cancel a reservation

[Rudi7]

I canceled a reservation as a host when I found the details of the guests. Their age and size does not fit to our listing. I have now blocked dates and can not host anyone else on the blocked dates. Do you have any idea how to resolve the issue. Thanks.

[Linda108]

@Rudi7  Host cancellations on this platform trigger automated penalties.  Here is a link to the Help Center article about host cancellations.  Click on the link to the penalties.  

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/166/how-do-i-cancel-a-reservation-as-a-host

As a rule, a host should not cancel without help from Air BNB.  If you are not comfortable with a guest and you have Instant Book, you are allowed to cancel without penalty but you have to state you are not comfortable when making the cancellation.  If you did not do that, contact Air BNB so a human can intercede on your behalf to open the dates.  There is a guide on the site for contacting Air BNB.  It's the second selection under Discuss.

[Donald28]

as a host you should never cancel a reservation unless absolutely necessary. It really comes back to bite you later. You should have messaged the guest and told them they had too many people in their party or something else and ask THEM to cancel their own reservation. That doesn't effect you or your airbnb standing. 

You lose the chance to become a super host for a year when you cancel too. 

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

Hello @Rudi7,

If a host cancels a reservation, there will be penalties.  These include blocking the dates, ineligibility for super host status for a year and sometimes a fine.  This is primarily to prevent discrimination (age?  size?!?) but also to promote guest confidence that a reservation really is a reservation.  

If you ever need to cancel in the future for a good reason (flood/fire/serious illness), you can have the company so the cancelling for you.  Not liking someone's...size...will NOT fly.

You are always welcome to ask all sorts of questions about why the person is coming, and other details, BEFORE approving the booking, and then you can decline if you are not comfortable.