Update 3/31/20: This has now been expanded until May 31st. In additional AirBnB has set up a $250 million fund for hosts.
Update 3/14/20: AirBnB has now expanded this policy worldwide. This policy now applies to existing reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made on or before March 14, 2020, with check-in dates between March 14, 2020 and April 14, 2020.
Original post: AirBnB has announced changes to it’s Extenuating Circumstances policy. This policy allows guests to cancel eligible reservations without charge and applies to the following areas:
- Mainland China
- South Korea
- Italy
- United States
Bookings must have been made on or before March 13th with a check in date of April 1st, 2020 or earlier. It also applies to travelers coming from the United States to Europe who have reservations in Schengen Area of Europe.
twitter messages for service fee refund. hit that up if you are still waiting on that
They are a clown show. I had reservation for Berlin and Budapest for 3/12-3/14 and had to cancel due to the pandemic. They are refusing to refund me because the new policy wasn’t in place yet and we were in the middle of traveling.
I did some more digging. I don’t think free cancellation was extended through 31 May. Only for people who have actually contracted COVID-19 WTH
https://www.airbnb.com.sg/help/article/2701/extenuating-circumstances-policy-and-the-coronavirus-covid19?
“Reservations made after 14 March 2020
Reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made after 14 March 2020 will not be covered under our extenuating circumstances policy, except where the guest or host is currently sick with COVID-19. COVID-19 related circumstances not covered include: transportation disruptions and cancellations; travel advisories and restrictions; health advisories and quarantines; changes to applicable law; and other government mandates – like evacuation orders, border closures, prohibitions on short-term rentals, and shelter-in-place requirements. The host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual.
Our extenuating circumstances policy is intended to protect guests and hosts from unforeseen circumstances that arise after booking. After the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, the extenuating circumstances policy no longer applies because COVID-19 and its consequences are no longer unforeseen or unexpected. Please remember to carefully review the host’s cancellation policy when booking and consider choosing an option that provides flexibility.”
He put that in the original post. “This policy now applies to existing reservations for stays and Airbnb Experiences made on or before March 14, 2020.”
The update to the new date of 5/31 is still for reservations made before March 14.
That makes sense because anyone making reservations now know what’s going on. The policy is to protect those that didn’t when they made the reservation.
Not that I don’t believe it, but does anyone have a link about the free cancellation policy being extended to 31 May? I clicked on the links in this post and searched for news on the Airbnb web site but couldn’t find it. I am an overseas American still trying to get home, and one way or another Airbnb will have to be part of my plan for returning home, especially since I have no where to live once I actually get back. Due to the uncertainties of everything though, I would feel so much better knowing for sure I can really cancel and get a full refund without hassle, especially due to flights being cancelled every other day.
William Charles
I think the policy refers to reservations made prior to March 14 only so any reservations you make now wouldn’t be covered.
updated news release: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2701/extenuating-circumstances-policy-and-the-coronavirus-covid19
The 5/31 date is in the summary.
Our host for mid-June in Colorado cancelled our reservation last week.
We’re going on a trip June 6 and if this situation doesn’t get any better and the borders are still closed, I hope AirBnB extends this further.
I would take a refund if I were in your shoes, but imagine how hard this is for AirBnB to tell these hosts they’re SOL. Many of them rely on that money to pay mortgage, and some to eat.
But majority of Airbnb hosts are just selfish pigs who make tens of thousands per month. Some of them should have been saving boohoo
This isn’t true at all. Most are small business owners trying to pay mortgages and make enough to cover maintenance and repairs hoping for a little extra at the end of the year. Travelers have the option for travel insurance, which they should have purchased for times exactly like these. Hosts don’t have that same option. Stop acting entitled and selfish because you wanted to save a few bucks on your trip by skipping travel insurance and are now out of luck.
Most travel insurance I’ve seen doesn’t cover pandemics
I cancelled a March stay a few minutes ago through the airbnb website. Seamless, got full refund. But I agree, they should go way out beyond April 1.
Hopefully people learn their lesson on AirBnB’s terrible policies.
– Hosts able to cancel your booking at the last minute
– unusual and not consistent host requirements for their guests
– bad cancellation terms for guests
– hassle in check in and check out procedures
I’ve used AirBnB in the past only when it would save me significantly – usually for stays longer than 5 nights. And I would only book near departure date. And I would have to thoroughly review the pictures and terms set by the host. I never did shared rental, only entire unit.
I just cancelled a trip, and my experience with Airbnb was extraordinary! When I called I was talking to a human in minutes, she got service fees refunded in hours, followed up to let me know she was in contact with the hosts, and today, two days later, let me know every fee would be refunded.