Here's a scenario...
- Thinking I'm being a good host, I let my upcoming guest know that the regulations here regarding day 2 tests have changed (you have to self isolate until you get your negative result). He's okay with that, especially as I have found him an inexpensive express test which means he could still check in as planned.
- He then starts asking if everything is still open. Perhaps it's not the best time to come if there's not much open. I explain that, as things stand, yes, pretty much everything is open and the government is avoiding another lock down at all costs, but of course I can't guarantee that won't change.
- Finally, he decides to cancel, not because of the above, but because if he tested negative, he would need to quarantine for 10+ days, which would be the majority of his stay. By the way, this is not new. That regulation was in place when he booked, so he should have been aware of it.
- He asked to change his dates to March, which I was willing to agree to, but he wanted to halve the length of his stay. I told him I would only change them if he booked the same number of nights. He decided to cancel instead.
- The guest is then due a 50% refund under my policy and I told him I would also refund him for any rebooked nights, but can't refund him Airbnb fees as that's not in my power.
- The guest then tells me his grandfather has COVID. I say I'm sorry, but I am glad to hear he is stable and hope he recovers soon.
- The guest then tells me he's going to get a COVID test the next day because he's coughing and sneezing more than usual and has come into contact with his grandmother, who has come into contact with his grandfather...
Maybe I am being cynical, but I can kind of see where this is going. Even if the guest were to produce a positive test result, he cancelled before taking a test and outlined his reasons for doing so (it's all there in the thread in great detail). So, one would assume that Airbnb would not refund him under the EC policy, right?
I am not so sure as I've seen much stranger things. I contacted CS asking them to clarify this point, but they had no idea what I was talking about and just sent me links to the EC policy, which of course I already understand. That was not my question. Eventually, I give up. Now I'm just waiting to see what happens... My payout is actually quite small and he may get some of that back anyway. I imagine it's the Airbnb fees being kept in full that's the issue here.
Anyway, I would not be at all surprised if Airbnb refunds him.