Changing a reservation request

[Eric420]

A guest has requested a reservation for his family of five, however the actual number in the request is for one person. The change request option is not available. I would like to accept the reservation but need the number of guests corrected. I have sent the guest a message to please correct the request to reflect 5 guests. Why is the "change reservation" or "send special offer" option not available on this particular inquiry? This has never happend before.   

[Marit-Anne0]

@Eric420

A change can only be made to a confirmed reservation and a special offer I believe is only available with inquiries.  A request is different as the guest is all ready to book at your asking price.  

You can accept the reservation and agree with the guest to change the number of persons in retrospect, but that is a risky business if you charge extra per person after one or two.

Secondly, you can decline and ask them to re-request with the correct number of persons.

[Eric420 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your excellent advice Marit Anne. Declined and welcomed the potential guest to resubmit the reservation request. Very helpful! 

[Neisha1]

Hi Eric, Did Airbnb penalise you for declining a request? I'm in the same position at the moment! Thank you!

[Christopher684]

I have a different requirement for changing the reservation request, prior to accepting it. I do sunday-to-sunday, and I get inquiries for saturday-saturday. I don't want to cancel it, but I don't see how to change it. (Do I get penalized for cancelling?) What I want to do is edit the dates (e.g., June 9-16 rather than June 8-15), but I don't see a way to do that. I also don't see a special-offer window/option.