Any experience with Airbnb?
Sep 1, 2015, 1:19 am
#376
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 1,659
Any host who depends on AirBnb for income is bound to be disappointed. The fees you pay are substantial (3 %). I agree they are growing quickly, but what is your evidence they are "massively wealthy"? As a private for profit company, Airbnb is not req'd to provide SEC-standard financial statements. Recently, they delayed their IPO to pursue venture capital for expansion:
http://moneymorning.com/2015/06/19/a...ion-valuation/
http://moneymorning.com/2015/06/19/a...ion-valuation/
There are good and bad AirBnb hosts out there (same as guests - I've heard tons of stories). The challenge is avoiding the bad ones.
Sep 4, 2015, 1:56 am
#377
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 109
I used to use Airbnb years ago when it first started. It was much better then. Today, people think their homes are worth too much. I can rent a nice hotel cheaper than many rooms in a house. I rarely find them up to my expectation. Many owners are very good with communication. I always send an email first before booking. If I don't hear from them, I don't book.
My biggest complaint is the service charge Airbnb now charges. I cancelled a reservation 3 days in advance which was no problem for the owner. They didn't charge a fee, but Airbnb sure did! it was close to $6.00 USD!! Seriously? what a ripoff! I won't use them again. My plans change too often!
My biggest complaint is the service charge Airbnb now charges. I cancelled a reservation 3 days in advance which was no problem for the owner. They didn't charge a fee, but Airbnb sure did! it was close to $6.00 USD!! Seriously? what a ripoff! I won't use them again. My plans change too often!
Sep 6, 2015, 12:41 am
#378
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 215
My biggest complaint is the service charge Airbnb now charges. I cancelled a reservation 3 days in advance which was no problem for the owner. They didn't charge a fee, but Airbnb sure did! it was close to $6.00 USD!! Seriously? what a ripoff! I won't use them again. My plans change too often!
I had a similar experience but ended up keeping the place. Found out that Airbnb charges both the owner and the renter!
Sep 14, 2015, 8:40 am
#379
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
What you folks think is appropriate to do in case of two consecutive stays?
I was the guest, and due a recent Lufthansa strike I booked one night more at the same apartment I did spend my previous 2 weeks.
I didn't settle it by cash to provide an actual reservation for the LH refund.
Initially I thought nothing wrong to submit another (clearly positive) review to my host, but then considering it again 2 reviews in a row in may possibly look fishy for his profile, and last thing I want is to harm somehow him.
Quite undecided.
I was the guest, and due a recent Lufthansa strike I booked one night more at the same apartment I did spend my previous 2 weeks.
I didn't settle it by cash to provide an actual reservation for the LH refund.
Initially I thought nothing wrong to submit another (clearly positive) review to my host, but then considering it again 2 reviews in a row in may possibly look fishy for his profile, and last thing I want is to harm somehow him.
Quite undecided.
Sep 14, 2015, 10:46 am
#380
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
I'd leave it, you'd probably just repeat yourself and it may look fishy.
Sep 21, 2015, 10:40 am
#381
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,735
Anyone used AirBnb?
Am trying to book a place for a month, was advices to use AirBnb. Found a place but the owner wants a verification. So I look and the verification that the site wants is either a driver's license or passport. Am not comfortable with providing either. With all this hacking am not comfortable. I tried covering up the essential info in my license but it didn't work.
Had anyone used the site and did you provide the info. If you used it, how did you manage without providing essential info? I rarely buy on the net and when I do, I normally use one CC for anything that I buy.
Thanks.
Had anyone used the site and did you provide the info. If you used it, how did you manage without providing essential info? I rarely buy on the net and when I do, I normally use one CC for anything that I buy.
Thanks.
Sep 21, 2015, 10:53 am
#382
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Location: Denver, CO
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Posts: 21,561
My guess is you avoid this forum like the plague, but there's a very long thread about AirBnb in there...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/budge...ce-airbnb.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/budge...ce-airbnb.html
Sep 21, 2015, 10:56 am
#383
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
If you are providing the info to the AirBNB company, I think I'd be okay with doing that since they would be the ones maintaining the info, sort of like hotel management asking for this upon checkin, which is pretty standard. Providing it to the individual owner I'd be more hesitant about.
AirBNB is big enough and has been around long enough I think it's ok.
AirBNB is big enough and has been around long enough I think it's ok.
Sep 21, 2015, 11:25 am
#384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Posts: 23,735
Anyone used AirBnb?
Thank you for the link, will check it out.
Doc, with all the hacking and ID theft going on, am not comfy giving my official ID to the internet. Tried covering up the important info but it didn't work.
Any other ideas?
Doc, with all the hacking and ID theft going on, am not comfy giving my official ID to the internet. Tried covering up the important info but it didn't work.
Any other ideas?
Sep 21, 2015, 1:09 pm
#386
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
It may well be that they will require some sort of verifiable ID to do business with you, especially for a large transaction like a month's rent. You could try calling the company and discussing this requirement or giving them your drivers license number verbally. It may be that you and the company won't be able to do business if you don't mutually agree.
Sep 21, 2015, 1:10 pm
#387
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,655
Is your concern with the computer technology used to transmit and store the data, or do you object to giving it in any form, electronic or otherwise?
Sep 21, 2015, 1:47 pm
#388
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Though I think I managed to answer some questions and I think it might work out. Now figuring out the payment.
Sep 21, 2015, 1:51 pm
#389
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Don't pay the owner directly, especially by Western Union or a direct (wire) money transfer; you have more protections if you go through AirBnB and use a credit card.