Guests and hosts can cancel Airbnb reservations penalty-free during coronavirus
Airbnb has revised its reservation policy in light of the global disruption caused by the Coronavirus – Covid-19. Both guests and hosts can now cancel reservations with no charge or penalty under the company’s updated “Extenuating Circumstances” policy. Airbnb reservation policy
The amendment applies to existing reservations for stays made on or before March 14, with check-in dates between March 14, 2020 to April 14, 2020.
The policy also applies to all bookings in the world with the notable exception of domestic travel in mainland China.
Airbnb says that hosts around the world have demonstrated flexibility and understanding during the global coronavirus pandemic with 86 percent of money returned in the form of refunds over the last month.
The company also says it will not collect fees from reservations canceled under the policy.
“We understand that this announcement will impact hosts around the world, many of whom depend on the economics they generate on Airbnb. We will be working in the days and weeks ahead to identify tools and initiatives to support our hosts during these very challenging times.” Airbnb reservation policy
Airbnb’s reservation policy and penalty-free cancellation policy depend on the type of reservation and the host’s specific cancellation policy.
For a standard reservation, if the guest cancels: Airbnb reservation policy
- more than 48 hours before the check-in time, the guest will receive a full refund
- less than 48 hours before the check-in time, the guest will receive a refund for the first night and the service fee, but not for the remaining nights.
For a reservation with a flexible cancellation policy, the guest can cancel up to 24 hours before check-in and receive a full refund.
For a reservation with a moderate cancellation policy, the guest can cancel up to 5 days before check-in and receive a full refund.
For a reservation with a strict cancellation policy, the guest can cancel up to 7 days before check-in and receive a 50% refund. If the guest cancels within 7 days of check-in, they will not receive a refund.
For a reservation with a super strict cancellation policy, the guest can cancel up to 30 days before check-in and receive a 50% refund. If the guest cancels within 30 days of check-in, they will not receive a refund.
If a guest needs to cancel due to an extenuating circumstance, such as illness or a natural disaster, they may be eligible for a penalty-free cancellation and a full refund, even if the host’s cancellation policy would not normally allow it.
It’s important for guests to carefully review the cancellation policy before making a reservation and to communicate with the host if there are any concerns or questions.
