Airbnb Not Letting You Book? 3 Reasons Why This Happens

Have you ever tried to book an Airbnb and been told that your reservation cannot be completed? This can be frustrating, especially if you need a place to stay urgently. So why won’t Airbnb let you book? In this article, we’ll take a look at three of the most common reasons why people get flagged by Airbnb’s system, and explain what you can do to avoid them.

Reasons Why Airbnb Isn’t Letting You Book

Over the years, Airbnb has become increasingly strict about who they allow to use their platform. This is because, as the company has grown, so have the number of cases of fraud and abuse. As a result, there are now a number of risk factors that can trigger Airbnb’s system and prevent you from being able to book a property.

Airbnb is a for profit business, and they aren’t likely to ban lucrative properties without a very good reason. Let’s take a look at some of those reasons why your reservation might get canceled.

Risk Factors

The first reason why you might not be able to book an Airbnb is because you’re trying to book an entire house at short notice. This is a red flag for Airbnb, as it’s often associated with parties and other events that can cause damage to the property.

Experience has shown that these types of reservations usually result in parties, shootings, and other illegal activity where drugs, minors, and police get involved. Not only does this damage Airbnb’s reputation, it also effects hosts who walk into their properties only to find holes in walls, furniture destroyed, items stolen, etc.

Not only is it a liability for hosts, Airbnb has spent a lot of money on insurance claims resulting from party houses. As a result, Airbnb has established some risk factors that may prevent you from booking:

• Age Range: If you’re under the age of 25, you may have trouble booking an Airbnb. This is because these age groups are more likely to be associated with rowdy behavior and damage to property.
• Location: If you’re trying to book a property in an area that has a high concentration of college students, you may also have difficulty. This is because these areas are more likely to have problems with noise complaints, parties, and damage to property.
• Property Type: Trying to book a whole house that is suitable for 10-16 people for one night is also a red flag for Airbnb. This is because, as we mentioned before, these types of bookings are often associated with parties and other events that can damage the property.
• New Account: If you’re trying to book an Airbnb and you don’t have a lot of history on the platform, you may also have difficulty. This is because new accounts are more likely to be associated with fraud and abuse.
• Guest Origins: Guests who live in the same city or town as the property they’re trying to book are more likely to be able to book unsuccessfully. Many hosts restrict local guests for good reason, as they are more likely to be associated with parties and other events that can damage the property.

Calendar Syncing Issues

Another reason why you might not be able to book an Airbnb is because of calendar syncing issues. This means that the host may have a booking that hasn’t been updated yet, or the host has yet to respond to another inquiry where your dates have overlapped.

Many hosts have their properties listed on multiple platforms using a channel manager. This means that when a booking is made on one platform, the dates become blocked off on all other platforms. However, sometimes there can be a delay in this update, which is why you may see a property that’s available on Airbnb but not on another platform.

Host Availability

Sometimes the reason why you can’t book an Airbnb is because the host has yet to approve your request. Many hosts have a strict set of rules that they require guests to follow in order to be approved, such as no smoking, no pets, etc.

• Guest History: Some hosts also require that you have a certain number of reviews on your profile before they will approve your request. This is because they want to make sure that you’re a responsible and trustworthy guest.
• Minimum Night Stay: The host may have set a minimum night stay that falls between the dates that you’re trying to book. For example, if you’re trying to book a property for three nights and the host has a minimum stay of five nights, then you will not be able to book that property. This can especially be an issue if there are only 3 days available between dates that are blocked.
• Preparation Time: Another possibility is that the host may need more time to prepare the property for your stay. This is especially common if you’re booking last minute or if you’re requesting a early check-in/late check-out. Some hosts require at least 24 hours notice or more in order to prepare the property, so keep that in mind when you’re making your booking request.

What to Do If You’re Flagged

With all of these issues considered, there are times when innocent travelers with good intentions get caught up in Airbnb’s strict booking rules. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry! There are a few things that you can do in order to improve your chances of being able to book a property on Airbnb.

Make Sure Your Profile Is Complete

If you have a new account with few bookings or reviews, make sure that you take the time to complete your profile. This includes adding a profile picture, writing a short bio, and verifying your ID by uploading it to your profile. The more complete your profile is, the more likely you are to be approved by a host and the less likely you will be flagged by Airbnb’s automated system.

Contact The Host Directly

Because automated systems aren’t able to account for the edge cases, sometimes its best to contact the host directly and tell them about the issue. Many hosts are willing to work with guests on a case-by-case basis, so its always worth reaching out and asking if they can make an exception.

This is particularly useful when the host has a minimum night stay set up and you want to book for dates that are between blocked dates that don’t reach the minimum. In this case, the host may be willing to make an exception and allow you to book for those dates.

Contact Airbnb About The Reservation

Sometimes getting in contact with Airbnb can help you get around their automated system. You can do this by going to the help center on their website and submitting a request. Be sure to include as many details as possible about why you’re having trouble booking the property and what dates you’re trying to book it for.

Final Thoughts

While it can be frustrating to not be able to book a property on Airbnb, there are usually reasons why this happens. By taking the time to understand why you’re being flagged and following the tips in this article, you’ll be one step closer to successfully booking your next vacation rental.

Have you ever been flagged by Airbnb’s system? What tips would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!