From PC Mag: Airbnb this week announced that it will waive all host and guest fees on COVID-19 cancellations under its extenuating circumstances policy. Reservations booked on or before March 14—with a check-in between March 14 and May 31, 2020—are now eligible for a full cash refund or travel credit to be used at a (much) later date.
The online marketplace has earmarked $250 million for the occasion, promising to cover 25 percent of hosts' normal cancellation fees during the coronavirus crisis. If you usually collect $400 for a retracted reservation, for instance, Airbnb will pay $100. Affected hosts will receive a more detailed email soon. However, it's worth noting that this policy does not apply to Airbnb Luxe, Luxury Retreats, or domestic bookings in mainland China, each of which have their own, separate policies.
Despite the company's initiatives, there remains a lot of uncertainty: Will I still get to take my summer vacation? Is my romantic getaway this fall going to be rescheduled? Moving forward, Airbnb will ask hosts and guests to revisit reservations with a check-in date after May 31 "and choose to either cancel or re-commit," according to the blog post.
COVID-19-related extenuating circumstances, meanwhile, will not apply to any accommodation booked after March 14—the date Airbnb announced coverage under its policy for situations pertaining to the novel coronavirus. "The world's awareness of the coronavirus (COVID-19) changed dramatically when the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020," Airbnb reminded readers. "We've worked hard to find solutions that will lessen the impact on our community."
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