Booking

[Susan-Lynn1]

Why is it necessary to upload all of your personal information when you can just be denied a booking request despite the place being available? 

[Emiel1]

@Susan-Lynn1 

Updating your profile with personal information, like ID, etc is an obligation from Airbnb.

A booking request is declined by the specific host (not by Airbnb)

[Andrea4731]

Yes the host has the right to decide if they would like to allow someone in their home. Sometimes they decline due to red flags such as no previous reviews, lack of communication, lack of reading or responding to listing details or house rules… etc. You may have better luck with a place that is listed with “Instant Book” but even those sometimes have parameters.

[John5097]

@Susan-Lynn1 

Airbnb or the host may require ID be verified, or if guest needs to upload government ID. 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1237/verifying-your-identity

Host would need to select their booking requirements for all guest. While Airbnb only requires some guest to upload information when attempting to make a reservation. Also if a guest profile simply says "ID verified" the host wouldn't know if the guest only provided phone, email, or if they uploaded a government ID. (Unless host using Instant Book require it, see below.) 

I and many host wish Airbnb would require government ID for all guest before booking. 

Here is a little more info about booking settings. 

Host can choose Request to Book or Instant Book. 

For Request to Book, host also can't see the guest profile picture when requesting to book so if guest also doesn't complete profile the host can be looking a black screen with no reviews, so its a good idea for guest to include a relevant first message. 

However, for Instant Book, host can select that guest need to upload government ID and guest could instant book. Host may also require a profile picture, and previous reviews to instant book.

But once a guest has one positive review they can usually Instant Book and host would also approve a request to book if there are no other red flags. Guest usually want to find the best place to stay so are fine with any of the booking requirements a host may have as each listing is different and some carry much higher risk and liability and even concern for personal safety. 

 

[Mark116]

@Susan-Lynn1  Your 'personal information' is needed to meet the very low standards Airbnb has for being able to book on the platform.  I don't know why you may have been declined by the host, but since most Airbnb's are privately owned by individual hosts, obviously people are able to broadly agree or not agree on who to host and what their parameters are.  Certainly, if you are uncomfortable with the process or the amount of information required by Airbnb and/or any host, you are free to choose a hotel or similar type of property.