We have just found out the hard way, when a guest cancelled on us AFTER ARRIVAL, that the "Strict" cancellation policy for Korean guests, while already different to a standard "Strict" policy, has changed to be even further away from the cancellation policy for guests for all other countries. The new Korean guest "Strict" policy allows guests to cancel their stay AT ANY TIME DURING THEIR STAY and still receive up to 50% refund.
The "old" Strict FOR KOREAN GUESTS : If the guest cancels less than 7 days in advance or decides to leave early after check-in, the nights not spent are not refunded.
The "strict_new"as Airbnb called it, FOR KOREAN GUESTS: If the guest cancels before 12pm on any day after check in: Cancel within this time period and you’ll be refunded 50% of the remaining booking value, excluding that night and fees.
To highlight, while we are aware that Korean guests are provided more flexible cancellation policies by Airbnb, we were not made aware of this change to the "special cancellation policies".
Hosts must be aware also, that, while Airbnb advise hosts that they can decline a booking from a Korean guest without penalty, due to the "special" cancellation policies they offer Korean guests, Airbnb DOES include this decline in the numbers when assessing for Superhost.
**This issue is entirely separate to the current COVID-19 extenuating circumstances cancellations, but is a further indicator of the lack of care Airbnb is showing hosts by not informing them of these significant changes which leave hosts exposed to further last minute/ during trip cancellations in NORMAL situations, outside of, and beyond COVID cancellation circumstances. **
