Airbnb party detection rejecting potential bookers! What can I do?

Question

This new Airbnb AI party blocker is potentially costing me thousands of dollars. I've spoken to two groups now over the past few months who said they couldn't book my property because Airbnb rejected them when they're staying with children, grandparents, and extended family.

I have larger 6 bedroom homes. I'm being unfairly targeted by this dumb@ss system that simply says "oh too many people! Can't let you bother the neighbors"

IVE called Airbnb support but they say they are powerless to step in and override it.

I Have no clue what to tell these potential guests how to get around this block. They clearly aren't partying, I don't allow excessive guest counts, and I require guests to be over 25 years old. What else could I be doing?

Leora Merrell · Answer

This only has happened to me twice with my larger property in No. Virginia. One of them was a guest with 21 five star reviews even! And she only wanted to sleep 6 in a house that sleeps 14.  I didn’t direct them to VRBO (fees are even higher there). I asked them to text me (made no mention of direct booking or anything on Airbnb) and gave them my phone number in a way that Airbnb wouldn’t block it. I booked them directly. Win for everyone and they were thrilled.

John Underwood · Answer

1. Use Vrbo.

2. Make sure your property has a name that can be Google to find you.

3. Have a picture of your property that just happens to have a sign on your property with your property name and phone number.

Scott K. · Answer

I'd strongly caution you to ever say something like that through airbnbs messaging. They could find that message, ban you, and you'd never be able to make another account. Not worth the risk!

Michael Baum · Answer

I second sending them to VRBO or direct booking. Cut out AirBNB altogether.

John Underwood · Answer

This might be another reason Vrbo is so much better on our 6 bedroom PF cabin.

Vrbo is also better on our 3 bedroom SC Lake house too.

John Underwood · Answer

In your description tell people to just list 4 people or less for all bookings then confirm headcount after the booking.

Andrew Steffens · Answer

I do not think you can do anything.  Honestly, we direct them to book direct or a competitor.  This is against Airbnb policy but if they have a problem with it they can take the reservation.

Ryan Moyer · Answer

If you figure anything out let me know.  This has been a huge headache for me as well.  Most of my properties are 6-9 bedrooms and this thing blocks bookings all the time.  And according to Airbnb support their is no manual override.  Once the booking is flagged the algorithm is king and humans get no say in it.

I've heard people say you can change the bedroom count or even change your listing to a shared space (instead of whole home) temporarily which the algorithm is much looser on.  The problem is that once the algorithm has blocked a booking, it won't allow that particular booking no matter what you change.  So the guest would have to have a separate Airbnb account (maybe their spouse's or someone else in their group) to try again after you've changed it.

I suppose another alternative could be to create a second listing where you list it as a shared space, and then just keep the whole calendar blocked until a situation like this arises, and then when it does open up the guest's dates on the 2nd listing and have them book through there?  Not sure where this falls in Airbnb's ToS though and if you could get your account suspended for that.

Airbnb party detection rejecting potential bookers! What can I do?

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