We live in Auckland, NZ and we have many guests arriving into the country at very early hours (from 04:30 - 08:00am) from Nth America & Europe. Most of these travellers have flown non-stop and are, understandably tired after their long flights, so I am often asked about the possibility of early check-in.
My check out time is 10:00am and checkin time is 2:00pm
In the 3 years that we have been Airbnb hosts we have happily accommodated early checkins (where we can) so long as guests don't arrive before 08:30 / 9:00am.
Currently, there is no way to set and charge an early checkin fee which I think Airbnb have sadly overlooked. When we travel, we often ask about early checkins at hotels and do expect to pay a surcharge.
We recently had a problem with an Indian couple who asked for early checkin and while I was showing the husband around the bedroom and bathroom, the wife started to help herself to the cereal contains that I have in the small lounge/kitchenette area. Husband then joins her and says that they both want breakfast and where is the toast bread?! I said that breakfast is served one hour before descending into Auckland and did they not have breakfast on the plane. "No, we chose not to. We decided to have breakfast here". I told them that I had agreed to an early checkin but that an early checkin did NOT include breakfast. Meanhile, Mrs is almost finished her cereal and Mr tells me that it's only a small request. Gritting my teeth I went and got the bread. Then I was told that they like to drink lots of warm milk and the small container of milk that I left in the fridge for tea/coffee would be enough. As they had a rental car I suggested that they might like to go and buy the extra milk they need as I only provided one litre of milk per day. But, sure as eggs, the next morning at breakfast they claim they have run out and need more for their 'breakfast'.
It didn't help that this couple were quite demanding and clearly expected 7* service from my humble abode, however, my main gripe is the expectations surrounding early checkin.
Has anyone else contacted Airbnb requesting an update to their pricing options?
It wasn't even worthwhile having a discussion about an extra charge (one they had arrived) for breakfast as I could see where that potential discssion would end, but what have other Airbnb hosts done in the past with this kind of scenario?
As a footnote, this same Indian couple wrote a scathing review of a fellow Kiwi in Queenstown - he told me that although his website clearly states no breakfast provided, this couple demanded and argued the point with him!
I'm pleased to say that this couple was the only bad experience I have had with Airbnb so far, thank goodness.
Sue
