1 guest booked, 2 arrive

[Adonis1]

I charge per person at my chalet.

I have a booking this weekend.

The guest booked for 1 guest, but wants to come with his girlfriend.

I changed the reservation for 2 guests.

He called me to explain that he meant to book for 2, but now realises that he cant afford it for 2 people.

What should I do if he still hasnt adjusted his reservation, and arrives with 2 people?

Thanks

Adonis

[Connie249]

Hey Nanci, it does sound straight up racist to assume that it's Asian's not just making an error but deliberately making an error. I'm a host in Vancouver, Canada and I have just had an instant booking from Germany where it stated 1 guest and it was actually 4. I also had 3 Chinese guests from Toronto show up as 1 guest but in their first email to me they clearly stated they were 3 guests.

If anything, in the case of Chinese (which I am) and Japanese (which I deal with often) are fastidious about getting exactly what they pay for. They are also very scared to lose face and get caught in a lie (and that's an easy lie to get caught on). I won't extend these assumptions to other Asian cultures since I don't know too much about them.

This is an AirBnB programming issue. A pop up should appear before the guest can confirm their instant booking with the message "You need to enter the number of guests to complete this reservation". You can also very easily verify the number of guests in your opening email with something like "Your reservation states: 1 guest, if this is incorrect please advise the correct number of guests. Thank you".

You want to be careful about posting comments that can be miscontrued here since there are many "Asians" acting as hosts and the majority of "Asians" have the same propensity to be honest or dishonest depending on the individual.

[Tracey250]

I totally agree with you.

I recently had guest booking for 1 people but showed up at my place 2, they are not Asian.

[Zak-and0]

We always ask this and they ignore this fact ! 

[Stanley187]

Always expect and charge for the maximum?

 Would you be able to charge the maximum and refund or would that affect your ratings too or not be legal?

[Zak-and0]

This has been happening with me in Baltimore; every time people book with 1 guest and bring 2 guests and they say oh ur listing mentioned 2 guests ( yet that’s the total no of guests ; that we can have in that room) and when I demand them for extra cost ; they get mad and I get a bad review 😞 airbnb doesn’t cover it and doesn’t remove it 😞  so many guests don even pay and Airbbn ends up in paying. What is my best option to deal with this situation. 

[Ana1136]

@Zak-and0 the best thing to do is to contact them first thing after they book and confirm how many people are coming. If it is one great, but if they booked for one and two are planning to come alter their reservation explaining that the correct number of guests must always be disclosed and tell them that if they don't want to they can cancel penalty free in the first 48h after booking.

[Yurni0]

Dear Ana.

I plann to stay in Adelaide for two weeks. I book one of hostels. There is option 1 guest, 2 guest etc. There is no explanation, what is 1 guest means?.

For example, my husband come with me. What will I choose? 2 guest? If I choose 2 guest, I  and my husband will stay in different room. I will not stay in saparate room with my husband. So, the another room will be useless.

Once I ask the owner, if I book one guest, can I take my husband with me? Unfornutely there was no answer.

I think, perhaps there is option for couple.

[Ana1136]

@Yurni0 you must report 2 guests and find a property with one room that suits you, 2 guests does not automatically mean 2 separate rooms. That is why you have so much listings to choose from, but you must always say the exact number of people if you don't want your stay canceled upon arrival with an extra guest. 

[Yurni0]

@Ana1136 I see, 2 guest in one room. How about the payment,  will it be charge for 2 guest? if it yes, It will more expensive.

[Ana1136]

@Yurni0 of course it will be more expensive, you will spend more water, more electricity, more towels... There are hosts who charge a flat fee for 2 guests and there are hosts who charge extra fee after the first guests but the total is pretty much the same, in both cases you need to disclose every guest that is going to stay there. The host has the right to cancel your reservation on the spot if you fail to do this and you will be left on the street searching for a new place, it isn't wort it. 

[Zak-and0]

@Ana1136 Thanks for the advice I will do it next time and see how it goes ! Thanks 

[Alexandra790]

Good answers here. I wonder if I need to decline such request or not. I have received a request for 1 person clearly talking about two. If I accept it means I am ok with this? I replied: "You are welcome, but book for two", without accepting or declining, no answer yet and the request is still pending. Wonder what is the best move here.

[JJ48]

I get this frequently.  I accept their reservation and then send a message asking how many are coming and then send a change request for the additional guests.  Sometimes people actually say, "My wife and I are coming..." so it's even easier to say, "I accepted your reservation, but you only booked for 1 and surely your wife is staying with you? ..." It's really just a mistake most of the time so I don't see any reason to decline the booking over it, I just adjust it later.  All you are agreeing to is what the reservation request includes so if you have to,  you can say, Ok, your reservation is for 1 so don't bring anyone else - because that is all you have agreed to, a reservation for 1.  It is in the guest's interest to either accept the change request or cancel the reservation.  I let them decide but no one has ever cancelled, they have always updated. 

[Max473]

I rent out a large house which can sleep up to 15 guests.  What I'm finding recently is that I get booking requests for say 4 or 5 guests, yet there will be more in the actual booking.  As it's an exclusive rental, it's a cheaper way for a large group to book and have the house to themselves, yet for less. 

It seems that the airbnb system is based upon honesty, so if there are actually 14 or 15 guests coming, they should book for the real number whereas I'm finding that a much smaller group are booking, yet the rest of the larger group also come anyway.  As you'll know, we as owners input a nightly rate based upon maximum number of guests and airbnb calculate the rest.  

The more guests that book, the more money I get (and commission to airbnb), or the fewer guests that book, the less I get - yet the booking will still get to have the house anyway, regardless of 1 or 15 guests.  It's a much cheaper way for a large group to book and have the house to themselves.  And when I point this out to the clients, they get defensive or cancel. 

Considering the larger extent of clearning up after larger groups (and wear and tear, linens to be laundered, etc...) I'm the one loosing out while the clients are gaining.  Surely I can't be the only person finding this loop-hole?  What am I to do?  Has anybody else been finding this and how have you managed it?

[Helen3]

I don't agree the Airbnb system is based on honesty @Max473 

it is up to hosts to put systems in place to protect their assets and Airbnb business.

At a minimum you should have CCTV or similar for your entrances, house rules that make it clear a booking will be cancelled if they bring in guests that haven't booked and paid, even just as day visitors.

And yourself or a local co-host in place to meet and greet as you have such a large property.

Finally your own home insurance for STRs is essential.

Are these measures already part of your listing?

@Max473  just had a quick glance at your listing - why are you asking for a cash deposit - it is against Airbnb's T&Cs - they state clearly hosts are not allowed ask for cash outside of Airbnb and doing so if a guest complains could result in them closing down your listing and Airbnb account.

Please do take the time to read through the basics about how Airbnb works.