Are guests entitled to reschedulet their booking?

[Valerie283]

One of our guests asked to reschedule their booking 3 days prior to their arrival.

We suppose it is because we had set to strict cancellation policy so they wouldn't get any refund back.

However they couldn't give an alternative date and they're paying for one weekend holding us up 2 weekends if they come again on different dates.

Is it fair and resasonable?

[Marzena4]

You don't have to agree to any alteration of the reservation, @Valerie283. But if you want to open your calendar again, you will have to. Otherwise it will remain blocked.

[Valerie283]

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@Marzena4wrote:

You don't have to agree to any alteration of the reservation, @Valerie283. But if you want to open your calendar again, you will have to. Otherwise it will remain blocked.

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Hi @Marzena4 The request seemed to be just a usual exchange message through airbnb.  How could airbnb detect and unblock the dates for us?

[Paul154]

Credit them for a future stay, if they cancel.

That way they don't need to give you a date right now and you keep their money, protecting yourself from their scam.

Do nothing if they don't cancel timely.

[Valerie283]

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@Paul154wrote:

Credit them for a future stay, if they cancel.

That way they don't need to give you a date right now and you keep their money, protecting yourself from their scam.

Do nothing if they don't cancel timely.

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Thanks @Paul154.

The guest eventually cancelled the booking as we couldn't allow rescheduling without giving us time to possibly seek another guest to replace which means we're paid for one period but reserve the place for 2 periods.  Is it fair and reasonable?  Moreover a rescheduling without a date was impossible as we wouldn't know what would happen in the future.  If she asked for reschedule with a date and gave us time to readvertise we might consider even though we have the cancellation policy set to be strict.

Anyway, she asked to reschedule on the 20th March 2018 while she was supposed to arrive on the 23rd March 2018 yesterday.  Even if we took the first date as cancellation it is already too late. She breached the cancellation policy which we have set.

Now she asks for refund for the full amount she thinks we get though airbnb had cut their service fee from the host.  We have a few days to respond but we don't think we would receive the money in time and definitely not the full amount she asks for.

So what's the point of having set the cancellation policy while the guests can totally ignore.

[Sandra126]

This is not reasonable. If they book a date over two weeks in the future, they can cancel penalty free. What I say to guests who cancel short notice is this: Once you have cancelled, the calendar will free up for others to book. Should I get covered, or covered at a reduced price, or even just one of the nights, you will be refunded for the money covered by the new guests.

Guests think this is fair, and they sometimes get fully refunded. I usually drop the price in an effort to cover.

If nobody books, you will still get paid under Strict.

You haver this policy for a reason, use it!

[Valerie283]

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@Sandra126wrote:

This is not reasonable. If they book a date over two weeks in the future, they can cancel penalty free. What I say to guests who cancel short notice is this: Once you have cancelled, the calendar will free up for others to book. Should I get covered, or covered at a reduced price, or even just one of the nights, you will be refunded for the money covered by the new guests.

Guests think this is fair, and they sometimes get fully refunded. I usually drop the price in an effort to cover.

If nobody books, you will still get paid under Strict.

You haver this policy for a reason, use it!

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Thanks @Sandra126

We think they should pay at least for the first night if they cancel like what most hotels do unless they give plenty of time for readvertising.  How can we ensure the strict policy is enforced?  Don't AirBnB mediate or intervene?  Isn't it their job to make sure all parties follow the rules, not only the hosts?

[Sandra126]

Airbnb simply pays you out according to policy, so you don't have to do anything. Unless YOU choose to pay them a refund, or part refund. When a guest doesn't show, same deal. You get paid regardless. Wait until after the weekend, if you have no new booking, don't refund at all. If you have a new booking, or part of, refund.

[Sandra126]

Or if you wanted to be nice, as you suggested, pay them for one night but I don't, usually.