guests asking for available dates rather than the dates they want, should I decline or just reply

[Arlene3]

Do I get penalty if I decline a "fishing" request?

[Letti0]

@Arlene3  Just reply. I avoid decining anything when possible. 

[Emiel1]

@Arlene3

Is it an inquiry or a request ?

Inquiry: Just answer it and let it go.

Request: You must choose accept or decline within the time limit, but you can do some more communication within this limit to make up your mind. Only if you decline to much requests, it will affect your rating. But no direct penalties involved. BTW A third option is: ask the guest to cancel the request. I useally do this when guests asks something with is not possible according to the listing.

(But keep an eye on the time limit).

Best regards,

Emiel

[Sarah977]

@Arlene3  As Emile stated re the Inquiries, and if the guest put it through as a booking request, but at dates other than they actually want,  just approve it and let the guest know you've done that toherwise you will be panalized by Airbnb -then guest will either withdraw their booking request, or let it expire. In any case, you haven't "declined" anything.

[Emilia42]

@Arlene3

I tell them that the dates are unavailable as stated by my calendar. However, I approve their request because if they wanted to stay the dates that they actually selected then that’s fine by me. This way I don’t get dinged for declining and the guest will never book anyway since those are not their wanted dates.

[Arlene3]

I have done that too, and if they keep writing to me there's a reply button so i think that has to be answered in 24 hours.......jeeeeez!

[Sarah977]

@Arlene3    Do you understand the difference between an Inquiry and a Booking Request?  If you just respond to an Inquiry without Pre-approving or Declining within the 24 hour window, this should keep the clock from ticking on your response time, and according to what most hosts report, and was also verified by Lizzie, the moderator some time ago, we are not dinged on response time if we just answer an Inquiry message without pre-approving or declining. 

A booking request is different- you do have to Approve or Decline within the 24 hours, but that doesn't stop you from messaging back the guest with questions, reasons as to why your place wouldn't be a good fit for them, etc, first. Then, if they don't withdraw their request, or enter the dates they actually want, you can then Approve or Decline as long as you haven't passed that 24 hour mark, for which you will get dinged on response time. But as others have said, there are ways to avoid having to Decline.