how a guest accepts a preapproval to confirm booking

[Jane478]

Hi  I am new to hosting and have set my availability at instant booking.  However I have a guest who has come through with a preapproval.  I have accepted this and emailed them to say yest we are happy to confirm the booking.  He thought he had confirmed the booking so I have done another preapproval for him.  I blocked off the date in the calendar so that no one else can instant book for this day.  Has this meant that he is not able to accept the preapproval.  I am confused.  Please help.  Thanks

[Steve143]

Hello @Jane478,

Yes, you manually blocking off the date means that he's not now able to complete the booking process.

You must unblock the dates for him to be able to book.

When you pre-approve a guest Airbnb doesn't automatically block the dates while the guest decides whether they will book or not. Airbnb operates on a first come first served basis. You can pre-approve several people simultaneously and the first to actually book gets your listing.

As you have instant book turned on someone who instantly books will get the place first if they do so before someone who you've pre-approved.

In other words, there's no way for a host to favour one prospective guest over another unless you cancel an instantly booked reservation or decline a request that comes in first.

How do I pre-approve a guest?

What does it mean if a host pre-approves me?

Steve.

[Jane478]

 Thank you so much for you quick reply.  I have sent an email to the guest telling him he needs to accept my pre approval if he wants to confirm the booking.  I have also unblocked the date.  Does that sound correct?  

[Fred13]

Yes Jane.