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Improve alter reservation tool clarity and pricing transparency

Feature requestsAirbnb

Problem statement

  • The current alter reservation tool is confusing and doesn't clearly explain how it calculates pricing when extending or modifying reservations
  • Hosts are uncertain about what charges will be applied when using the tool to extend guest stays
  • The lack of transparency in pricing calculations creates confusion and hesitation when modifying reservations

Current workaround

Hosts are bypassing Hospitable's alter reservation tool entirely and using the Airbnb platform directly to extend reservations, because they can't understand how Hospitable is calculating the changes.

Impact

  • Lost time switching between platforms to complete what should be a simple task
  • Reduced trust in Hospitable's reservation management tools
  • Risk of pricing errors or guest confusion when hosts are unsure of the calculations
  • Decreased efficiency in managing reservation changes

Proposed solution

Redesign the alter reservation tool with:

  • Clear, step-by-step breakdown of pricing calculations (showing nightly rates, fees, and totals)
  • Simplified interface that makes it obvious what changes are being made
  • Transparent math that shows exactly how the new total is calculated

Unlock

Hosts would be able to confidently extend and modify reservations directly within Hospitable without needing to switch to other platforms, saving time and reducing friction in their workflow.

Status: Backlog1 comment

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Comments1

  • Chocolate Sand

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    May 1

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    Merged request

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    1 vote

    Display error message and block property changes in Airbnb "Alter reservation" feature

    Problem statement

    • Hospitable's "Alter reservation" feature allows hosts to change the property for Airbnb reservations, but this change is not supported by Airbnb and will not apply even after the guest accepts
    • The system provides no warning or error message when a host attempts to change the property for an Airbnb reservation
    • A message is sent to the guest requesting acceptance of the property change, creating the false impression that this feature works
    • After the guest accepts, nothing changes in either Airbnb or Hospitable – the reservation remains on the original property

    Current workaround

    Hosts must remember that property changes for Airbnb reservations cannot be done through Hospitable's "Alter reservation" feature and must instead be handled manually on the Airbnb platform directly.

    Impact

    • Undermines trust: The feature appears to work (no errors, guest receives message, guest can accept), but silently fails, eroding confidence in Hospitable's reservation management tools
    • Check-in logistics issues: The guest believes they're staying in a different unit than what the system shows, creating confusion at check-in
    • Double-booking risk: The actual unit the guest should be in is not blocked in Hospitable or Airbnb unless the host manually remembers to block it
    • Lost time: Hosts waste time attempting a change through Hospitable, then must redo it manually on Airbnb
    • Guest confusion: Guests receive and accept a property change request that never takes effect

    Proposed solution

    For Airbnb reservations, block the option to change properties in the "Alter reservation" feature and display a clear error message informing hosts that property changes for Airbnb reservations must be made directly on the Airbnb platform.

    Unlock

    Hosts would immediately know that property changes for Airbnb reservations are not supported through Hospitable, preventing wasted time, guest confusion, check-in errors, and double-booking risks. This would restore trust in the "Alter reservation" feature for the changes it does support.