Pre-Approval didn't block dates in calendar

[Karen578]

Very new to hosting and getting around the ABB website.

Have a curious problem I need help with please...........

Guest enquiry for dates over Xmas.  I answered their queries and clicked on "pre-approve" for those dates requested.

In the meantime, another guest requested a booking for exactly same dates and that's blocked off my calendar.

First guest now wants to book, but I can't because the dates are blocked. 

What can I do?

Thanks,

Karen

[Christian65]

When you pre-approve a guest you have the option of blocking those dates they're asking about. You didn't do that so another guest sent your a booking request which you could decline in order for you to accept the first inquiry. Or you could accept the booking request and remember to block dates in the future. 

Now that you're new to this, i'd recommend you uses the guides and read about how it works. Especially about requests and inquiry's:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Tips-Tutorials/Difference-between-a-Reservation-Inquiry-or-Reque...

Guides:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help/Community-Help-Guides/m-p/23100#M311

Good luck hosting!

[Monica383]

Can I go back and block the dates once I pre approve.  I don’t want to delete the preappoval.

[Matthew285]

@Monica383 recently I have been offered the option to block the dates even I did not block them initially.

And @Sarah977

Also, I noticed the language of the "blocking" has changed. Now it doesn't say it prevents anyone from booking the dates... it says it just stops people form making an *instant* booking of those dates. They apparently can still send you an Booking Request or Inquiry. 

At that point it is up to you to choose the guest you want to have those dates.

[Sarah977]

@Matthew285  Thanks for the info, I don't use Instant Book, at least for now, but I do like to know as much as possible about how the system works and any changes to the platform.

[Sarah977]

@Monica383   For an Inquiry, if you block the dates, you will have to let the person know that you have done that and if they want to book, they need to let you know, as they won't be able to book blocked dates. Then you will have to unblock the dates if they are ready to send a Booking Request. Or I believe someone posted that there is an option to click on block dates on the preapproval, that way it is held for that Inquiry until the Inquiry expires (not sure about that, as I've never done it), or the guest does book.

It's not a great idea to block dates for an Inquiry, as plenty of Inquiries are never booked- the person may have sent out 10 Inquiries for all you know and you may very well never hear from them again. There was one guest who I really wanted to host, so I messaged her to let her know that if she still wanted to book those dates, she should act on it ASAP, as dates don't get automatically blocked on an Inquiry and if I got a Booking Request from someone else I'd have to accept it.

(She did book and ended up being my favorite guest and we have now become friends.)