Guest asks for refund for an additional person fee because that person didn't show up.

[Deb84]

Guest contacted me a  before the stay to let me know there would be an additional guest which kicked in an extra person fee. Following reviews (positive on both ends)  Guest asked if I could return the extra person fee because the extra person didn't come as planned.  I should note that I did not meet these folks at check-in and didn't hear from them at all during their stay--even though I did reach out.  What are my responsibilities in this case?  

[Ange2]

@Deb84    It's up to you what to do,  you do not have to return the fee. As you said you do not know if the extra person stayed.

[Jann3]

The number of guests they pay for is the number BOOKED, not STAYED...

ie: There is no way to validate this one way or the other. Have they reviewed you already? If not - refund... if so, don't refund. That's totally unfair, I know, but it's what I would do. You have no way to validate what the guest is claiming.

[Helga0]

@Deb84, did the extra fee include preparing an extra room or bed? If I had to do work, I would not refund. 

As said by someone, it concerns people booked, not who actually stayed. And the announcement after you can check it, is a bit late. To get a train fare back, you have to cancel before traveling day too.  (If it's refundable)

If you believe it, if they were great guests, you can give a token refund. Or offer a reduction on the next trip. 

I suppose, if you refund everything he asks, he will play the game every time he travels. Does not hurt trying...

[Deb84]

Thanks to all of you for your commentary.  I'm new to AirBnB so I really appreciate your feedback. I think I would be most comfortable offering a reduced rate for a future stay.  Other than making that offer via the e-mail platform, is there a way to record my offer on the AirBnB site?  

[Helga0]

@Deb84, I write such offers in the message thread and tell them to ask for a special offer next time. When you get a new contact from the guest, even after years and on other listings or via a very old mail they kept, the old conversations are always visible.

That's a great feature, another argument, to do everything via the airbnb message. I always look up, what repeat guests asked last time, so I can offfer things, that may interst them or tell them what changed in town in the domain they were interested in.