Late Check-in Advise

[Lisa1722]

Hello Fellow Hosts,

I need some advise. I have a guest that booked my place for 3 weeks, yay! She was supposed to arrive last Thursday, but she has not checked in. She did inform me that she would be arriving later than scheduled, however, she has not given me a date in order to modify her reservation.

We are communicating, and she assured me that she isn't looking for a refund but she just doesn't know what day she will be arriving. She also does not want to cancel in fear that my place will no longer be available. However, I am kinda uneasy about receiving funds for days she did not use the my space. At the same time, since she doesn't want to cancel, I am not able to open the dates for other guests.

My fear is that she won't come and will ask for her $ back, which she is entitled too. However, I would have lost out on 3 weeks worth of income from other guests. Is there anyone out there that experienced something similar? What did you do?

[Branka-and-Silvia0 · Accepted solution]

@Lisa1722 

if she cancels and when she cancels, she will be refunded according to your cancelation policy except if she claim for extenuating circumstances but obviously this isn't the case.

Enjoy your days off 🙂

[Emilia42]

@Lisa1722 why do you feel she is entitled to the money? She is willing to pay you to block off your calendar because she doesn't want to lose the dates to someone else. There is a price associated with that. I had a similar situation the spring where the guest was driving half way across the country to relocate (2 week reservation.) They planned to get there on the 1st but did not anticipate how long the drive really was and then it became the 2nd, and then the 3rd. Anyway, they didn't end up rolling in until the night of the 4th. They never asked for their money back and I never planned to refund any money. Those days were reserved for them whether they used them or not.

[Giuliana142]

I currently have a guest who was supposed to arrive yesterday. He texted me that he will be late. I immediately called Airbnb help desk and clarified with them that I have a strict check in policy, 2-4 pm and if a guest can’t make it they have to come the next day during my check in hours. This guest was making all kinds of excuses to Airbnb. I did not budge. I told Airbnb that I am running a business here and everyone has to respect our mutual agreement. I emphasized that I do not accept guests in the evening. I did that once last year, I allowed one guy to check in at 10 pm and he was pure trouble. I had to call the police to get him out. So no more flexibility there. Unless there’s an airplane scheduled to arrive to this country late, I will not allow people to move my own schedule. As I always say: my house - my rules!

This guest is now going to check in 3 days later, I made sure Airbnb pays me for every single day based on his original booking. This way I receive a full payment. If the guest is here or not - that’s his problem. Instead of 14 days he will now be staying 11 days. Airbnb still paid me for 14 days. Suits me fine. He has to take care of his own business. If anyone blocks my calendar they are responsible to pay for that. It’s my time wasted if they’re not here.