Primary Guest Booked for Someone Else

Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes

The individual who booked our Airbnb never showed up and appeared to book the property for some younger boys. Our policy states the primary guest is to be at least 25 years old. I can't say for sure the guests weren't of that age, but nonetheless, she never showed up. The guests who did stay, took care of the property and left it in good condition, but none were the individual who booked the stay. It was not disclosed to us that she would not be staying. Should this be addressed with her or just leave it alone since they left the property in good condition?

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John UnderwoodPro Member

Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes

4mo

Luckily you had no damage so I would let it go at this point.

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Ken Boone
Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4mo
Man.. so that is totally against AirBnb policy. The only thing I would do is put it in the review that this person booked for someone else and never showed against Airbnb policy and you only found out after the fact. Fortunately no damage was done so I would leave it at that.
1 Reply
Mike GrudzienPro Member
Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4mo
If reviews are completed by both sides, you could:
--let a sleeping dog lie....
--contact customer service and explain situation for the sake of future guests
1 Reply
- Shane Bishop
  OP
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Mike Grudzien:
  
  If reviews are completed by both sides, you could:
  --let a sleeping dog lie....
  --contact customer service and explain situation for the sake of future guests
  
  She has written her review, but we have not yet completed ours. After looking at Airbnb's policy, she should not have written a review if she was not a guest, but should not be able to edit if I post my review or the 14 day period comes to an end.
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Lauren Kormylo
Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4mo
Unfortunately, Airbnb now allows third party bookings. They changed this without informing hosts of it. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/4134
Since there was no damage, I would NOT say anything to the booker or guests or Airbnb.
You don't want to give them the chance to leave you a bad review. So I would wait until the last minutes of the 14 day review period, and leave them a review which briefly describes the situation. From what I can tell, the review period expires on your check-out time on that 14th day. My bet is that the booker did not do what Airbnb requires on that page, so this was not kosher. It certainly did not allow you to make sure the primary guest was 25, which was underhanded. You just want to warn other hosts about this in your review.
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- Shane Bishop
  OP
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:
  
  Unfortunately, Airbnb now allows third party bookings. They changed this without informing hosts of it. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/4134
  Since there was no damage, I would NOT say anything to the booker or guests or Airbnb.
  You don't want to give them the chance to leave you a bad review. So I would wait until the last minutes of the 14 day review period, and leave them a review which briefly describes the situation. From what I can tell, the review period expires on your check-out time on that 14th day. My bet is that the booker did not do what Airbnb requires on that page, so this was not kosher. It certainly did not allow you to make sure the primary guest was 25, which was underhanded. You just want to warn other hosts about this in your review.
  
  The article states that she still have disclosed that she was booking for someone else on the guest list. She didn't. It also states that only the guests who physically stayed at the property can leave a review. Although I haven't been able to view it yet, Airbnb has said that she left a review.
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- Lauren Kormylo
  Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Shane Bishop:
  
  Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:
  
  Unfortunately, Airbnb now allows third party bookings. They changed this without informing hosts of it. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/4134
  Since there was no damage, I would NOT say anything to the booker or guests or Airbnb.
  You don't want to give them the chance to leave you a bad review. So I would wait until the last minutes of the 14 day review period, and leave them a review which briefly describes the situation. From what I can tell, the review period expires on your check-out time on that 14th day. My bet is that the booker did not do what Airbnb requires on that page, so this was not kosher. It certainly did not allow you to make sure the primary guest was 25, which was underhanded. You just want to warn other hosts about this in your review.
  
  The article states that she still have disclosed that she was booking for someone else on the guest list. She didn't. It also states that only the guests who physically stayed at the property can leave a review. Although I haven't been able to view it yet, Airbnb has said that she left a review.
  
  She probably left a good review, so you don't want to give her the chance to change it, and she can change it until the 14 days are up. You don't want to get into it with Airbnb and try to disqualify her from reviewing - they'll just allow the primary guest to do it, even though he's not listed, they'll allow him to be added now. They are very pro-guest, not pro-host.
  1 Reply
- Trent Reeve
  Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:
  
  Quote from @Shane Bishop:
  
  Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:
  
  Unfortunately, Airbnb now allows third party bookings. They changed this without informing hosts of it. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/4134
  Since there was no damage, I would NOT say anything to the booker or guests or Airbnb.
  You don't want to give them the chance to leave you a bad review. So I would wait until the last minutes of the 14 day review period, and leave them a review which briefly describes the situation. From what I can tell, the review period expires on your check-out time on that 14th day. My bet is that the booker did not do what Airbnb requires on that page, so this was not kosher. It certainly did not allow you to make sure the primary guest was 25, which was underhanded. You just want to warn other hosts about this in your review.
  
  The article states that she still have disclosed that she was booking for someone else on the guest list. She didn't. It also states that only the guests who physically stayed at the property can leave a review. Although I haven't been able to view it yet, Airbnb has said that she left a review.
  
  She probably left a good review, so you don't want to give her the chance to change it, and she can change it until the 14 days are up. You don't want to get into it with Airbnb and try to disqualify her from reviewing - they'll just allow the primary guest to do it, even though he's not listed, they'll allow him to be added now. They are very pro-guest, not pro-host.
  no, once the host makes a review as well, the guest cannot go back in and change it
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Shane Bishop
OP
Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes
4mo
So this guest has already left a review, even though she was never physically at the property. I assume she would be allowed to change it within the 14-day window. I'm not sure. I've never tried to change a review after posting it. I have not left my review yet and am still deciding what to do. It seems I should give other hosts a heads up that this happened, but I do appreciate them taking good care of the property. Our cleaners said everything was very clean and tidy and it seems they followed all of the check out procedures correctly.
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- Trent Reeve
  Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Shane Bishop:
  
  So this guest has already left a review, even though she was never physically at the property. I assume she would be allowed to change it within the 14-day window. I'm not sure. I've never tried to change a review after posting it. I have not left my review yet and am still deciding what to do. It seems I should give other hosts a heads up that this happened, but I do appreciate them taking good care of the property. Our cleaners said everything was very clean and tidy and it seems they followed all of the check out procedures correctly.
  once you review them, their review is locked. the only thing they can do is go to Airbnb and have it removed, but they cannot change it
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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
4mo
Luckily you had no damage so I would let it go at this point.
3 Reply
Jules Aton
MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4mo
If the guests were quiet, clean and not doing anything illegal I could care less.
2 Reply
Dan H.Pro Member
Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
4mo
I would not leave the guest a 5 star review and I would explain why. I think a 4 star review is appropriate because they intentionally circumvented the age limitation but did everything else correctly.
Airbnb does not allow guest changing review after seeing your review except for extenuating circumstances. That is why each party cannot see the other’s review until both parties have submitted the review or the time limit has expired.
Good luck

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Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
4mo
At this point, doing anything would just be for the sake of future hosts. We require guests lists prior to entry so this likely could be caught with better screening. I would let it go since its no harm no foul IMO.
[email protected]813-563-0877
Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
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- Shane Bishop
  OP
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
  
  At this point, doing anything would just be for the sake of future hosts. We require guests lists prior to entry so this likely could be caught with better screening. I would let it go since its no harm no foul IMO.
  
  Agreed. It feels like future hosts should be made aware. I know I would appreciate that if I was a future host. It seems unfair to future hosts to pretend like this was a perfect guest. Requiring a guest list sounds like a good idea. Do you just have this in your house rules? How do you enforce this policy?
  0 Reply
Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
4mo
Yes it is in the house rules. We only release entry details 24 hours prior to check in IF guestlist is received. If not they do not get the code. If they complain we point to house rules they agreed to.
[email protected]813-563-0877
Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
Website View Page
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- Shane Bishop
  OP
  Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes
  4mo
  Quote from @Andrew Steffens:
  
  Yes it is in the house rules. We only release entry details 24 hours prior to check in IF guestlist is received. If not they do not get the code. If they complain we point to house rules they agreed to.
  
  What do you do at that point if they don't provide a guest list? Will you cancel the reservation?
  0 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
4mo
We had that happen but it was reverse. A 19yo daughter booked for her parents who couldn't figure out the platform. Everyone was staying and showed up.
The fact that they took good care of the property, I would let it go. In the end it all worked out so I would leave a 5 star review but mention that you would have liked to know.
1 Reply
Shane Bishop
OP
Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2022 · 69 posts · 38 votes
4mo
If anyone reads this and would like an update, we ended up leaving a mixed review. We left 5 stars on everything besides communication and began the review by stating that the young men who did stay at the property were fantastic guests and would be welcomed back anytime. We praised their efforts in keeping the place clean and in good condition, but did mention that the booker did not disclose that she would not be staying at the property. In the event of an emergency, we would have no way to directly contact the guests. We wanted to relay to any other hosts that the guests were great and we'd recommend them to everyone, but wanted to leave an honest review of the booker, which included a lack of communication. Right, wrong, or however anyone feels about that, that's what we felt was the best way to represent the stay while being transparent with other hosts.
1 Reply
Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3mo
Since we have it on the listing they will not get access or a refund.
[email protected]813-563-0877
Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
Website View Page
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