External links broken when posted in conversation

[Pablo2190]

Hi,

I'm sharing a link with guests so they can access my property, but the URL ends with double underscores (__). When I post it in the conversation, the clickable part doesn't include these last two characters, so the link doesn’t work properly.

How can I share the full link in a clean and functional way?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

[Joan2709]

@Pablo2190 

Most URL links don't include a double underscore at the end, so the system probably doesn't recognize it as a valid link? Where is the link going to? Website? Google Docs? Dropbox? Also, a link will appear not to be functional when added to a scheduled message, but once it is sent it will work correctly. This is because Airbnb doesn't allow Hosts to send links to a guest in a message until after they book. This is to prevent Hosts from taking guests off-platform to book. 

You can actually add photos and videos to your scheduled messages now and most are using that for their check-in message and how to access their property instead of of using YouTube or other 3rd party sites.

Send Photos or Video in Messages

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3759

See this thread with screen shots on how to add photos and videos to Scheduled Messages:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Ask-about-your-listing/You-Can-Attach-Videos-to-Scheduled-Messag...

Underscores discouraged in URLs:

[Pablo2190]

Thanks Joan, the link is going to a Tedee website where the guest can slide a button to open a gate.

[Joan2709]

@Pablo2190 

So does the guest need to download the Tedee app on their phone in order to open the gate? If it is just the link that Tedee mentions, you would have to contact them and explain it's not working for guests trying to use it on Airbnb and their customer support will have to advise you.

Tedee Instructions for using link?

https://tedee.com/knowledge-base/access-links/?srsltid=AfmBOoo6LaT0s0CuTqeNdAHCNgPdcbuuSWc9SYCqffq9e...

The links they show on the website do NOT have two underscores at the end of the URL (they do show hyphens) - are you sure you have copied the link you created correctly?

You may have to send guest the link via text (WhatsApp?) instead of pasting the link in an Airbnb message...a pain:

Try texting the link to youself on your phone and emailing the link to yourself and see if it works?

[Pablo2190]

Yes, I thought about sending it via WhatsApp. I ended up using a URL shortening service in the sorts of bitly and it does the job. Thanks though!

[Joan2709]

@Pablo2190 

Good idea!