Say no to AIRBNB

alan80E

Be very careful when using Airbnb because although you can reserve dates an unscrupulous host can keep your booking hanging until they fill up more dates. For example on 16th February I booked a flat in Evelyn Terrace Brighton between 29th February and 9th March 2020. The dates were available on the website and blocked out for me. However, as soon as I tried to chase up why the host, James, had not replied I noted that he had changed the availability to show the 29th was booked. My dates were then cancelled and shown as unbooked. It was only by chance I found that me and my family had no accommodation only 5 days before we were due to fly in.  Airbnb help centre were no help at all basically saying that the host was in total control and had no loyalty to an older booking. So if you use Airbnb, I never will again, be prepared to lose your reservation without being told.

Aylesbury_Duck

What did you expect?  The whole process is only as good as the least scrupulous party in the transaction.  If you want certainty, use a hotel.

Wanderingpomm

It sounds like you didn’t book the flat, You just requested to book. Did you get a confirmation? If you did then AirBnB would find you an alternative if the host cancels. If it’s just a request then they can do what they like 

Pollycat

So you're not going to use Airbnb ever again because of one unscrupulous host?

It sounds to me like an excessive reaction.

pramsay13

It sounds to me as if you requested a booking. 
AirBnB is quite clear that the request will go to the host and you should expect confirmation. 
I will continue to use AirBnB because I find it extremely convenient.

814man

About as coherent advice as "dont fly with RyanAir".  Most sensible and seasoned travelers on here will read a posters story carefully then make a judgment call based on a range of factors.  I'd rather not be told what do do thank you very much.

AlexMac

Sympathies to the OP but as someone says above, that's one-off bad luck rather than a structural problem. 
And on a geeky point of this semantics; maybe MSE should re-title this forum "Overseas Holiday and Travel Planning Assuming you are British and don't think that  Evelyn Terrace Brighton is Overseas..."?  After all, the interwebby knows no national boundaries, so where exactly is "Overseas"- this OP is Flying in  so probably doesn't care about that insignificantly narrow strip of sea called the English Channel; or even the slightly more significant North Sea, Irish Sea or Atlantic...?

isplumm

I have a gite that I rent out via AirBnB - once I have confirmed a booking, it is very difficult to cancel & AirBnB can / do charge the host for doing that .. also if you decline a potential booking, they block your calendar out for that length of time.

So for me, I can not see how the booking was confirmed, otherwise the host would lose money?

Mark