Cancellation

[Travis326]

Hello friends, I had a question my parents rented a air bnb and it my parents might have to cancel due to my dad has to get surgery to remove his prostate due to cancer. I have read the cancelation policy and it's clear I just want to know if this would warrant a full refund.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Travis326 This would not qualify as an Extenuating Circumstance. Your parents will need to claim on their travel insurance.

[Travis326]

That's crazy how this would not fall under extenuating circumstances.  He just got diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. Need to put that on a brocher. If you get diagnosed with cancer and need to have surgery to remove it we still won't refund your money. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Travis326 Just like airlines sell non refundable and refundable  tickets Airbnb has properties with free cancellation up to the day before travel and those with no refunds that are cheaper. The cancellation policy is made very clear at the point of booking. 

What your parents could do, if the booking is a long way in the future, is ask that the host consider refunding them if they manage to re-book the space. Many will do this if asked nicely.

[Till-and-Jutta0]

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@Travis326 wrote:

That's crazy how this would not fall under extenuating circumstances.  

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https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1320 defines clearly what falls under Airbnb's extenuating circumstances and what not:

Examples of situations that this Policy does not allow cancellations for include: unexpected disease, illness, or injury

Sad to hear your personal situation. But that's exactly what travel insurances are designed for.

[Helen3]

I am so sorry to hear about your father.

What's crazy is people not taking out travel insurance to cover these sort of unexpected circumstances and expecting the host to cover the cost of the booking being cancelled. Why do you think it's fair that a host should be out of pocket when he accepted your parents booking in good faith @Travis326 

How many airlines, tour operators and other travel companies do you know that refund guests in full when their cancellation policy says otherwise if they become ill?

Airbnb already clearly state in their EC policy that illness is not covered.

Rather than you ranting on here why don't you help your parents approach the host and ask them if they would in the circumstances kindly consider refunding them the host fee if they are able to get a replacement booking. In that way you are not asking the host to bear the cost of your parent's cancellation.

[Travis326]

Well, helen3 the last time I checked I didn't ask for your opinion. I just made a statement. That even if you get cancer they wouldn't reenburse you. **

**[Disrespectful content removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines- Please be respectful in your engagement on the Community Center.]

[Jenny]

Hi @Travis326 

Sorry to hear about your Dad being sick.  It must be a stressful time for everyone.

Just to clarify, this community forum is not a customer support medium.  The people responding to you are Hosts who are giving you the benefit of their experience, but who aren't Airbnb staff.

The Community Center exists to facilitate host to host conversation and provide a space that encourages discussion about what is important to Airbnb Hosts, whilst keeping it respectful and constructive.

In line with that, our Hosts have advised you within the best of their ability.

Have your parents contacted the Host to explain the situation and see if there's anything the Host can do?  It's my understanding that Host cancellation policies are chosen by the Host, so they'd be best placed to help in this case, and perhaps they would be flexible given the nature of the cancellation?

Although I do understand this must be a worrying time for you, I'd ask you to be mindful of our Community Center Guidelines about being respectful and encouraging, even if your opinion differs.  With that in mind, I have moderated the last sentence of your post as Helen3 was simply offering her opinion and advice which is the function of the Community Center.

I hope that the Host your parents have booked with is able to help them, and I also hope that your Dad's surgery goes as smoothly as possible.

Thanks to @Helen3, @Till-and-Jutta0 and @Mike-And-Jane0 for weighing in on this discussion.

Jenny

[Helen3]

You absolutely did post here asking for opinions saying 'Hello friends, I had a question' @Travis326