New host - minimum nights, max guests, pets

[Ruth1184]

Does anyone else have the issue of AirBNB allowing inquires that don't meet your booking requirements?  For Christmas week I have a minimum 7 night stay,  always max of 6 guests, and no pets (community rules).  AirBNB allowed an inquiry for 3 nights, 7 adults, and a dog???  I declined the booking. But, my next inquiry was for 4 nights and 6 guests also for Christmas and since I was out of the country without internet, AirBNB confirmed the booking after 24 hrs.

Also, after 10 years on VRBO with 5-stars, I'd really like to figure out how past guests can leave reviews for my property on AirBNB.   I guess that's another thread.

Pura Vida!

[Fred13]

You mentioned 'inquiries' at first, and the 3/7/1 dog  'inquiry' turned into a booking? The next 'inquiry' got 'confirmed' by Airbnb into a booking all by itself? Do you have Instant Booking on?

It may help to use the nomenclature commonly used in the Airbnb world:

'Inquiry' = asking for information, you have 24 hours to respond and best to do so to maintain your 'Respond Rate'.

'Request' = a request to  book;  (Accept or Reject) within 24 hours. It doesn't automatically turn into a booking, unless >

Instant Booking (IB setting)= booking happens immediately with you not having to do anything IF you have this on.

[Ruth1184]

Thank you for the nomenclature.  I suppose both these were requests to book.  The first one, with the dog, I rejected within the 24 hours (But I was surprised the request was put through since it didn't meet the booking requirements).

The 2nd request happened while I was on a cruise without internet so I was unable to accept or reject.  As soon as I got internet I discovered that the request (4 nights, 6ppl) had turned into a booking because I didn't respond at all within 24 hours.

So, do I have "instant booking" on or just 24 hr booking???

[Emiel1]

@Ruth1184 

Your listing shows a 7 nights minimum stay starting for check-ins from 24 december.

Probably the inquiries are for check-in on 23 december or earlier (minimum stay = 3 nights) ?

Your max. guests is set to 6, but in an inquiry guest can  ask for more.

Reply to the guest you can not accommodate 7 guests + dog and that's all.

Airbnb will never confirm a booking request, unless you are on Instant Book, then it is confrmed automatically.

[Ruth1184]

Both requests were for Dec 28, which was definitely within the 7 night minimum.  I did reject the 7ppl & dog request within the 24 hours.  The problem with the 2nd request, as I mentioned in my earlier reply, was that I was away when the request was made and because I did nothing within the 24 hours, the booking was confirmed.

These are not my personal booking requirements, but the rules of my community.  So, even if someone asks for more people or a dog, I can't flex the rules.

Still not sure if this 24hr delay is the same as instant booking, however, I can't imagine actual instantaneous booking if AirBNB doesn't respect the booking requirements.