Airbnb is now allowing travelers a full refund if they cancel their stay up to 24 hours in advance of check in. The option to purchase “cancel for any reason” coverage will become available at booking for properties in 12 countries. Airbnb has not made a broad public announcement, but its support pages now describe the feature for hosts and guests. Skift reported that Airbnb is working with an unnamed third party to power the product and has not disclosed the guest fee.
Photo: nugastaia /Shutterstock
Need to Cancel an Airbnb at the Last Minute? Now You Can Get All Your Money Back.
“Guests pay Airbnb an additional fee for this option, and you’ll still be paid according to your cancellation policy if your guest cancels,” Airbnb says in its Help Center.
The feature is currently available in 12 markets: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye, the US, and Vietnam. Most listings with moderate, limited, firm, or strict cancellation policies are automatically eligible, though hosts can opt out. When a guest cancels under the add-on, the dates reopen immediately, and Airbnb says the cancellation does not affect a host’s cancellation rate or Superhost status.
The move also extends Airbnb’s recent push toward more flexible booking rules. Airbnb’s standard cancellation policies already include a 24-hour grace period for shorter stays, and its Help Center says host policies still vary by listing.
Why this is important
Photo: nugastaia /Shutterstock
As Skift noted, the decision is Airbnb’s first foray into what’s called “fintech,” meaning a tech-enabled financial monetization stream. For most travelers, that’s insignificant. But what is important is that it gives the same peace of mind when booking a short-term rental that travelers on flexible itineraries can get when booking a hotel through many online booking sites.
The tool appears not to be as beneficial for hosts, as last-minute cancellation may still leave a calendar gap that is difficult to refill, especially for peak dates or larger homes. Many hosts will have the ability to opt out of the program, meaning guests at their property will not have the option to purchase the cancel-for-any-reason add-on. For hosts in locations that book far in advance (when trips are more likely to be speculative and leave a large window for plans to change), the policy could result in an uptick of “fluff” bookings that don’t end up happening.
Still, Airbnb maintains that when a cancellation happens through this add-on, hosts will be paid according to their property’s cancellation policy. This means they won’t be left completely high and dry in the case of a late opening. 