Why your reservation request may have been declined by the Host

Hosts might not be able to accommodate every request that comes their way. That’s why some Hosts require guests to request to book a stay—after that, Hosts have 24 hours to respond to a guest’s reservation request.

Reasons why Hosts may decline reservation requests

Understanding why Hosts decline reservation requests can help prepare guests for a successful booking. Here are some common reasons why a Host may decline a request:

• Guest has no reviews or negative reviews. Hosts often rely on a guest's past reviews to gauge reliability and compatibility with their house rules.
• Special requests that the Host can’t accommodate. Sometimes, guests have special requests that go beyond what is offered in the listing, such as early check-in, late checkout, additional amenities, extra parking, or accommodation for more people than their place allows. If these requests can’t be met by the Host, they might decline the request.
• Dates aren’t available. Occasionally, a reservation request may be declined if the Host's calendar is not up-to-date, and the dates aren’t actually available.
• Guest is booking on behalf of someone else. Requests made on behalf of other people, like family members or friends, aren’t allowed on Airbnb.
• Unclear communication or lack of transparency. Requesting to book without providing any info—such as who will be staying and generally why you’re visiting—can lead to a reservation request being declined. Hosts value clear communication and transparency to ensure a good fit between how they host their place and the guest's expectations.

What you can do before booking to help Hosts get to know you

Here are some things you can do that may help you secure a booking:

• Complete your Airbnb profile. A robust profile helps show you’re reliable and authentic to Hosts who don’t know you yet, and can help establish the trust they need to welcome you into their place.
• Verify your identity on Airbnb. If you're new to Airbnb, consider getting verified to help increase trust.
• Send the Host a message to inquire, or include details when submitting your reservation request. Let the Host know why you like their place, who will be staying with you, generally why you’re traveling to their area, and anything else you think is important for them to know.
• Read the Host’s house rules and listing description and let them know. If you’ve read their house rules, you can let them know that you have and if you’ll adhere to them during a stay at their place. If you have any questions about their listing, you can send them a message to ask.

Note: Hosts aren’t shown a guest’s profile photo when responding to a reservation request. It’s only available to them after they’ve accepted the request and the reservation is confirmed. Find out more about what guest info is shown to Hosts before they accept a request.

Ensuring that declined reservation requests follow our Nondiscrimination Policy

Hosts on Airbnb must follow our Nondiscrimination Policy, which includes making every effort to be welcoming to guests of all backgrounds. If you feel your reservation request was declined for a reason that violates our Nondiscrimination Policy, please let us know.