Cancel reservation as a host

[Örvar-Birkir0]

My guest wanted to cancel his reservation but had problems going it more than two months before his trip. It should not have been a problem since my cancellation policy is "moderate." So he sent me a cancel request that I accepted. Now the date is blocked in my calender and I can´t book another guest for that date. What can I do?

[Marzena4]

To my knowledge, @Örvar-Birkir0, there is nothing like "cancel request" from a guest. If a guest wants to cancel, they do it without asking. Wasn't it a message from Airbnb asking for your approval of cancellation? If so, you must learn that it is as if you have cancelled it. The wording of such a message is pretty tricky of Airbnb's, hosts here warn each other to never accept such requests.

[Örvar-Birkir0]

Hihi Marzena

and thanks for your reply.

Yes, usually the guest just cancells the reservation himself and I get a message saying that the guest has cancelled. But in this case, for some reason, the guest had some troubles doing and sent me some e-mails saying that he is trying to cancel but was not able to. That and therefor he sent this request asking me to cancell that I thought was (like you said) and approval of cancellation. Request said "X asks you to cancel the reservation for xx/xx 2017." With that request was a comment from Airbnb saying it was important for me to accept this request so he could book another apartment. But after I accepted that the dates remain blocked and I'm really concerned that I will lose my Superhost status that I´ve had for over a year.

Best regards

Örvar

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Örvar-Birkir0

Looks like you were a victim of "Guest requests that YOU (host) cancel" request. If you have the message on Airbnb about the guest telling you he wanted to cancel, then contact Airbnb and explain the situation. Tell them you were not aware that clicking on "cancel" would mean it would become a host cancellation and ask them to unblock the dates. 

I experienced the same this a couple months ago and was able to get the dates unblocked. Good luck~

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/BEWARE-of-quot-Guest-requests-that-you-cancel-quot/m-p/4...

[Örvar-Birkir0]

Hihi Jessica and Henry

and thanks for you reply 🙂

It look like this is the case. I was aware of the penalty it would cause me to cancel it as a host (been hosting for over 1,5 year and never cancelled). That is way I asked the guest to cancel and he was more than willing to do so but had some issues cancelling the reservation. Maybe he was new to Airbnb and was doing something wrong, I don´t know. Then finally this request came from him that I cancelled so he could find another apartment. I gladly accepted since I thought I was doing him a favour. I didn´t notice any warning saying that I would harm my reputation if I did so or the dates would be blocked. This is very unfair to say the least.

Thanks again.

Örvar

[Linda108]

@Örvar-Birkir0  As you have been advised, your action to agree to the guest cancellation became your cancellation.  Fortunately you communicated through the Air BNB messaging system, right?  Contact Air BNB to have the calendar unblocked as you have proof the guest intended to cancel and had trouble doing so.  Here is a guide for contacting Air BNB.

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help/Contact-Airbnb-A-Community-Help-Guide/m-p/16165#M728  Good luck!!

[Örvar-Birkir0]

Hihi Linda 

and thanks for your reply

I have the communication that was all through Airbnb message system. I took a copy of that and sent to Airbnb held ca 22 hours ago but have not go any reply yet. Just a warning post from them saying that they might block my listing if I would cancel another reservation. They will probably cancel my Superhost status because of this. This is very harsh and unfair since I have never cancelled a reservation for the 1,5 year I´ve been hosting.

I thought I was doing my guest a favour by accepting his request since he (for some reason) had problems cancelling and needed to do so to be able to book another apartment.

But thanks again for your reply 🙂

Best regards

Örvar