@Paul158, Well Paul I certainly agree with other contributers that the timeframe my be a concern for some Airbnb hosts. especially those who may be in a temporary situation-eg renters or do not own/control their premises.
However, for seasoned hosts such as myself, who own and conrol our premises and have no intention of ceasing their Airbnb activities, a booking that far ahead is not a concern, in fact it is a bonus.
I have had many bookings of 12 months in advance and if the dates are open, then .... its a green light for any suitable guests.
Just be sure and do your due dilgence on your hosts. You want to avoid/be very cautious about booking with any host who has a track record of cancelling.
New hosts may be fabulous and great when you get to the time of your visit, but not yet able to display a history of commitment to their bookings if they are only just beginning. Again these things need to be considered, ask the host questions to build your knowledge before booking.
I had an experience last year of the host cancelling an overseas booking that had been in place for months. The window of opportunity to re-book was very short and a time of serious anxiety and disappointment as I realised this vulnerability in the AirBnb model.
Nonetheless, as there were plenty of hosts in the location I did get a replacement venue, with a newbie and it turned out to be fabulous. I was so pleased with where I was located, the host was an absolute delight! and the tariff was even better than at the original booking.
As long as your flights go ahead as planned, no doubt Airbnb will have plenty of hosts to place you as you travel to thes popular destinations.
I hope this is encouraging to you and others and your response is welcomed.
Best regards, Christine.