Check in times

[Pat295]

I have a guest arriving Thursday. Very little contact except he has asked how to get to my place from Stansted airport as his flight arrives at 9.45pm. My check in is between 4pm-10pm It's a 2 hour journey from airport to my house via public transport not including the time it takes to get of plane etc. I can't do a check in after midnight when I have others in the house sleeping and I also have to get up for work in the morning. Where do I stand. 

[Emiel1]

@Pat295 

This is (in the best circumstances !) an arrival far after midnight, which IMO is not acceptable.

So you have to inform the guest about this, the guest should arrange accomodation elsewhere for this night.  Or you charge extra for the very late check-in or call Airbnb for advise on this issue:

Contact Airbnb - Community Guide [Updated]

Best regards,

Emiel

[Gordon0 · Accepted solution]

@Pat295 - Thankfully your listing makes your check in times clear. Get on to CS. They'll ask you to be flexible. Ask them if they'd like to come round and wait up until after midnight to accomodate the guests. You charge too little for this stuff. 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Pat295 

it's rude when guests don't care  about check-in time, we are not hotels with 24/7 receptionist. It happens often to us too and it makes me angry.

If you don't want or can't check in your guests at 0:30 then you should let him know and tell him he can either cancel or stay elsewhere the first night and then check in tomorrow from x: xx until x:xx h when you came home from work.

[Pat295]

That you for your reply Brahma and Silvia.  that's exactly what I said that I can't do check in that late. I offered 1p.3p latest but still no response. 

[Pat295]

Thankyou everyone for your kind replies. I'm glad I'm not doing anything unacceptable. Check in is clear and I can't accommodate. Thanks guys for your help

[Mary703]

Hi Pat, I just had a guest who left a comment that he had to curtail his evening to check in by my 10 pm deadline. I have my times clearly stated, but my guest wanted a "hotel" experience. Since I only charge $38, and hotels in the area start at $200, the savings should outweigh the inconvenience. However, it did cost me and I got only a 4 star rating. The bummer is this guest is also an Airbnb Host. 

If anyone has any good, polite language that they use in your listing, I'd love suggestions!

Pat, you are reasonable. I have had to sit on the couch until 1 a.m. waiting for guest, and then had to get up for work the next day. It's not worth the money.   : )

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Mary703 

However, it did cost me and I got only a 4 star rating. The bummer is this guest is also an Airbnb Host.

I suggest you visit his listing, on time, smiling, milk the experience and give one star. Karma.

[Sarah977]

Personally, I would try to accommodate the occasional late check-in. Depending on where guests are traveling from, there may not be any options for flights that would get them in in time to make the check-in window. You could always have a late check-in charge if that makes it feel worth your while.

[Pat295]

I think on the low cost of £16 a night then airbnb take there fees does not warrant me staying up until 1am when I had to be up at 6.30 for work. I have accommodated late check in before if it's a weekend or an hour later but wouldn't do it midweek and not 1am either for the money I get. 

[Sarah977]

@Pat295  That's why I suggested a late check-in fee, because it's definitely not worth waiting up for what you charge. But also perfectly reasonble not to be willing to wait up, even for more $, if it means you're only going to be getting 5 hours of sleep before a work day.

[Kat85]

I had a guest message and ask if it was possible to check in early.  I asked what time she would like to check in.  She said her flight lands at midnight so she would like to check in at 1am! I said I'm sorry that's not a early check in that's a late check in the day before! She basically wanted a free night's stay.  I sent her a special offer which included the night before in addition to the nights she was originally requesting. She booked it without problem. 

[Pat295]

That's great you were happy to stay up until 1am to do check in. I wasn't prepared to do that as I have to be up at 6am for work but good you added the extra night

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Pat295 

With the reliability of plane and public transport you will be lucky if a 2a.m. check-in was made. It should be remembered by guests that they book a home stay on the hosts terms. Expecting a check-in at 2.00 am is more than expectant especially as you need to work that day. The guest may completely agree with you on this.

If you didn't need to work things might be different. I can't really square off an additional check-in fee at that time if you just don't want it. No amount would be appropriate in those circumstances so I would tell the guest to make alternative arrangements with appologies.

If you were wanting to be more accomodating you might suggest that you could wait up at your local mechanic rates of £50 per hour to let them in? £200 extra for a 2.0 am check-in might make it worthwhile? - sort of puts a hosts services in perspective somewhat don't you think?

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Pat295 

Just noticed that your arrival date has been and gone. Also that your cancellation policy is flexible allowing your guest to cancel without penalty up to 24 hours in advance. your original post would have been well within this free cancellation, did you just ask the guest to cancel or just point out he couldn't arrive at 2.00 am? (I'm guessing he would just cancel then anyway). 

What actually happened?

Thanks.