but we know there’s room for improvement. Since new hosts are still getting used to Airbnb, we waive the cancellation fee for one host cancellation every six months (learn more).

The reason we want new hosts to use Instant Book when they join Airbnb is that Instant Book is aligned with Airbnb’s mission of creating a world where people can belong anywhere. Guests also prefer to book instantly, and hosts have the potential to earn more if they let guests book instantly. Finally, we’re slowly moving toward Instant Book being the prefered booking method on Airbnb, so this starts new hosts off in the future of booking on Airbnb.

We’re careful to make it clear to new hosts that they can be booked instantly when they set up their listing, but we know there’s room for improvement. Since new hosts are still getting used to Airbnb, we waive the cancellation fee for one host cancellation every six months (learn more). The reason we want new hosts to use Instant Book when they join Airbnb is that Instant Book is aligned with Airbnb’s mission of creating a world where people can belong anywhere. Guests also prefer to book instantly, and hosts have the potential to earn more if they let guests book instantly. Finally, we’re slowly moving toward Instant Book being the prefered booking method on Airbnb, so this starts new hosts off in the future of booking on Airbnb.

Can I prevent a bad guest that I've had in the past from booking my listing in the future via Instant Book?

Yes! We recently made a change on Airbnb that automatically blocks guests you’ve negatively reviewed or rated lower than 3 stars from booking with you again.

Yes! We recently made a change on Airbnb that automatically blocks guests you’ve negatively reviewed or rated lower than 3 stars from booking with you again.

This is my home and I want to have more control around who stays here. How can I trust that the person arriving at my home is the same person that booked?

In order to book a home on Airbnb, all guests must meet certain requirements, which include verified phone number, email address, and payment information. We also encourage hosts and guests to add verifications through their social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Hosts can also require that guests submit their government-issued ID to Airbnb for comparison with another form of ID. Usually this process includes the host submitting a selfie photo which Airbnb will check to make sure the selfie matches the photo on their ID. These different layers of verification can help you ensure your guests are who they say they are.

In order to book a home on Airbnb, all guests must meet certain requirements, which include verified phone number, email address, and payment information. We also encourage hosts and guests to add verifications through their social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn. Hosts can also require that guests submit their government-issued ID to Airbnb for comparison with another form of ID. Usually this process includes the host submitting a selfie photo which Airbnb will check to make sure the selfie matches the photo on their ID. These different layers of verification can help you ensure your guests are who they say they are.

Why is Airbnb giving a search boost to hosts who have Instant Book turned on? I feel like I am at a disadvantage by not turning it on.

Like you, we want to make sure that travelers choose Airbnb when they book a place. This is why we promote listings that travelers can book instantly. Guests are much more likely to use Airbnb when they’re able to book the place they want instantly, and that means more future business for hosts! We want to encourage hosts to turn on Instant Book because they have the potential to earn more and give their guests the best possible booking experience.

How and when can I disable Instant Book?

We understand that Instant Book may not work for every single host. You can turn off Instant Book at any time in your Booking Settings. However, before you turn off Instant Book, we encourage you to explore the different guest, calendar, and reservation settings we have available to help you get reservations that fit your listing. For example, if you feel like your reservations are back-to-back and you don’t have any time between them, you can actually set your calendar to automatically block days between reservations.

How often can I cancel an Instant Book penalty free? For what reasons?

Hosts who use Instant Book have unlimited penalty-free cancellations if a guest breaks a house rule, if they intend to break a house rule, or if the host is uncomfortable with a reservation. These types of cancellations are 100% penalty-free, which means no fees, no automated review, no permanently blocked dates, and no impact on Superhost eligibility.

However, you can’t cancel penalty-free if your reason violates Airbnb’s Non-Discrimination policy. If a guest claims there’s been discrimination, the cancellation will need to be reviewed by Airbnb and may not be penalty-free.

Hosts who use Instant Book have unlimited penalty-free cancellations if a guest breaks a house rule, if they intend to break a house rule, or if the host is uncomfortable with a reservation. These types of cancellations are 100% penalty-free, which means no fees, no automated review, no permanently blocked dates, and no impact on Superhost eligibility. However, you can’t cancel penalty-free if your reason violates Airbnb’s Non-Discrimination policy. If a guest claims there’s been discrimination, the cancellation will need to be reviewed by Airbnb and may not be penalty-free.

Why are you pushing instant book when it takes away the personal touch that makes Airbnb special?

Our goal with Instant Book isn’t to take the personal touch away, but to help the host focus less time on the logistics of booking (emailing back and forth, managing expectations, confirming house rules, etc.) and more on the part of hosting that is the magic of Airbnb.

Moreover, Instant Book as an experience helps make guests feel more welcome when they use Airbnb. With reservation requests, guests can often get multiple rejections, even if they meet all the requirements to book. And it’s hard for guests to plan their trip when they’re waiting on hosts who are unresponsive. When guests get rejected or find it hard to book a listing, they’ll often choose to avoid Airbnb when booking their next trip. Knowing they can go on Airbnb, find a place they love, and book it right then, makes guests more confident and more likely to use Airbnb every time they travel.

Our goal with Instant Book isn’t to take the personal touch away, but to help the host focus less time on the logistics of booking (emailing back and forth, managing expectations, confirming house rules, etc.) and more on the part of hosting that is the magic of Airbnb. Moreover, Instant Book as an experience helps make guests feel more welcome when they use Airbnb. With reservation requests, guests can often get multiple rejections, even if they meet all the requirements to book. And it’s hard for guests to plan their trip when they’re waiting on hosts who are unresponsive. When guests get rejected or find it hard to book a listing, they’ll often choose to avoid Airbnb when booking their next trip. Knowing they can go on Airbnb, find a place they love, and book it right then, makes guests more confident and more likely to use Airbnb every time they travel.

I have been hosting for a while, and some of my guests who have booked via Instant Book have broken my house rules. Why would I trust Instant Book?

While there are always exceptions to any rule, it’s important to know that on average, guests who use Instant Book are rated by hosts just as highly as those who request to book. We consistently find that the quality of guests and types of trips booked using Instant Book are nearly identical to request to book trips.

We provide the ability for you to set clear expectations about your listing in your House Rules and listing description so that both you and your guests share the same understanding about the home.

We want Instant Book hosts to feel as confident that they’re getting the right reservations as hosts who require a reservation request. That’s why if you’re ever uncomfortable with a reservation or if a guest breaks your house rules, you can cancel 100% penalty-free online, anytime. You can learn more about canceling reservations in the Help Center.

While there are always exceptions to any rule, it’s important to know that on average, guests who use Instant Book are rated by hosts just as highly as those who request to book. We consistently find that the quality of guests and types of trips booked using Instant Book are nearly identical to request to book trips. We provide the ability for you to set clear expectations about your listing in your House Rules and listing description so that both you and your guests share the same understanding about the home. We want Instant Book hosts to feel as confident that they’re getting the right reservations as hosts who require a reservation request. That’s why if you’re ever uncomfortable with a reservation or if a guest breaks your house rules, you can cancel 100% penalty-free online, anytime. You can learn more about canceling reservations in the Help Center.

Why do only Instant Book guests have to verify their ID and other guests do not?

Before they can make any reservation, all Airbnb guests are required to submit and confirm their full name, email address, phone number, and payment information. Since Instant Book hosts don’t have the opportunity to review every request, travelers who wish to use Instant Book are required to verify their ID with Airbnb. This way, Instant Book hosts can have more confidence that their guests are who they say they are. In addition, since Instant Book hosts don’t get to see a traveler’s reviews until they receive a booking, we allow them to limit Instant Book reservations to experienced guests with only positive reviews.

This is a suggestion: Can you create a setting where certain dates in our calendars can be booked by Instant Book and other dates must be booked normally?

This a great idea! We’re exploring ways to do this and will provide updates if we decide to move forward with it.

Does turning OFF Instant Book make your listing disappear from searches?

No, turning off Instant Book doesn’t make your listing disappear from search results. However, guests have the ability to filter for Instant Book listings, and in some cases, that filter may be turned on by default. When the filter is on, listings that have Instant Book turned off will not show up unless the traveller turns the filter off.

Thank you,

Lizzie

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R0 · ‎13-09-2017

I like to report airbnb is being partial their default search only includes instant book ON, so unless the guest switch off this filter he cannot see the rest of the hosts.

I have reported these two related issues and I like all you hosts to also write to airbnb about these features.

1. Default search comes with instant book switched ON.

When I search for property on airbnb.com or airbnb.co.uk, I find by default airbnb only shows me only instant booking properties. This is a filter airbnb switches on by default. So I have to see all properties I have to switch off this filter. This is unfair advantage to hosts who are instant booking.

Instead it would make sense to keep default filter ON for all properties

a) advertised by super hosts
b) all properties with rating above 4.0
c) include new or unreviewed properties.
d) Also default filter should switch off hosts hosts who are not responding to guests within in 24 hours. (responding should not be accepting/rejecting/ even if a host responded with a question to guest this should be considered quick response)

This would be the ideal default search filter. This way there is fair chance for all hosts and guest getting best expereince as well.

2. As a host I have noted when I configure my room for instant book, without informing the host Airbnb configures my room to flexible cancelation policy. This happens without my knowledge. I want to say airbnb should not change our cancellation policy from strict to flexible without consulting with us. Ideally I should get compensated because of this airbnb changed my configuration from strict to flexible when I changed to instant booking and due to this I made a loss when customer after checking staying for 4 days then cancelled my booking which was booked for 19 days. So this loss of revenue for me and now in the last minute I cannot find customers. I lost USD. 818 because of this bug or automatic change in cancellation policy configuration by airbnb without my persmission. I am not aware how I can claim compensation from Airbnb for changing my cancellation policy configuration without my knowledge.

Yevgeniy0 · ‎13-09-2017

absoultely agree with you. but i believe Airbnb is doing this on purpose (setting default "instant book" filter ON) and not by oversight. it is punishing hosts who do not want to turn instant book on, plain and simple

Priscilla46 · ‎13-09-2017

No question you are right - on all counts. But there is no way to write airbnb. And it sounds like they don't care anyway.

Marj0 · ‎14-09-2017

Why not list your home in VRBO/Home Away? I will never allow

instant book to make reservations in my home. Safety first. I have

been booked steady with VRBO and only occasionally with airbnb

for all the reasons mentioned. Airbnb is not the only game in town.

I was the second person in my touristy coastal community to list with

airbnb, this is how long I have been with them - since the beginning.

They are treating us horribly now. Why play this game with airbnb?

I worked my butt off for airbnb being a great host. For what? To be

cast aside bc I wont put my safety at risk. Ridiculous.

Priscilla46 · ‎14-09-2017

Don't you have to pay a fee to be listed on VRBO? Locked in for a year? I haven't been able to find out much about them - does it work exactly the same as airbnb?

Lou47 · ‎14-09-2017

You can do either at V RBO. you can pay a simple fee (I pay about $300) and then manage all of the funds yourself. Or you can use a service like airbnb provides. I have never used that. I can tell you that the simple fee proces elements all of the terrible experiences I am experincing with airbnb. This company could care less about hosts.

Carmel11 · ‎14-09-2017

Couldnt agree more. Careful respectable diligent hosts are being let down by Sirbnb policies. I think it's time to look elsewhere if they refuse to remove this IB default filter.

At my price point I attract 90% of American guests and Airbnb would not be the most used search site on the IS!

Umm, I must think on!!

Kate-And-Reid0 · ‎14-09-2017

Thanks Marj, glad to hear a positive experience with an alternate hosting service.!

Carmel11 · ‎13-09-2017

Hi

I agree with most of what you say, however I don't think that adding filters to the default mose helps in resovling the issue.

I am a superhost, 5* reviews all the way, 100% responce, etc. ect. but I don't expect to have my listings given preferencial treatment by tricking searchers to not have all listings on show.

All features should be to the decretion of the user to impliment. We can have all these features listed among the filters including the IB filter. I can clearly see why some hosts want to use IB to enhance their bookings and why guests want to get a booking secured immediately, but let IB be taken off default mode so as to be FAIR to all!!

Kate-And-Reid0 · ‎13-09-2017

It is really mean and abusive to make IB default. Guests may not know that this sub-filter is applied, and this is by design.

Airbnb - Make Instant Booking tools better. Give me some rights over my own property.

quote...

"However, guests have the ability to filter for Instant Booklistings, and in some cases, that filter may be turned on by default. When the filter is on, listings that have Instant Book turned off will not show up unless the traveller turns the filter off."

Evita4 · ‎13-09-2017

Dear hosts,

I am sorry to let you know that since Airbnb believes that hosts are their employees, they will absolutely impose IB to everyone, as they have already done until now by pushing every host to activate IB in order to have more bookings or more views! This is not a joke and I am worried about the people that are not worried by being said that they are Airbnb's employees! At first I had a feeling that this company is acting in this way because perceives hosts as its employees, but just after a few days I confirmed my feeling reading about this on their page where they write: "So many hosts working for us"...!!! Everyone can see this!

I don't know how do you feel with it, but for me is the most ridiculous and arrogant thing I have ever read!

So, you shouldn't be surprised and ask for rights on your properties because by being here it is like authorising them to do whatever they want with your property!

Of course they don't like democracy at all and if you dare to express your opinion they will give you penalties! For me is not being shown nowhere on the results for at least one month, since I wrote to them about it and since I made questions which nobody answered but obviously were disliked by the IB/Airbnb or whichever of their teams! The first bad thing I commented last summer was the false advertisement about suggesting other hosts, but nothing has changed till now!

Of course it doesn't matter for me as I have better things to do and the peace of my mind and my house is by no mean awarded with this listing! Of course there are a lot of other places where you can have a listing and have probably a better customer service! Airbnb for example has not even a representative or at least someone to answer the calls they receive from Greece. Other companies have 24 hours real assistance!

Airbnb, If you are really interested in hiring us, let's discuss about our salaries, health insurance etc.!!! You have already made a lot of billions from the hosts (because if you didn't have listings you wouldn't have customers-guests), that's why your founders have a pretty good rate among the wealthiest people of the world!!!

If you are really worried about discrimination you have to fight for it in your country first, being one that has banned the entrance to people from spesific countries and religion! You are not convincing me!!!

Chad-and-Char0 · ‎13-09-2017

So, seems you can't delete a post once you have posted it.

Susan674 · ‎16-09-2017

I feel you should run background checks..just had one staying that needed it done... thanks

Priscilla46 · ‎16-09-2017

I think there is an element of risk all assume to some degree in this business. People can lie in their write-ups. The only thing would be to exclude anyone without a previous host review I think.

Liz171 · ‎28-09-2017

That's very informative thanks. I'm glad to see IB is not mandatory, AirBnb have obviously listened to some of the community conversations. Personally I still prefer to have a conversation with the would be holidaymaker first, and as long as that is possible I will keep IB switched off. OK there are some travellers who prefer instant, but I'm pretty sure there will be an equal number of people who would also wish to have a conversation first. We are not an hotel, we are inviting people to our home, so the interaction has benefit for both parties. As long as AirBnB keep this choice both systems should work side by side, they were in danger of becoming more corporate and less user-friendly, there should be room for everybody.

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