why do we need to pre approve a simple distance enquiry????

[Shaun44]

a booking is way off from asking how far something is.......? people are using airbnb for information gathering only not to atually book? pointless system as they have google but this is the norm no need for pre aproval?

[Elena87]

@Shaun44

If it is an enquiry, a reply within 24 hours will suffice, there is no need to pre-approve.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Shaun44

You can but don't need to preapprove a INQUIRY. You can just answer their question and nothing else. By preapproving you invite them to book or you allow them to book even if they don't meet your criteria (for example they are bringing a child and your house rules says no children, but you will make an exception for them.)

BOOKING REQUESTS are another thing. You have to accept it or decline it during 24 hours or your calendar will be blocked for this period.

[Shaun44]

the problem is airbnb constantly sending messages and pushing for this, with no answer to tell airbnb its just a QUESTI0N! so 8 emails and also 8 sms from airbnb gives a morning of answering a complete waste of time... for what purpose. the client doesnt know the difference between a booking request and a question as he/she would simply use google to measure distance.

[Matthew285]

@Shaun44, I agree with you about the number of messages you get when you are just answering someone's question.

I think it is because AirBnB's computer can't tell the difference between someone wanting to book a room, and someone just wanting general information. They treat them the same, and so get very naggy in an effort to close the deal.

[Andrew157]

We had a perfectly sensible request to book 4 days in July 2018 for some guys walking the Dalesway long distance footpath. The problem was that the calendar was only open to April.

They could not see how to contact us without putting some dates in. So even though it was an enquiry they put in a booking request. 

I had to explain that abb software was flaky and I had to pre-approve the dates even though I knew that they did not want them. 

As soon as we had sorted our diaries for 2018 we offered a chance to alter the dates which the guests accepted. 

I can't see a way to make an enquiry without entering dates.