Hi everyone,
I wanted to share an important (and frustrating) lesson I recently learned after 12 years of using Airbnb around the world.
I booked a listing while in PDT time zone, and the cancellation policy stated I could cancel “by July 21 at 5pm.” Since no time zone was indicated during booking or on the reservation page, I (like many travelers) assumed this meant my local time. I canceled at 9:30am my time, thinking I was still within the window—only to be told I had missed the deadline by one hour, because it was based on CET time (the listing's local time).
Airbnb later pointed out that the listing’s local time is briefly mentioned on the receipt email, in very small, light grey text. It’s barely noticeable—and as an educator, I can't help but wonder why such critical information isn’t clearly visible on the booking and cancellation screens, where it would truly matter. Imagine the confusion this causes for international travelers trying to track time zones—especially during daylight saving transitions or in countries where policies differ.
I asked Airbnb why this isn’t stated more transparently, in bold, accessible lettering right at the point of booking. I haven’t received a clear answer.
Key takeaway: Cancellation times follow the listing’s local time, not yours—even if not shown clearly.
Airbnb should make this obvious and accessible—many users could be caught off guard by this, and it's especially concerning from an inclusion and accessibility standpoint.
Has anyone else encountered this?
Warm regards
