Third party booking on Instant booking - just sharing my experience

[Punam0]

So, I've been trialling Instant Booking.  Most bookings so far have been ok but todays booking the confirmation email said that I would be welcoming 'Bob' in no time. But actually 'Bob' isn't coming - it's their colleague. And all 'Bob' put in the email was that 'Sue is working in our Christchurch office'.  So I queried this with Airbnb and they said that is was a business booking. There is nothing in the confirmation email to tell me that it was a Business booking!??!

When I called airbnb, they said it was a legitimate booking and that from their end they could see it was a business booking. The person I spoke to said I either have to confirm with each Instant booking or I have to ring Airbnb each time to find out if its a Business booking or not!  How ridiculous !  If I am letting people into my own home I want to know who is coming! 

Turning off Instant booking now! I recommend it to other hosts too!

[David568]

Unfortunately, third party booking is becoming more common.  Airbnb has a policy regarding third party booking,

that says "We require Airbnb reservations booked for personal travel to be booked by the person who's going to stay at the listing."

However they don't enforce it and look the other way.  Airbnb is only concerned about getting their commission.

It causes problems when the guests that arrive don't have a language in common with you and you cannot rely on them.  Your property could burn down, but they can't read the emergency phone numbers. 

[Punam0]

@David568 Exactly! I read that on their website too - but trying to explain what is on the Airbnb website to Airbnb staff is like pulling teeth!!

[Michelle234]

Why don't you just put in your rules that Third Party Bookings are not permitted?  That way, should a third party show up at your door, that is grounds for the guest breaking a rule and you have a right to cancel the reservation at no risk to you while still maintaining 'instant book".   

[Punam0]

@Michelle234 yeah I have now put that in my House rules. But have kept Instant Booking off. Dealing with someone at Airbnb is really difficult. The people on the phone and case managers dont know their own rules they have set. 

[Sha-Ari0]

You could cancel the booking without being penalized since third party bookings are not permitted. Just call airbnb and they'll walk you through it. 

[Punam0]

@Sha-Ari0 Hi, I did call Airbnb. They said it was a legitimate booking as it was a business booking??  What I think has happened is that someone has just booked normally and in the itinery they have selected 'Business Trip'.  They haven't gone about it the right way. And the person on the phone doesn't understand. 

[Andrea9]

@Punam0

Looks like you're stuck with this one for now, although it does not feel right.

I got a real business booking a few weeks back, and the way I recognized it was that the request not only showed the account of the company booking person but also the account of the guest, and when communicating with them both parties were involved.

Having it that way is optimal and there's no break of trust.

When the guest arrives, there's one thing to say (actually normal for every guest) - don't take any c**p from them. It's your rules to follow, don't be a doormat if they are a jerk!

[Punam0]

@Andrea9  yeah, I've been looking on the Airbnb website: 

https://www.airbnb.co.nz/help/article/1311/who-can-book-trips-on-behalf-of-someone-else  

On here it states 

" Airbnb allows designated people at companies enrolled in Airbnb for Business to book business trips on behalf of other people—these people are called bookers.

When a booker books a trip for someone else, they handle the reservation request, introductions, and payment for the reservation—then transfer responsibility for the trip to the guest. Once a reservation is accepted, both the booker and the guest join the message thread with the host and receive all trip communication.

If you're a host, you'll see booked by and booked for in your communications with the booker and your guest"

The only communications I can see are with the person who booked....not the person who is actually a guest. 

[Andrea9]

@Punam0

The only other tip I can think of, if not too complicated for you, is to call ABB again about it not being a real business booking according to their statutes, which is why you are not comfortable with this 3rd party booking.

Especially also because you won't have the possibility of communicating with the 3rd person directly through the message system, and communicating outside of it is also strongly discouraged by ABB.

And that being said, did you even get a full name for the guest?? If not, that's another red flag for 3rd-person booking.

This time you would hopefully get a more experienced person on the phone. If you don't, insist and quote them their own ABB rules.

Good luck!