Airbnb instant booking conditions aren't working or aren't clear enough

[Agustin14]

Hello, a few moments ago i received an instant booking reservation for tomorrow. The issue with this is that i had the "Recommendation from other hosts" option selected. However, this user has absolutely no reviews. Luckily he will stay a few days only, and obviously it's not his fault. But I don't understand how he was able to instant book my place. I have had to turn off instant booking, knowing that now it will be harder to find for those recommended users, but after this I haven't another options.

I hope someone can shed some light to this issue, because right now I'm not pleased with Airbnb.

[Lilly12]

I have to say, I'm not sure why anyone would want to use instant booking. There's no way I would ever rent my place to someone without first having a conversation with them.

[Ange2]

@Agustin14   I have seen many stories where is doesn't seem to matter what you check, seems with IB anyone can book with no ID and no reviews.  I  had the same when I did an experiment with IB, the person had no ID and no reviews.  I, too, accepted them as they agreed to upload an ID after they had booked, at my request.  If not I would have had to decline them with possibly a loss to my ranking.   Glitch?  or Airbnb gambling on hosts taking people, as you and I decided to do, that didn't fill the checked requirements for making a reservation?

[Agustin14]

If this is happening on purpose then it's pretty outrageous, and if it isn't they should adress it as soon as posible. I'm really dissapointed with this and it is definitely not the way to get more hosts into IB.

[David126]

I think it means someone who has not had a thumbs down, certainly unclear.

[Raffaele-and-Astrid0]

HI @Agustin14

Could be a bug of the system, or I think  they take everything no matter what, based on statistics:

- how many booking could possibily going wrong?  1 out of 1.000 worldwide, maybe 10? good, we take the risk and let them booking, checked guest or not, if something happen we will figure out how to fix it.

so they take all possible booking, and if something go wrong the hosts will pay, because the fees are always safe. what a wonderful investment risk. 🙂

is like App development, put on the market a App half complete, and fix the problems while running after sale.  Windows OS do this from '95.

Anyway, good luck with everything.

Cheers Raf