Pre-approval

[Moira21]

Pre-approved a date for next weekend. The guest hasn't booked yet. My question is, if a different guest wants to book the same date is this possible as I've just turned on Instant booking?

[Linda108]

Preapproval does not guarantee the space for the potential guest, @Moira21.  If someone else acts to book they will get the booking.  It is the old "bird in hand" scenerio.

[Moira21]

Entered the dates for this weekend and my listing for the double room has disappeared. It would appear that I have to decline the original request to book before other guests can see my listing.

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

@Moira21 No, this isn’t the case. 

[Moira21]

Beg to differ @Cynthia-and-Chris1. My listing is visible for dates leading up to and after the 4th Nov. but disappeared when I included the 4th. If I don't remove the pre-approval other guests cannot book.

[Emiel1]

Hello,

Pre-approved requests for reservation should leave calender open for other guests to book, it's only an 24 hours opportunity.

But you decided to turn on instant booking after this mentioned pre-approval ?

Maybe there is a bug in the system which can not cope with that combination of actions,

just curious what happens if you turn off instant booking again....

Otherwise perhaps report this to Airbnb,

Best regards,

Emiel

[Moira21]

@Emiel1 Did as you said. Turned off IB and it made no difference. I see on my calendar the pre-approved guest is marked as 'awaiting payment'. As you said it's only a 24 hour opportunity, so will check tomorrow. Thank you

[Emiel1]

Hello Moira,

That's not only a pre-approval ! That's a pre-approved guest who booked allready, and now it's waiting for payment.

And yes, now the data are blocked, because there is a reservation. As @Steve143 explaines also in more detail below.

Best regards,

Emiel

[Cormac0]

@Moira

There are two options on the "pre-approval"

1. pre-approve and block dates
2. pre-approve and DON'T block dates

I NEVER block dates when I pre-approve as nine times out of ten they don't proceed with the booking, and your left beholding to them for no reason, thus denying other guest from booking.

In fact, it only happened the other day, one chap (pre-approved no dates blocked) was exploring his option while another chap instantly book, the potential was there to lose both guest.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Regards

Cormac

The Explorer's Club Krakow III

[Moira21]

@Cynthia-and-Chris1 Apologies, replied to you in error.

[Steve143]

Hello @Moira21,

If you pre-approve a guest and they then click on "Book" but have an issue with payment, the dates will be blocked for up to 24 hours to allow them to sort out the payment. As you say their status says "awaiting payment" this is what must have happened.

So, if they can't complete the payment your dates will be available again in 24 hours.

If you pre-approve and the guest doesn't then decide to book, your dates aren't blocked as you can pre-approve several guests simultaneously. In this case anyother guest who instant books or who sends a reservation request which you accept will get the listing for those dates.

Steve.

[Moira21]

Thanks for the info @Steve143

[Fred13]

Your 2nd message: "It would appear that I have to decline the original request to book before other guests can see my listing."

Initially, was it merely a 'Pre-Approval' on your part or a 'Request to Book" by a guest? If it was the latter, and accepted, then the 'Waiting Payment' and the blocking of specific dates for 24 hours is how the system normally works.

[Moira21]

@Fred0It was a pre-approval. The guest hasn't booked and I've just received an email from Airbnb advising me that the date is now available to other guests. 

Within that 24hr period my listing wasn't visible for the specific date, so other potential guests wouldn't have seen it to be able to instant book or request to book. A period where I could have received a confirmed booking. I've left IB on, it's less hastle.