Couple refuses to register as 2 guests

[Calvin0]

I charge a small surchage of $15 per day for a second guest. They get two(2) sets of keys, there is extra noise, extra wear the tear, etc.  This one couple say they are renting the room as a couple and refuse to register as two guests. Any ideas?

[Dave-and-Deb0]

Hi @Calvin0,

When do these guests check in?  

It is clear in your listing that you charge an extra fee of $15 per extra guest over one so the guest should have put in two guests when booking.  I would go to the resolution center and alter the reservation to two guests and see if they accept it (which you already know they won't).  When they do not accept it, contact Airbnb and explain the situation to them and hopefully they can re-home them.  You cannot accept them as a couple when they only reserved as one person as you may not be covered by their insurance.  You could also just contact Airbnb first since they already said they will not pay the extra person fee.  

Any other suggestions?

Dave

[Sara2]

If you have a double bed available to couples why don't you charge a couples fee?

[Dave-and-Deb0]

How do you charge a "couples fee" @Sara2?  I am not aware of that fee on Airbnb.  

Dave

[Ed-and-Hugh0]

I would ask them to cancel or correct the reservation. If they don't do either, contact Airbnb, and ask them to cancel or correct.

[Luis-and-Tati0]

Hi @Calvin0

Important question...

Are they already checked-in??

If they are already checked-in

1- The best and fastest thing to do is negotiate a fee that will make both sides happy...

2- You can try to contact Airbnb and ask them to adjust the reservation accordingly to the number of guests present... If they say NO, they might give you the option to ask the guest to leave, this will not be pleasant for you or for your guest...

3- You accept that he will not pay and you take the losses...

If the guest haven't checked in yet...

1- They finally agree and pay the fee

2- You contact Airbnb CS and ask them to resolve the problem for you... They might cancel the reservation on guest behalf or as a mutual agreement...

3- The guest changes his mind and travel alone...

In no circumstances cancel the reservation unless you understand there will be penalties and potentially some fees if you do...

I highly suggest you to add a security deposit on your listing... will not only help you if  the guest damage something inside your house but will also be useful for moments like this...    

Luis

[Calvin0]

Hi All,

          Thank you for the respones!   The issue has been resolved. I changed the reservation to two (2) people and they accepted the change.

           Before they booked the reservation I requested that they chage the reservation to two people. When they protested, saying they were a couple, was when I contacted the community. I have one of the lowest rates in the area. I didn't think charging a little extra for a second guest was that big a deal. Maybe when I have a break in renters I will lower it to $8 to be less of an issue.

           Thanks again,

Calvin

[Joseph0]

I wouldn't lower your extra person fee as it seems reasonable . When being a host on Airbnb it requires us to have a polite but firm manner with guests . If your rules are an additional fee , then the guests must agree to it in advance . When they show up as yours did , it shows that they do not respect you or your home and house rules . 

While sometimes if the guests are not native language speakers they may have some issues understanding everything , so a polite discussion with them always helps . 

Nobody wants to have a Conflict with a Host or Guest as it makes for an uncomfortable stay , but never let a guest take advantage of you in your own home . 

Your other option is to raise your room rate the $15.00 and have no extra charge if there are up to two guests . but you do run the risk of not getting Singles or people asking for Discounts , so I would stay with it as you currently do 

[Kimberly247]

I don't know if this thread is still open but I have an opposing view.  I am not a host - I am a client.  I am a frequent Air BnB user and almost exclusively travel with my husband.  If a space is adverstised as a 1BR, I don't expect to be charged for an extra guest.  My husband is not a guest - he is my other half and we share a bed.  We are not going to use the extra couch bed that may be  provided.  If you are worried about towels, etc, I can supply my own.  $15 a night for an extra person is not a small fee - it adds up.  If a host needs to account for the extra utilities -perhaps a small overall surcharge is acceptable. Would I pay it if I were traveling with a friend?  Yes, because one of us would use the pull out couch.  Beyond that, not much else would change between two individual guests versus a couple.  Just voicing my opinion. 

[Deborah175]

I get that what you're posting is an opinion. The point is that when a person books a room, they are required to register the number of guests. A couple is not one person. If the guest correctly registered, the additional fee would have been charged. The Airbnb member registered falsely. The same thing happens to me frequently, and, in my case, I find myself confronting an unexpected person (a man when I'm expecting a woman, for example) in my kitchen or coming out of my bathroom 

I have a very good reason why I charge for additional guests, as there is only one shared bathroom; having a couple is a massive inconvenience to me in the morning. Lots of couples each take two showers a day, I've found. Beyond being unable to get into the bathroom myself, we have water shortages that mean extra charges and water rationing. Every Airbnb is someone's business, and hosts set prices based on what their circumstances. Its someone's HOME, not a HOTEL.