"Host damage protection" not really an insurance ?

[Jacob231]

Hi all,

I still don't understand one essential thing about the so-called "Host damage protection".

In the article https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/279 it says:
"Host damage protection, part of AirCover for Hosts, provides Hosts with $3 million in coverage in the rare event your place or belongings are damaged by a guest during an Airbnb stay."

But further down in the article it says:
"After you submit your AirCover for Hosts request, your guest will have 24 hours to pay."

So in fact it is the GUEST who is paying for the damage, and NOT Airbnb.
The way I understand insurances generally speaking, it is the insurance company that pays for damages, and not the two parties involved, the two parties in this case being an Airbnb host and guest, who actually both contribute financially to the insurance plan via the Airbnb service fees imposed on each booking.

Am I misunderstanding something, is Airbnb's product names and information misleading, or...?

Thanks, Jacob

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Jacob231 Airbnb's Aircover is very misleading and, apart from the liability bit, is not insurance. I believe they are guilty of misrepresentation and false advertising but that is a different story.

Anyway even if it were an insurance policy the company would have the right to go after the person causing the damage (think how car insurance works) so it doesnt make much difference in reality.