So what exactly is the policy when a superhost cancels a reservation to re-list at a higher price?

[Brian3772]

Eager beaver here attempted to book a reservation over a year out because I found a good deal on a home from a trustworthy super host. The next morning my reservation was cancelled because the host said the calendar shouldn’t have been opened for the following year yet. 

I got an email from Airbnb informing me about the cancellation and clicked on the included “rebook” link to see similar suggested homes that I could reserve. I kid you not—towards the bottom of the list, I see the same listing that cancelled on me for the same dates, but at double the price (I have the screenshot)!

I’m not mad about the situation, but a bit confused on what the Airbnb policy is for when a host (let alone super hosts) cancels on you—research online told me there were policies in place to prevent a host from cancelling and relisting at a higher price for the same dates. However, the AI chatbot I spoke with insisted that hosts always have the option to cancel on a customer and adjust price to anything they want without any repercussions. Seems like Airbnb does not encourage shopping around early for a good deal. Am I missing something here?

[Helen3]

If the host cancels the dates should be blocked . Personally I would raise it with Airbnb @Brian3772 

What AI chat bot were you using on Airbnb? 

[Mary1523]

This is very unethical behaviour by a host.

Hosts are penalised and that person was, because you were offered a rebook link, so that tells me the process correctly kicked in. Those dates will be blocked off for that host and they will get a penalty on their host rating. Say goodbye to Superhost if they had it. I have had to cancel a reservation unfortunately (even 1 hr after the guest booked when i realised my calendar sync failed) and I was penalised with a fee as well that went towards the guest I believe.

The problem is I think some unscruplous hosts go and setup another profile for the same property. I suspect you will find its a different host profile. It's the only explanation.

My solution? Only ever book with hosts that are either super host or at least > 4.75 IMHO. They will be ethical. The other thing is, whils t that host was unethical and it was their fault, hosts do survive by charging top dollar in peak times. I have been caught out taking a Xmas booking at low season rate accidently but I had to suck it up. Hosting isn't a very profitable business tbh, many of us do it for spare  change and the love and a small secondary income, not for huge profit. Just something to consider...but not excusing that host. Maybe looking for a deal at peak period isn't going to get the outcome you want....

Regs

MK