Error in the calendar system

[Nishi0]

Has anyone else been experiencing issues with blocked dates on their calendar randomly unblocking? I reported this in the feedback section but nut not quite sure what happens from there. Basically, Blocked dates on my calendar keep opening up, and I dont know about it until a get an automatic booking!! And the Bookings are $15 cheaper per night than my asking rate!! What is happening? I already have two guests coming at a time when I myself will have to find other accommodation just to not cancel on them, and now i just have a third who booked. This maybe would have been ok if it was at least doing so at my regular rate! But the reduced rate makes it worse. I also can't find a way to contact anyone direclty on Airbnb which is really **bleep**ty. 

I really appreciate any feedback on what to do.

[Thomas385]

Our house also got booked today in a period where we are home, and cannot rent it out.

Actually three weeks in the end og August suddenly appeared unblocked, and we got a reservation for three nights, which I had to cancel.

Edited:

Nishi, take a look at your calendar settings. Mine where by default set up to add new dates three months ahead. That meant that Airbnb had unblocked one day at a time three months into the future from the day we created our listing. Suddenly three weeks were open at the end of August!

You can change the setting so dates are unavailable by default.

--

Thomas

[Robin4]

@Thomas385 @Nishi0 @Aine1 @Estie0

Hi Thomas, what you are experiencing is a common complaint and has been with us ever since 'Instant Book' was introduced to the platform.....well it's actually been around a lot longer than that but, it is only since the advent of Instant Book that it has become an issue. And for one reason or another Airbnb do not consider it a serious enough problem to actually fix....ridiculous but true!!

What is happening Thomas is, you currently have your booking window set to 3 months! You can block dates beyond three months ahead but, as each day comes along, the 3 month calendar window advances a day at the other end and as it comes to your blocked dates it re-opens them automatically for booking.

Now Thomas Airbnb have had more than 15 months to fix this problem but haven't so, we have to work around it, ok

Go to your calendar page and on the right side of the screen at the top you will see a box which says 'Availability Settings'! Click that and a drop down will appear and one of the options will show your booking window. It will give options for 3 months, 6 months, 'All future dates'! Set it to 'all future dates' and this will have the effect of removing the rolling calendar window for your calendar. Then for the dates that you do not want bookings set a 'start date and an end date' and that way dates that you block will remain blocked.

If you are not free to host on dates that have opened up as a result of this 'glitch' get onto Airbnb and they will cancel the bookings without penalty to you. All staff are aware of this problem and they put out these 'spot fires' as they arise!

Thomas, Nishi, Aine, Estie, this is a simply programming error, and why on earth Airbnb do not just get on and fix it instead of screwing around hosts and guests is utterly beyond me but there you go we have to deal with it as best we can!

Good luck all of you!

@Aine1, you can contact Airbnb on in Ireland: on +353 1 697 1831

Cheers.....Rob

[Aine1]

Very much appreciated Rob many thanks

Aine

[Thomas385]

Thanks for the detailed explanation and guide on how to change this setting.

Cheers,

Thomas

[Estie0]

I also keep getting requests for dates that I blocked off....it is very uncomfortable telling guests this.

[Aine1]

Im in the exact same situation.....I need help!! Anyone know how to contact Air B n B

[Judy29]

This week has been a nightmare with my calendar.  I have to go in almost daily now and get it back in sync.  I have called Airbnb and they assure me everything is ok, but it's not.  I just had to cancel a double booking for the busiest weekend of this year...10 days befo re arrival.  I know that everyone knows what that does to your reputation!  Im sick about it.  In 27 years never, NEVER had this experience and now it happens regularly.  Which booking do you cancel?  I chose the one that came from BBCanada site even though it is the most reliable; but the other booking came in first.  It did not show up in my files, hence taking the second booking.  Then out of nowhere it appears as confirmed booking.  Insult to injury now just days before this group arrives I see in the calendar that the guest booked the friday and saturday as two separate bookings and there is a reminder for only one of these days.  I am so confused now as I question if the friday was cancelled or never really booked.  This is just F&*(ing wrong.  I feel stupid having to contact this guest to find out if she is still booked on one or two days.  Im paying for this too.  Just not right.

I am on the phone with airbnb weekly complaining about constant screwups with their ghost bookings, dropped bookings, and booking that are delayed from "accepted" to "confirmed" and ending up with having to phone to cancel guests who end up double booking.  I am busy 95% of the time yearly and that is a lot of errors I just cant find time to correct their stupid errors.

How does everyone deal with this.  Has anyone gone to the program to get a partner to handle the bookings for them.  Or is this just another accident ready to happen.

[Aine1]

Hi ya

i am in the same boat! Dates that are booked.....but are not. When I try to book as a traveller for my own apartment.....all these false bookings come up where the dates are crossed out. I have been on the customer services a few weeks ago.....and still.....disasterous! Booking.com might be a better option. Once again now I will have to waste more time back and forth back and forth....regarding calendar  errors....only to be doing it again in a few weeks time? Very frustrating! 

Sorry I can't be of much help just to say.....it's not just you! If you find a solution let me know and I will do the same