Requesting references

[Sandra1443]

Hi all I have read that you can request a reference (as a new host) from other AirBnB members. But I can't figure out how to do this. My account isn't linked to facebook. But I understood that this would still be possible. Any tips?  

[Steve143]

Hello @Sandra1443,

The reference feature works only via Facebook. You must be Facebook friends with the person from whom you request a reference.

Airbnb seems to use this method as a way of automatically making sure that the reference requester and reference writer do actually know each other.

You may have seen the articles below, but just in case you haven't here they are.

https://www.airbnb.ie/help/article/173/what-are-references-on-airbnb

https://www.airbnb.ie/help/article/334/why-isn-t-a-reference-appearing-on-my-profile

Steve.

[Ange2]

@Steve143    Are you sure  re: FB?  I do not have FB and I have a reference. I was under the impression that the only "must" is that the person writing the reference has to have an Airbnb account.

btw:   Social media weirdness:  Why Airbnb consider being a FB friend is proof that one knows that person past their FB name and persona is beyond me.

@Sandra1443   Before you allow Airbnb to access your FB and all your contacts I would try going to this page: https://www.airbnb.ie/help/article/173/what-are-references-on-airbnb

Sign in with your email and click "View or Request a Reference",  if the person you are getting a reference from doesn't have an Airbnb account they will need to set one up. 

[Steve143]

Hello @Ange2,

You're right.

I now see from Dave & Debs post that it should now be possible to request a reference via email as well as via Facebook. Yes, of course while being Facebook friends may indicate real friendship it isn't a guarantee that people know each other.

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/References-A-Community-Help-Guide/td-p/20222

When I joined Airbnb the only reference option available on my profile was to request one one via Facebook which I didn't do as I didn't want to connect my Airbnb and Facebook accounts.

Can I ask what you see on the references page? When I go to it, as seen in the screenshot, there's no option at all to request a reference. The "Learn how to get References" link brings you to a help page that has a "Request and veiw references" button but that just brings you back to the same page shown in the screenshot below.

[Ange2]

@Steve143    No,  I am completely wrong.   In fact we are both wrong. Airbnb apparently no longer offer this feature,  please see end of message and link.

This is what I get, it  leads nowhere of any help.

Re: FB  -  I did see this post on how to write a reference (link below)  and it does say you need to have a linked FB account.

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Tips-Tutorials/References-A-Community-Help-Guide-UPDATE/m-p/4143...

But, reading further down the post in link there is a reply saying:

@Sandra1443 

Dated 09-20-2018 04:18 AM  from Linda:  "Apparently, Airbnb do no offer this as a feature anymore - Straight from the horse's mouth
We appreciate you reaching out to us regarding this. This is a feature we no longer offer, we apologize for the inconvenience. If there's anything else you needed, we're happy to help. "

A dead end, a waste of time. Beyond me why Airbnb don't delete the page if it is not longer applicable or at least leave a message saying "No Longer Available" would save time and confusion and linking one's FB: sharing more personal information and all one's contacts with Airbnb.

[Sandra1443]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I really appreciate that. I was circling around and just couldn;t find a way to do (as was the person I asked the reference from!!). So, it now looks like they just removed that option if you don't link your facebook account. A shame though.