How do you handle guests who request early check-in but don’t confirm later?

[Ethan748]

Hey everyone,  I’ve had a few guests recently who asked for early check-in, so I adjusted my cleaning schedule — but then they didn’t arrive early after all.

It’s not a big issue, but it sometimes messes up the timing for my next guests or cleaning staff.
How do you all manage this situation?
Do you set clear policies, charge extra, or just handle it case by case?

Would love to hear what’s worked best for you! 😊

[Will-And-Garrick0]

We actually appreciate having some breathing room between guests. We handle all the cleaning and maintenance ourselves, and I tend to be a slow, meticulous cleaner, the kind who irons the sheets and makes sure every little detail feels just right.

We started our Airbnb somewhat on a whim, without any big plans or business goals in mind. As retired folks, this has become more of a passion project than a revenue stream. What we enjoy most is the personal connection, meeting new people from different places, hearing their stories, and knowing they’ve had a comfortable stay. It’s been such a rewarding experience in ways we never expected.

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[Will-And-Garrick0]

@Tara0 We do not do same day turnarounds either. However, I find we (Airbnb hosts) are often so eager to please guests, that we end up giving too much away. Additionally, in North America utility costs are so high, even an additional half-day of a guest's stay will impact revenues. If someone needs an extra hour or so on either side of the reservation, we oblige, but on a morning check in we now charge. The only time we waive this fee is if it a longer term reservation (7 days or more).

[Peakpulse0 · Accepted solution]

Hey Ethan748,

This is a pretty common situation, guests often request early check-in, we make the necessary scheduling adjustments, and then they end up arriving at the normal time. From an operations standpoint, that can throw off the cleaning flow or staff scheduling, especially when you’re managing multiple turnovers in a day.

What’s worked best for us as property managers is setting a clear structure around early check-ins. We treat them as an add-on service rather than a courtesy. Guests can request it in advance, but confirmation depends on housekeeping availability, and there’s usually a small fee attached. That helps ensure the cleaning team is properly compensated for shifting their schedule.

For guests who ask last minute, we handle it case by case, always keeping communication open and professional. A clear policy, communicated early, keeps expectations aligned and prevents unnecessary disruptions.

It’s all about balancing guest experience with operational efficiency.

[Bhumika]

@Peakpulse0 , your approach is indeed very similar to what host @Fred-andQuot-WillandQuot-0 's approach! It seems like many hosts prefer to follow a structured approach while approving guest check-in requests. 

Do you find that most guests are receptive to the extra fee for early check-in, or do you get pushback?

[Fred-andQuot-WillandQuot-0]

If guests inquire about an early check-in, you approve it, but they don’t reply, I usually send a follow-up message saying:

“Since we haven’t heard back from you, we’ll assume the standard check-in time applies.”

I also suggest making it clear when approving an early check-in that guests need to confirm their expected arrival time.

We do charge for early check-ins. If it’s only an hour or so, we’ll often accommodate it as a courtesy when possible. However, as an upsell, we allow check-ins as early as 9:00 AM for a $50 fee.

[Bhumika]

Thanks for sharing this tip @Fred-andQuot-WillandQuot-0 ! Looks like upfront communication is the key to manage a  guest's expectations.

Since guest turnover can sometimes be tightly scheduled, how do you handle cleaning when you approve early check-ins?