Airbnb Racial profiling

[Anire10]

I tried to make a booking through Airbnb today as I have made plans for the weekend in London. I contacted the host who responded and informed me that I was able to make the booking for the property this weekend. The host then sent me a link to complete the booking and once I clicked the link and tried to book I was declined, I contact Airbnb support and spoke to a gentleman who informed it was because my ID was not verified and I should wait until I receive an email letting me know that my ID had been verified even though it said it was already verified on the APP. The Airbnb representative told me to wait an hour then try and rebook which I did for it to be declined because Airbnb thinks I will have a party with 3 guests. I contacted the host who sent me another link to try to complete the booking again declined.
I subsequently called Airbnb back and spoke to the same gentlemen who told me he would get the restriction lifted as it’s and error and I should wait for a response from the support team, 5 minutes later I received a response in APP stating that they will not lift the restrictions and I will be unable to book said property or any entire home as they believed through picture and name alone that I would have a party with 3 guests. 
I then contacted Airbnb again and spoke with another colleague and then the manager who informed that I would not be able to book said property or any other entire home and they both told me instead to book single rooms for 3 people in different location even though we are travelling together. 
There was no valid reason given for the restrictions other than the colour of my skin. I have stayed in various hotels, entire homes etc booked on different sites and I have never had to upload a picture of myself before booking and I have never been declined a reservation due to a system thinking I would be throwing a party.

The host was very kind and tried to assist me anyway they could. 

very disappointed in Airbnb and will be deactivating my account sad to think in 2023 I will be racially profiled to book accommodation for a weekend in the city.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Anire10 This is not in any way based on race. Airbnb have software that toys to stop parties and you have fallen foul of this. I can't remember exactly what it looks at but age and location of guest relative to property come into it.

If the host really wants to circumvent these protections then they should flip their listing to shared home and put it back to entire place when you have booked. This will however remove all the protection that Airbnb has to prevent parties.

[Anire10]

Hi thanks for the response, the problem is I have been told different things from different employees at Airbnb today and none of it made much sense. But thanks for clarifying and giving me an option to try. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Anire10 sadly Airbnb support is very poor and probably pays low wages in a low wage country. As a result some of them just make up answers on the spot a goodly proportion of which are just plain wrong.

[Fiona814]

EXACTLY- spot on! Throwing breadcrumbs from the rich man’s table ! 

[Helen3]

This is absolutely nothing to do with race  @Anire10 you have been picked up by Aurbnb's anti party algorithm because 

1. you are new to Airbnb

2. you are younger

3. you want to make a last minute local booking 

this is very much a pattern for those looking to party. people book for 3 or 4 guests but turn up with many more .

all I can suggest is that you use another STR booking platform or book a hotel. 

unfortunately Airbnb's CS are not well trained . 

[Fred13]

@Anire10  "Hi thanks for the response, the problem is I have been told different things from different employees at Airbnb today and none of it made much sense."

That describes the experience of many people. Keep in mind most of these issues are handled initially by a computer, which is yet another wild card in the scheme of things. 

[Fiona814]

I’m with you in the “told different thing”  i alway call them now but still they lie to keep you happy liars all of them ! they contradict each other constantly I’m never using them again 

[Helen744]

@Anire10 A lady raised this issue in Australia recently , she remarked that her ID was being rejected because of her skin color . So she booked in her boyfriends name . Faces are not shown before booking on the Airbnb site for this reason .Nevertheless it would seem that the facial recognition soft ware gets a little confused with verifying skin tones and therefore rejects some IDs as not being the same person. Stranger things have happened and if you think something is going on it probably is .. Good Luck.. H