I have seen numerous hosts asking about why there is no Pet Fee setting on countless Host Q&A feedback sessions.
What is so difficult in building this into the site? Or, is it that Airbnb doesn't want to expand the extra costings available to guests when booking (because maybe they think, where do you draw the line, as there will always be hosts who want to charge for high-chairs or kitchen towels as well?)
Our Airbnb guests turned up last Friday with a small dog. No mention was made of this in their communication before booking, or anytime after, up to arrival. We state in our listing description that we accept a maximum of 2 large dogs and the charge is €20 per dog. The lady did ask if there was a charge for her pet when they arrived, and I said that it is €20. She said that she didn't have enough cash, and would transfer the amount if I sent her our bank details. Other guests have had the pet fee stuffed in their back pocket and have only paid up when I asked for it, hoping that I had forgotten about it. It is really tiresome to have to go after this payment, and some guests seem to think that you are being petty when you stand there when they arrive and ask for it. There are not many guests in my experience who arrive and hand you the payment. The pet fee needs to be handled via the site. It is a genuine fee as dogs mean extra cleaning of rugs, sofas,etc. and not forgetting all the hair plastered onto the little felt pads on the bottom of all your chair legs!
On other sites, pet fee collections are a pain as well. On VRBO, guests tick 'Pet Fee' when booking and €20 is added to their quotes when they book our property. They then turn up with four dogs. There is no way to increase the fee by the number of pets and you have to try and get the rest of the money off them when they arrive.
It amazes me how often the Airbnb site has to be adjusted and updated, but still lacks features that other sites have had up and running for so long.