Review Process as a Guest - as of March 2021‌‌

[Emilia42]

For those who have never stayed as a guest, here is a snapshot of the review process when completed in March 2021. I completed this review on a laptop and accessed the review from the e-mail prompt that Airbnb sent after my stay.

E-mail from Airbnb asking to review. Note: if you click on a star with your curser, that will populate the star rating on the first step of the review, but it can be changed. 

 

First step - Choose an overall star rating:

 

If giving a 3 star or below a "Report unsafe behavior" link will appear:

 

If giving a 4 or 5 star, the next step will be to choose 'compliments.' This step is optional and can be skipped. If giving a 3 star or below, this step is not an option.

 

The next step is to describe your trip: 

Then choose a star rating for the 5 subcategories. Cleanliness, Accuracy, Check-in, Communication, Location, and Value. 

Note: If you choose a star rating of 4 or below for any subcategories it will ask you to choose from a list of possible reasons and add detail. Examples:

 

If you give a 5-star overall rating but a 4 star in any of the subcategories, you will get this message. You have the option to change the overall rating or ignore it.

Next is the private note to the host: 

Next, the public review:

 

 

This concludes the review.

[Emilia42]

After the review is finished/submitted, you are asked to confirm a few more details. This is optional and you do not have to complete this step.

  

[Ricardo85]

@Emilia42 

Asking guests if they have found certain amenities is a great way for Airbnb to check if the listing is accurate.

Ricardo

[Emilia42]

@Ricardo85 Yes, very true. Although, in this particular instance I was reviewing a stay in a tent. So obviously there was no lock or hot water. I do wonder if multiple "no's" for these essential amenities will flag the listing and create an issue for the host?

[Ricardo85]

@Emilia42 

But for each "No" they can compare with what is configured in the listing. At least technically this is possible.

Ricardo

[Ann72]

@Emilia42  Confirm a FEW more details?  Why not just have the guest write our listing for us?  😂

[Emilia42]

@Ann72 Ha, I don't understand the Airbnb exec's obsession with working out?! There is literally an entire page on areas to relax or work out. The relaxing I can understand, but work out?! 

[Ute42]

.

@Emilia42   

Thank You for the great work.

The review process ist better than expected. It's been worse in the past.

[Emilia42]

Thanks @Ute42. I agree. In my opinion (as a guest and a host) Airbnb is going out of the way to ensure that guests rate their hosts with 5 stars.

[Emilia42]

Also, note that in the optional provide-a-few-more-details section there is no mention of masking, or enhanced cleaning.  

[Beth80]

@Emilia42. Thanks for sharing this. It's good to know what the guests are being asked. It would be nice if Airbnb would share more of this information with us.  Interesting how no mention is made of masks or enhanced cleaning.  

[Kat162]

Completely agree @Beth80 !
Would it not be lovely if Air BNB created an option for hosts to regularly view what @Emilia42 has shared with us!?
Unless hosts are able to travel using Air BnB, we are left in the dark regarding what is asked during the review process, what a confirmation email from Air BnB looks like and what information is highlighted in said confirmation. It would also be lovely to know what info is highlighted in the pre-stay email reminders --- is Air BnB directing guests' attention to the House Manual, Rules and Check-in Time?

Air BnB is always improving these displays - each time I can travel (perhaps every 6 -12 months) the reviews, confirmations, and infor highlighted appears different. Being able to preview these (like we can our own listing), would only help hosts be more in-tune with the guests' experience and perhaps even strengthen our own listings.

[Lawrene0]

Really glad to see the language isn't so negative as it was last August (the last time I stayed as a guest), @Emilia42 . 

This is an improvement. 

Thanks so much for posting!

[Sarah977]

@Emilia42  Thank you for sharing this. It does seem like an improvement, except for this:

If you give a 5-star overall rating but a 4 star in any of the subcategories, you will get this message. You have the option to change the overall rating or ignore it.

🤔

It should worded the exact opposite- "If you gave a 5 star rating in the subcategories and a less than 5 star rating in the Overall rating....." because that is the most common thing that happens and that hosts find bamboozling and distressing, since only the Overall rating seriously matters.

[Emilia42]

@Sarah977 That is actually my wording. The Airbnb text says "Is this right? You rated your overall stay lower than you rated it in at least one subcategory. Do you want to change your overall rating?"

I strongly believe that many stays can be 4 stars overall while still excelling in cleanliness, accuracy, value, communication, and location. But I do bet that since Airbnb added this option/prompt there have been many fewer hosts who have experienced the dreaded 4 stars overall. I have certainly seen less talk about it here on the forum in the last few months.