Update: March 13, 2020, 3:00 p.m. EST
Updating its "Extenuating Circumstances" policy today in response to growing concern of the spread of COVID-19, Airbnb is allowing guests to cancel eligible reservations without getting charged. Other areas currently covered under this policy include Mainland China, South Korea and Italy.
This means that guests covered under the policy will receive full refunds, including fees and that Airbnb hosts will not incur cancellation fees, reported USA Today.
"For reservations in the United States, Airbnb's Extenuating Circumstances policy applies to reservations booked on or before March 13, 2020, with check-in date of April 1, 2020 or earlier," says Airbnb's updated online statement. The Extenuating Circumstances policy also applies to U.S. travelers with reservations in the Schengen Area of Europe (where President Trump's latest travel ban applies) that were made on or before March 11, 2020, for travel between March 13 to April 13, 2020.
Other qualifying scenarios include reservations of global guests or hosts, who must change or cancel travel: to comply with restrictions implemented by governmental or health authorities; in order to perform medical or disease-control duties in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak; as a result of flight or ground transportation cancellations initiated by an airline or ground transportation provider due to the COVID-19 outbreak; or in the event that they are diagnosed or suspected of being infected with COVID-19 by a medical or health authority.
Airbnb is working to provide hosts and guests added flexibility and peace and mind amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The home-sharing platform has introduced "More Flexible Reservations," a new suite of tools and programs designed to help users navigate uncertainty in the wake of recent travel restrictions and elevated advisories. The updates include rewards for flexible hosts; an easy filter search for travelers and a 100 percent Airbnb guest service fee refund.
Hosts will now have new tools to directly authorize extra refunds on cancellations through Airbnb, which will also provide promotions that increase visibility for flexible hosts' listings. Airbnb will also waive its standard 3 percent host fee on new reservations for these listings through June 1, 2020.
For Airbnb guests, the company is adding filters that make it easier to find and book accommodation options that have the most appropriate cancellation policy based on their needs, whether flexible, moderate or strict.
What's more, now through June 1, Airbnb will refund its guest service fee for guests who need to cancel and are not due to receive a refund as a travel coupon that they can use on a future trip.
"While it is clear that the coronavirus will have an impact on the entire travel and tourism industry, we believe travel will recover in the long run. It is one of the largest and most resilient industries in the world," the company stated.
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