Guest booking for someone else.

[Renee78]

I know a host who has a couple of guests using their profiles to book on behalf of someone else--a husband and a son.  I don't like that.  I feel if you are not the guest, you should not be booking for someone else.  It is confusing and raises a red flag.   In one case, I asked the guest to register and create a profile on Airbnb if he wants to stay in my place.  That is my rule.  Has anyone experienced such issue?

[Alexandra316]

@Renee78 It does happen, and you did the right thing by asking the guest to create their own profile: third-party bookings are against Airbnb's terms of service. See https://www.airbnb.ca/help/article/427/can-i-book-on-behalf-of-a-friend-or-family-member for details.

The exception would be if it's a business stay and someone has specifically set up as a third-party booker for their team. See https://www.airbnb.ca/third-party-booking for details.

[Daniel1598]

A few weeks before their stay I had a guest reveal that he was making a third party reservation. I contacted airbnb support and they stood up for my rights as a host. The reservation was cancelled without penalty. 

[Laurence615]

the guest that showed up was the 'son ' of the guy on the profile.. really sweet and polite, apologies that his dad didn't come... 

I  told airnbnb right away, they told me that if I was ok with it, to go for it!

It wasn't a good idea!

the 'son' checked in with a friend or two? broke the bed , and the guest house was smiling really bad of canabis!

 when they left, we talk to Airbnb that told me that they dont advice a third party reservation! I'm glad I asked before.. it was confusing to have two different answers.

 any way we start the process with resolution center.. lets see how it will go.

[Pete69]

Airbnb does not recommend accepting 3rd party reservations. Aside from being a red flag for possible fraud, if you need to communicate with the actual person staying or need to collect for damages it becomes a problem. Sometimes they're trying to hide the fact that the actual person wanting to stay has negative reviews.

I've had a couple of 3rd party reservations. Both times I told them to have the actual person staying make the reservation. One of the people wanting to stay had one bad review.