Is the use of temporary numbers replacing real guest numbers only for some areas or for all of the US

[Robert6]

I heard about this temporary phone number plan and I'm wondering if this is for the entire United States? If it is, how did it show up in your bookings, etc.? And if it's not for the United States, where and why?

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

@Robert6 

Only Airbnb knows the answer to that and I doubt you'll be able to get a answer from frontline CS.

A few weeks ago multiple Hosts reported that the guest phone number showed as "Unavailable" after booking. It wasn't a substitute number - just no number shown. We were told it was a "bug" and haven't seen it happen again recently.

BTW, Airbnb does remove the guest phone number about 2days after checkout from the reservation details. That has been happening for over a year. 

Temporary Phone Numbers

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3764

Phone Number Unavailable

Discussion Thread

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Host-circle/Airbnb-Withholding-Guest-Phone-Numbers-Now/td-p/2156...

[Robert6]

I'm concerned about some issues - 1st is the guest who can not use regular phone service but uses something like WhatsApp how are they know to contact you?

The second one is that this random phone number might just show up on a guests phone as unknown, and therefore be unanswered.  And vice versa, so odd phone number calls me. Right now unknown phone numbers go to voicemail. Does this mean I can't use the feature that keeps my phone from reading all hours of the day or night from spammers?

[Joan2709]

@Robert6 

Guests/Hosts will still see a phone number (temporary or not) - I'm guessing the guest and Host can add the temporary phone number to WhatsApp contacts and it should still work just fine.

The only way to get an "unknown" number to ring thru and bypass your spam settings is to add the phone number to your contact list. We do this and setup "Airbnb Guest John" and then add the dates of the stay. This way we will see the caller ID show when the guest is calling. If you want the phone to bypass "Do Not Disturb" at night, then set them as an Emergency Contact temporarily and the call will bypass your Do Not Disturb Settings.

After the stay, delete the contact info in your phone.

[Robert6]

You’ve just shown the problem in even greater detail. We have three private rooms, most of which only go for one night or two it’s possible during a week. We might have 8 to 10 guests changing over. Adding deleting contacts, etc. etc. at this magnitude is a full-time job lol. Besides this being a big time suck for hosts who are concerned about communicating with their guests, it spotlights how Airbnb does not really understand how hosting works in my kind of STR.

[Joan2709]

@Robert6 

Yes...with multiple listings it is difficult. To be fair, if you turn off notifications for unknown phone numbers in the settings on your phone, that is your choice. 

If your guests use WhatsApp to communicate, you will still receive texts as you always did. 

The only issue would be if Airbnb hides the guest phone number (actual or temporary). So far they have not done that except for the glitch recently; which now appears corrected.

[Robert6]

How does a guest use WhatsApp to communicate with me if I don't have their or they don't have my phone number? I'm pretty sure Airbnb does not want any sort of communication information exchanged…

[Joan2709]

@Robert6 

The guest will have your phone number (even if it is an alternate one).

You will have the guest phone number (even if it is an alternate one).

You will be able to communicate with the guest and the guest will be able to communicate with you.

If you would like more clarification regarding the alternate phone number policy, you would have to contact Airbnb. I wouldn't expect a correct or accurate answer from frontine CS though.

[Robert6]

I see no upside for me as a host with this situation. Of course I always go by the rules, so Airbnb has nothing to fear for me trying to circumvent them. However, I hope that they understand the difficulties they are making for us hosts who have high turnover like this.

[Robert6]

I'm wondering what happens if a guest contacts me and asks me for my actual phone number (for example, in person)?

[Joan2709]

@Robert6 

That would be up to you of course if you wanted to provide that or not in person.

I believe Airbnb will be adding some sort of account setting on each person's profile (Guest/Host) if they want to hide their actual phone number for privacy reasons. So far, I have not seen that yet.

[Robert6]

That’s interesting. Was that a rumor?  or “inside information” lol. 

[Rebecca1603]

I agree. Same situation for me. Also, a lot of times, the only way I know the general area the guest is traveling from (or to) is by googling their area code. The only reason I do this is because half the time their profile says they are from “US” and since I have instant booking, sometimes I want to make sure it’s not a scammer, or someone local planning to use my place as a party location. I am very unhappy with this change and I wish we could opt out. These guests have the actual physical address of my home, I think I have the right to have their real phone number at the very least. 

[Joan2709]

@Rebecca1603 

I don't like this new policy either.

You can't always rely on an area code to know where someone is traveling from though. I lived across the country and move to the other end - I kept my phone number. The area code is not for where I am living now.