AirBnb insurancce is a scam DONT BUY INSURANCE

[Grace1034]

Last year I paid $166 to insure my reservation via AirBnb.  The host had cancelled the reservation few days after I received confirmation.   I have been contacting AirBnb and the inusrance company few times since last year.  Everytime AirBnb said  it is not their business.  Generali said they will not refund.

What can I do?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Grace1034 I am confused as to what you are claiming. If a host cancelled your reservation then you should have had a full refund of the money you paid irrespective of whether or not you took insurance.

[Grace1034]

I am confused too.  The  Generali told me I will  not get refund of the insurance.  Eveytime I contacted AirBnb. They copied and pasted the same answer to me.   It is totally not fair for me.

[Grace1034]

AirBnb texted me after I have posted this issue here.  They have just issued me a coupon with the insurance amount I had paid.

[Robin4]

@Grace1034 

I am learning something new every day! Grace, how exactly did you 'insure' your reservation with Airbnb?

Did you mean you took out travel insurance with another company ( Generali) and they are declining coverage because the host cancellation is one of their exclusions!

I would be very interested to know the history here. If this was external insurance I can understand Airbnb would not want to get involved, and if they have offered you a travel credit I think you have been given a 'get out of jail free' card as a gesture of goodwill I would think you have come out of it reasonably well.

Can you please give us a bit more information.

Cheers.......Rob

[Grace1034]

The Generali insurance is linked with AirBnb.  Generali insurance is an option in the final step of the reservation. 

I contacted Generali few times regarding the refund.  They have confirmed to me that I will not get the refund!

Don't buy insurance via AirBnb!

[Robin4]

@Grace1034 

My God, I am struggling to think of any further ways Airbnb can actually abuse their users. To offer dodgy paid insurance after what hosts have had to go through with the various 'We have your backs covered' schemes over the years!

I have not used Airbnb as a guest since this was introduced apparently. I knew nothing about it until now!!

I have had a great 8 years with Airbnb but with the systematic dismantling of any realistic user support I am going to have to re-active my listing on the other 2 platforms I have been involved with in the past.

I really don't know where Airbnb go from here to be honest! 

Cheers........Rob

[Mike-And-Jane0 · Accepted solution]

@Grace1034 That is good news. I think I now understand that whilst the insurance is designed to pay out if you have to cancel the booking it becomes an expensive irrelevance if the host cancels and leaves you with nothing to insure. I would have hoped that Airbnb had considered this when they selected an insurance provider for guests.