@David3404 , good questions. We have 2 suites and a Glamper we rent and been "Most Flexible" since opening (3.5 years) and like Sarah , I've had very few cancellations (<5%) until now (>90%). The feedback we have received tells me we have received far more bookings I might not have gotten if I hadn't been 100% of hosts fees returned up to 24 hours from check in than those that received a refund.
@Sarah977 , A $20 fee sounds fair and good if said fast enough, unfortunately hosts charging $250 a night will want more and the hundreds of thousands that charge closer to $25 than $250 a night would be getting over half their normal charge payed to them for a cancellation and that wouldn't work either.
The new search filter button for "Flexible" hosts in the possible stays search might help point out the differences we are able to choose from as hosts and encourage booking us over someone that is not. Adding the 24 hour block between stays should also help encourage people to stay with us even during less than perfect viral times like this.
Turns out, being "Most Flexible" pays the same as being least during a pandemic (who would have thunk that?), we both get nothing either way when someone cancels! The difference between the two of us is who we are pointing our "Blame-throwers" at- Those with the least Flex seem to be overwhelmingly flaming "Prime Minister Chesky" and all of Airbnb with the wide net approach to fixing the blame. On the other hand those of us looking for more targeted ways to fix the problem mostly have always flexed the extra mile for our traveling customers are directing the heat precisely on the root of the cause, Covid 19 (Corona Virus, the invisible enemy within (the one we will be better off without!!!!). Im not trying to be judgmental with that noticement, every host has reasons for why they choose the options they do, just trying to keep it real and nearly factual when viewed from Bearpath Lodging (my house), ha ha!
Once we finally get through and hopefully survive this pandemic as a world, there will be plenty of time to play Sniper and work on some very irresponsible players, to be sure, they are far higher in the pecking order than Comrade Chesky and Company... Stay well, JR