Airbnb conversion fees (mandatory - really??)
Apr 23, 2017, 5:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: Delta, United, Lufthansa, American Airlines
Posts: 4
Airbnb conversion fees (mandatory - really??)
Has anyone considered taking airbnb to court for their policy of not allowing charges in foreign currencies, even with a credit card that doesn't charge conversion fees? I feel like I'm living in 1957 not 2017 with their policy. Any thoughts?
Apr 23, 2017, 5:21 pm
#3
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,543
Welcome to Flyertalk, karen703. There is a dedicated forum for non-hotel lodging services, which covers issues re: AirBNB.
Please follow the discussion as I move your thread to that Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Please follow the discussion as I move your thread to that Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Apr 23, 2017, 8:11 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
The question is whether a merchant can force the DCC charge on you or if they have to give an option to pay in the local currency. It is complicated in this case by the fact that the AirBnB transaction is not necessarily taking place in the location that the guest or the host is based.
And, yes, it sucks to lose the 3%. I've mostly gotten over it.
And, yes, it sucks to lose the 3%. I've mostly gotten over it.
Apr 23, 2017, 8:24 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,455
I always check HomeAway to see if the property is listed there before booking on Airbnb.
Apr 24, 2017, 3:23 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: Delta, United, Lufthansa, American Airlines
Posts: 4
Airbnb foreign transaction fees
It's not the fact that it's illegal as much as it's petty and greedy. And, then there's fact that they charge higher service fees the longer one stays. That begs the questions: Is the service better the longer one stays? Are there more airbnb employees involved in longer stays? Is there more service for longer stays? The answers are: No. No. And, No. This company needs to revise its business model undoing the conversion fees and increased service charges. If it's still viable - good for them. If not, they need to put on their big boy pants and give value for price. Right now, it's a one way street only leading to their bank.
Apr 24, 2017, 3:26 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: Delta, United, Lufthansa, American Airlines
Posts: 4
Airbnb foreign transaction fees
Sbm12 - I'm going to call the US Department of Commerce later today, along with my Virginia fair trade office to see if there have been any registered complaints about the conversion fees and service fees.
Apr 24, 2017, 8:32 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: Delta, United, Lufthansa, American Airlines
Posts: 4
Airbnb foreign transaction fees
I guess this comes down to two choices:
Airbnb is either technologically incompetent (can't figure out how to accept payment in foreign currency, by allowing customers to use fee-free credit cards), or,
Greedy.
They get to pick one.
Airbnb is either technologically incompetent (can't figure out how to accept payment in foreign currency, by allowing customers to use fee-free credit cards), or,
Greedy.
They get to pick one.
Apr 25, 2017, 12:29 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
The only consistent way around it I've found is to register a PayPal account in the country you are staying in and then close the account after your stay. only works for infrequent AirBnb users but I can't say I would ever use it frequently so it works for me.
Apr 25, 2017, 4:29 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Greedy. There were some ways to book in the host's currency in the past, but those loopholes were all closed over time.