can a host add the 'pay less up front' feature to a one off special offer?

[Helen834]

Hi,

I am a host and have just had an enqiry as follows for a booking in mid July...

I’m really interested in booking but just wanted to know if we were able to pay half up front and the rest in July.

To be honest as I have never booked a hoilday through Airbnb, I was not really aware when or how guests make their payment. I just know that the payment is

in my account the following day after the guests arrival. I now realise that they are required to pay Airbnb at the time of booking.

I am now also aware there is a  'Pay less up front' feature. I do not want to add it as a permanant feature on my listing, but wondered if anyone knows if it can be offered as a Special Offer (as a one off gesture) when replying to the enquiry?

I would appreciate any advice on this as I can only find help articles for the guests, not the hosts on this subject.

Many thanks in advance.

[Ana1136]

@Helen834 that option can only be offered by Airbnb on the reservations that qualify. If it wasn't suggested to you when booking that means that your reservation doesn't qualify. The host has no say in this, they are not notified on the way the guests pay. 

[Helen834]

Thank you for your replay.

I suppose there is no way around this and I will just have to 'decline' the booking request.

[Ana1136]

@Helen834 you don't have to decline it, just tell them that Airbnb handles all the payment, if they wish they can contact them.

[Helen834]

but as far as I can see I only have 3 options

1. Pre-approve
2. decline
3. special offer

I can not approve, as for the reasons you have mentioned. If I selcet the approve option I have to  agree to thier  offer, which I can not.

So my only available options are 'decline' or 'Special offer'.

I don't think I can just send them a message without choosing one of the three options.

[Helen3]

Hello @Helen834 

I know you are an experienced superhost, but it might be worth you refreshing your memory by looking at the Airbnb Help Centre around how booking inquiries and booking requests work and how split payment works.

All you need to do is respond to your guest if it is an inquiry (yes you can just message them) and say that if split payments are available for their booking then it will show them this option when they book. (Have a look at Airbnb Help Centre under split payments). If it is a request you have 24 hours to correspond with the guest before you need to accept or decline.

Normally split payment is available for guests who are booking some time in advance, so if they were travelling say in August or September they can exercise this option.