Getting notified if guests chose another accommodation?

[Joanna55]

Hi there,

When a booking request is pre-approved by the host, the guest has 24 hours to confirm the booking. My question is will I be notified if the guests have choen to go ahead with another booking right away?

This would be really useful to adjust price settings and perhaps set special offers if there are more than requests for the same dates.

[MicheleandLouw0]

Unfortunately not as far as I know 😞

[Adrienne1]

agree that you won't be notified.  Sometimes people shop around and cast their net wide.  A suggestion would be to turn on instant book - it works for me - I've set mine so that in addition to meeting AirBnB's requirements, which are - Confirmed email address, Introductory message, Confirmed phone number, Agree to your House Rules, Profile photo and Payment information, guests also need to have "recommendation from other hosts" (this doesn't say how many - but newbie AirBnB users can't instant book - I'll need to pre-approve their requests.  I've had around 110 guests over the past year, and yet to have anyone dodgy!). Important thing if you do try instant book is to set it up on the full web version (not the app) - I've chosen the setting that I'll need at least a day's notice, but also ticked the option "for instant book hosts: Allow guests to send reservation requests without advance notice" - this means that I won't get caught short by a guest instant booking wanting to check in immediately when I'm out.  This allows them to send a request for a same-day check-in and I can respond with a check-in time that would suit me - and if they're happy I'll pre-approve. 

[Robin4]

@Joanna55....Well the answers here confirms the old expresion...'Different strokes for Different Folks' 

In general,  'Instant book' has turned out to be a disaster for many hosts! I personally would have absolutely nothing to do with Instant Book because it rushes you into decisions you have not considered fully!

Joanna, this is your property, not Airbnb's,  and the risk of a bad experience is quadrupled by using Instant Book. I can't tell you the number of posts we have had on this forum by hosts who have had their properties trashed by Instant book guests who simply wish to hold an 'off the cuff' party to celebrate something or other! The number of hosts who have fallen victim to Instant book 'guests' who have taken advantage of a hosts property with a stolen credit card and have been long gone before the system has caught up with them!

The number of guests who have requested refunds because the listing they 'Instant booked' in a flash did not suit their requirements!! The number of Instant Book guests who left your property in a dreadful state after a one night stand with the secretary!!!

So, if I could give you only one piece of advice until you are a really experienced host....Joanna, turn off Instant Book NOW!!!!

As to your question about 'pre-approval'. A pre-approval simply opens a message stream between you and the potential guest. By granting a pre-approval it simply establishes that your listing is available at that time. It's not a booking request and it does not block your calendar and you are free to accept another booking request during the time that the pre-approval is in force. The onus is on the guest to act on a pre-approval....no action is required on your part. If the guest does not proceed to a reservation request within 24 hours the pre-approval will simply drop off the system. Potential guests may seek a pre-approval from anything up to 5-6 listings in the area before they settle on one that will best suit them so, there is no penalty to a host accepting another booking, even though they have granted a pre-approval. But the short answer is, no, you will not be notified if a pre-approved guest has gone somewhere else because it does not affect your ability to take bookings....cheers....Rob 

[Bertie0]

I actually DID receive a message a couple weeks ago that the guest no longer needed my accomodation.  "Barbara" had sent me an inquiry about some specific dates, I responded and pre-approved.  Didn't hear anything for a few days, then got this: Update from Airbnb: Barbara no longer needs accommodations for these dates.

 I don't know if it's a new thing, or some weird fluke, but it certainly was appreciated.  

[Andrea9]

@Bertie0

Not a fluke nor new. Simply that most  guests are new to ABB and more used to the concept of simply choosing and booking and couldn't be bothered with informing the 15+ hosts they reached out to with inquiries. That being said I've not only a few times over several years gotten the same automated message you did, but I also got a sweet message telling me they had booked elsewhere.

Although slightly disappointed I didn't get the booking I always thanked them for the heads up and wished them a great stay in my city. Several times that ensued a very nice mini exchange. Not that they would probably ever come back to the area and book, but you never know... 🙂