I would like to cancel a reservation but I don't want to harm the party who reserved... thoughts?

[Carly74]

There are still almost 3 months to be able to look for somewhere else to stay, but there aren't a ton of airbnb rentals in my area. my friends are going to come to town that same time so I want to cancel the reservation I had made. I just don't want to harm the party who reserved.

[Susan151]

@Carly74 The penalties for canceling are quite severe. Of course, you will loose your superhost status, and then there are the fines which will be withheld from your future payments.

If this is just one group of guests, you could write them asking them to please cancel and that you would reimburse any fees they paid to AirBNB directly to them. If you choose to do this, perhaps include some links to similar listings in your area. But, they don't have to do as you ask.

Another alternative is to have your friends book one of those other AirBNBs.

As hosts, it is up to us to manage our calendars so unless your guest is particularly nice and/or flexible, this would be a host cancelation.

[Helen3]

Hi @Carly74 

It would be highly unfair for you to do this and quite honestly not that professional.

Just ask your friend to come another time.

If you have limited Airbnb in your area it would be harmful to your guest to do this as they have all the inconvenience of having to find somewhere else and probably higher costs.

As you there are penalties for hosts who cancel because Airbnb quite rightly takes host cancellations seriously.

[Carly74]

Thanks Helen and Susan, very helpful. I'll keep the reservation then.  I appreciate your advise.

[David6]

Personally I’d keep this booking and consider putting your friend up in an Airbnb. Maybe you could share it with her?

Or if you really are  needing to cancel - I would reach out to guest. Send a couple of links to near-by properties and ask if they would be suitable. Just be totally honest and say you will honour the booking and no way wish to inconvenience them, but if they agree to re-book you’d make up any shortfall or additional charges they face,  but you require your own property for friends who wish to visit.

if the guest agrees and all of this is documented via Airbnb messaging, then customer services can sometimes waive all cancellation penalties as they see you have mutually agreed a compromise with the guest and they are not left high and dry. 

[Jody79]

When we opened up our ABB, we made it very clear to our family and friends that if they wanted to visit and have use of it, they would need to let us know what days to block well in advance.  If they decide to visit during a time it was booked, they would be sleeping on couches and air mattresses.

On another note, we learned the hard way that when you block a day, you are actually blocking that night.  We had blocked a week for my Dad and stepmother as he is coming to visit us from Texas.  We then got a booking where the guests are checking out the day my Dad is coming into town.  We learned going forward that we need to also block the day before if we don't want someone checking out the same day.  I told my Dad they will need to wait until the guests check out and we clean up before they can have the space later that day.  They are good sports, so don't have a problem with it. 🙂

[Linda108]

@Carly74   Good for you!  I am glad you have decided to keep the reservation.  A caring, professional host such as yourself,  reflects positively on the whole community.   😄