Is Instant Book Down (1/22/19)

[Jennifer1421]

Just got a request to book from a potential guest who meets all my IB criteria. Approved her request and am now "Awaiting Payment" in the status (payment issue, apparently).

In the meantime, I checked my settings. Instant Book is turned on. Previewed my listing and it's appearing as "Request to Book", rather than the usual "Book". My partner sees the same thing when he checks the listing from his account. I haven't cancelled any requests, so I'm assuming the feature is just having a "time out" today? Anyone else expreiencing this?

Also, what are the odds on my prospective guest's payment issues being related?

Appreciate any light folks can shed on this...

[Paul1255]

@Jennifer1421 I had the same issue with my listing- I have and always will be IB, but in December all my bookings were request to book, and I didn't really click until bookings started to slow down for January.

I contacted Airbnb support and they said to turn IB off and then back on again, and indeed it worked 🙂 and I moved back up the rankings and bookings improved.

Try that for now and see if it helps!

Paul 🙂

[Jennifer1421]

Thanks @Paul1255

I did try that (including logging out and logging back in prior to turning it back on ond after). It's still showing as "Request to Book" both when I preview and when my partner checks from his account.

Like you mentioned though, I have seen a big drop in bookings for the next month. I did receive an IB yesterday, so it must be relatively recent. Maybe no one wants to go anywhere right now, since it's been -20C lately 😕

[Helen3]

No as you mention in your post, she wasn't able to book through IB as her payment is pending.

The odds are 100%

[Jennifer1421]

Thanks @Helen3

Can only assume the feature is down at the moment...here's hoping the issue is fixed soon.

[Helen3]

Sorry I wasn't clear, it is request to book as your guest hasn't sorted out payment as yet, so they can't use IB.

Nothing to do with Airbnb if I have understood you correctly.

If not, give them a call.

[Jennifer1421]

It's odd, I think, as the choice is normally just "Book", rather than "Request to Book", when I preview the listing. This is what makes me think that the IB feature is not working for me presently.

I likely will contact CS if it continues for a few hours. Maybe it's just a temporary glitch.

[Jennifer1421]

@Paul1255@Helen3

I just spoke to CS, and was told that they are doing a trial with random IB hosts, where 50% of guests (who would normally meet IB criteria) are shown the listing as a Request to Book, rather than an Instant Book. They are testing to see if there are fewer cancellations (on the guest's part AND the host's part) with Request to Book.

Seems like an odd way to go about it, and I've only had 2 cancellations from guests (none on my part) but there you have it. Instant Book is working and I do have it, but 50% of potential guests won't be able to use it with my listing. This is meant to last 7 days (not sure when it started), so I'll be sure to check back in a week to see if everything is back to normal.

The payment issue is unrelated, and has to do with a problem on the guest's side.

[Paul1255]

Hi @Jennifer1421 thanks for updating! Sounds a bit crazy, but there we go. Glad you at least have an answer to what has been going on.

Paul 🙂