[zachalexander]

Key quote:

> "24 hours earlier, I had made an instant booking for this accommodation on AirBnB. You know, the one where I don’t have to wait for a confirmation from the host. As soon as the booking is made, you can pack your bags and go as AirBnB sends you the address"

Key question: is that actually how it works? If Airbnb says you can go directly to the address as soon as the booking is made, and expect to be let in, the author has a valid complaint. If not, well, not.

I don't know how Airbnb works, but my hunch is that an "instant booking" just means you get instant confirmation that you have, in fact, successfully reserved a room for a given set of nights. I would be surprised if it also meant that you have a right to expect the host to let you into the house immediately. If I reserve an Airbnb room at midnight, and show up at the address at 2 am, surely I don't have a right to expect to be let in on the spot.

[vikramgoyal]

> I don't know how Airbnb works, but my hunch is that an "instant booking" just means you get instant confirmation that you have, in fact, successfully reserved a room for a given set of nights

It also means that I am instantaneously liable for the cancellation charges. If the host doesn't respond after the instant booking (as happened in this case) I forfeit all the money. There is something wrong in this business case and AirBnB should look in to it.

I have already talked about the other issues in my post.