Airbnb's 10-Fold Increase in Host Cancellation Fees Could Benefit Guests
Photo Caption: A home with Airbnb units in Rincon, Puerto Rico. Dennis Schaal
Skift Take
Increasing host penalties for unjustified cancellations isn't necessarily a bad thing unless innocent hosts get caught up in the dragnet.
Few things can be as frustrating for Airbnb guests than to see their reservations cancelled by the host, especially on short notice.
Airbnb is hiking the maximum fee 10-fold to $1,000, from the current $100, on August 22 for certain host-generated cancellations.
"Avoidable host cancellations are not common, but when they do happen, they can have a negative impact on a guest's experience, as well as the wider hosting community," an Airbnb spokesperson said. "Following a thorough review of our policy, we have updated our existing fees to better reflect the costs associated with preventable cancellations, including rebooking guests, often at the last minute."
Airbnb explains the new fee structure to hosts here.
The actual fee that hosts would get charged would range from $50 to $1,000, depending on the amount of the reservation.
Hosts would still be able to cancel bookings without penalties or other repercussions, such as ge
