Recourse on non-refundable lodging

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A month ago we booked a condo at a ski resort in Colorado for next week through AirBnB. It was a pretty big expense for our family. I have been in contact with the condo management company, asking if they could extend us credit to use next season. I am not asking for our money back. They are adamant that they cannot do that. Given the current health crisis, I feel that they are not being fair. Do I have any recourse, through my credit card perhaps? We have young children, elderly relatives and pets here who rely on us, so we don't want to get stranded away from our home in this difficult time.

Why not just go and enjoy your trip? Why do you think you’ll get stranded in Colorado? Have there been any outbreaks in the ski town you’re going to? Honestly if it were me I’d just go and make the best of it at this point, rather than lose the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have friends with non-refundable stays booked for all over Europe: two separate for Spain, one in Italy, several in Austria, France, Switzerland... Every single owner has been understanding and has refunded, despite the non-refundable policy. We are set to lose $6,000, and the condo has been empty all month except our week, per AirBnB. And I am not asking for my money back! Asking for credit to be used for a future stay.

Think of it from their perspective. They need your money to pay their bills.

I think many of us are out money.

I think it's unfair to collect money for a service you are not going to provide, and reputable businesses always try to work with the customers. Hotels, airlines, Disney, European VRBO owners: everyone is refunding money back this week, or at the very least issuing credit. If I am sick and have to cancel my fitness class, they waive the late cancelation fee. If you get stuck with no childcare or work travel and cannot make it to your doctor or dentist - they'll waive the late cancel or no show fee, at least the first time.
What happens if we go to Colorado and get quarantined there? Would they let us stay for a long period of time? If not, how can they expect me to risk traveling and getting displaced with young children?

OP I think in these circumstances you probably should be able to get a refund, but the bolded is not true in my experience and it sounds like technically they are going to provide the service, you just aren't comfortable using it. As others have stated Airbnb is dealing with individuals, not reputable businesses. This is one reason I still stay in hotels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A month ago we booked a condo at a ski resort in Colorado for next week through AirBnB. It was a pretty big expense for our family. I have been in contact with the condo management company, asking if they could extend us credit to use next season. I am not asking for our money back. They are adamant that they cannot do that. Given the current health crisis, I feel that they are not being fair. Do I have any recourse, through my credit card perhaps? We have young children, elderly relatives and pets here who rely on us, so we don't want to get stranded away from our home in this difficult time.

Why not just go and enjoy your trip? Why do you think you’ll get stranded in Colorado? Have there been any outbreaks in the ski town you’re going to? Honestly if it were me I’d just go and make the best of it at this point, rather than lose the money.

I don't know that I'd want to risk DIA, if I was scheduled to fly into a smaller airport I might.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have friends with non-refundable stays booked for all over Europe: two separate for Spain, one in Italy, several in Austria, France, Switzerland... Every single owner has been understanding and has refunded, despite the non-refundable policy. We are set to lose $6,000, and the condo has been empty all month except our week, per AirBnB. And I am not asking for my money back! Asking for credit to be used for a future stay.

That’s Europe. Here in the US, everyone’s priority is the $$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And yes, it's likely that either my husband or I or both will lose our job after the dust settles because of the industry we are in. I am not privileged, but I believe in experiences and travel unlike most Americans, who just consume unnecessary stuff: new TVs, cars, iPhones etc. every year.

LOL.

So you value travel to a ski resort (at $6k/week for lodging) and that's somehow different than buying a car or an iPhone? Ok. Next time try arguing that you value experiences at culturally rich locations in Asia, Europe, etc. Taking an overpriced ski vacation is .... just a vacation and doesn't make you more special or enlightened than someone buying a new TV.

You booked a non-refundable AirBnB a month ago and now you'll learn: don't book non-refundable trips when you're traveling with seniors and kids during a pandemic.

[MayaJ]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yes, it's likely that either my husband or I or both will lose our job after the dust settles because of the industry we are in. I am not privileged, but I believe in experiences and travel unlike most Americans, who just consume unnecessary stuff: new TVs, cars, iPhones etc. every year.

LOL.

So you value travel to a ski resort (at $6k/week for lodging) and that's somehow different than buying a car or an iPhone? Ok. Next time try arguing that you value experiences at culturally rich locations in Asia, Europe, etc. Taking an overpriced ski vacation is .... just a vacation and doesn't make you more special or enlightened than someone buying a new TV.

You booked a non-refundable AirBnB a month ago and now you'll learn: don't book non-refundable trips when you're traveling with seniors and kids during a pandemic.

Yes, in my opinion getting a new gadget/car etc. every year or two is wasteful, which many Americans imo are.

[Anonymous]

OP, you sound like an entitled brat. You are spending $6K on a condo for a ski vacation (that you booked non-refundable) and you want special treatment because now you don't want to go?

Also, you don't seem to realize that Colorado is not Italy, Austria, etc. Have you seen what's going on in Italy? People are dying of COVID-19 and the family have to keep the dead bodies in the house because there's a lockdown.

Get some perspective, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have friends with non-refundable stays booked for all over Europe: two separate for Spain, one in Italy, several in Austria, France, Switzerland... Every single owner has been understanding and has refunded, despite the non-refundable policy. We are set to lose $6,000, and the condo has been empty all month except our week, per AirBnB. And I am not asking for my money back! Asking for credit to be used for a future stay.

Think of it from their perspective. They need your money to pay their bills.

I think many of us are out money.

I think it's unfair to collect money for a service you are not going to provide, and reputable businesses always try to work with the customers. Hotels, airlines, Disney, European VRBO owners: everyone is refunding money back this week, or at the very least issuing credit. If I am sick and have to cancel my fitness class, they waive the late cancelation fee. If you get stuck with no childcare or work travel and cannot make it to your doctor or dentist - they'll waive the late cancel or no show fee, at least the first time.
What happens if we go to Colorado and get quarantined there? Would they let us stay for a long period of time? If not, how can they expect me to risk traveling and getting displaced with young children?

OP I think in these circumstances you probably should be able to get a refund, but the bolded is not true in my experience and it sounds like technically they are going to provide the service, you just aren't comfortable using it. As others have stated Airbnb is dealing with individuals, not reputable businesses. This is one reason I still stay in hotels.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I will say, FYI, that I am about to lose non-refundable hotel stays. I booked some good deals and had to prepay, nonrefundable. I've decided not to travel now, so I will be eating that. But I did not get travel insurance for this trip, and I consider this the cost of the decision and the larger circumstances.

[MayaJ]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sound like an entitled brat. You are spending $6K on a condo for a ski vacation (that you booked non-refundable) and you want special treatment because now you don't want to go?

Also, you don't seem to realize that Colorado is not Italy, Austria, etc. Have you seen what's going on in Italy? People are dying of COVID-19 and the family have to keep the dead bodies in the house because there's a lockdown.

Get some perspective, please.

What makes you think we won't be there in one week? Because it is possible we will be. And I'd rather be home than stranded in another state when it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sound like an entitled brat. You are spending $6K on a condo for a ski vacation (that you booked non-refundable) and you want special treatment because now you don't want to go?

Also, you don't seem to realize that Colorado is not Italy, Austria, etc. Have you seen what's going on in Italy? People are dying of COVID-19 and the family have to keep the dead bodies in the house because there's a lockdown.

Get some perspective, please.

OP you send extremely elitist. You jet to Colorado for a luxury ski vacation and you have friends who jetset all over Europe. Honestly the owner of the airbnb probably
needed your payment to make their mortgage for the month. Understand you booked during peak ski season in the US from an individual not a hotel chain.

AirBnB is loaded with risk on the side of those who make the reservation. I found a beautiful AirBnB in Savannah that I wanted to rent for the weekend. I stopped reserving it
when I read the cancellation policy was 45 days in advance. Instead I booked the Perry Lane Hotel which gave me a 24 hour cancellation policy.

[Anonymous]

That sucks OP.

I don’t know why everyone is being so damn rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have friends with non-refundable stays booked for all over Europe: two separate for Spain, one in Italy, several in Austria, France, Switzerland... Every single owner has been understanding and has refunded, despite the non-refundable policy. We are set to lose $6,000, and the condo has been empty all month except our week, per AirBnB. And I am not asking for my money back! Asking for credit to be used for a future stay.

Per AirBnB

Most AirBnb hosts list their property on multiple other sites.

Particularly in ski towns.

[Anonymous]

MayaJ wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sound like an entitled brat. You are spending $6K on a condo for a ski vacation (that you booked non-refundable) and you want special treatment because now you don't want to go?

Also, you don't seem to realize that Colorado is not Italy, Austria, etc. Have you seen what's going on in Italy? People are dying of COVID-19 and the family have to keep the dead bodies in the house because there's a lockdown.

Get some perspective, please.

What makes you think we won't be there in one week? Because it is possible we will be. And I'd rather be home than stranded in another state when it happens.

And if we get there, policies will likely change. But until then, it's not reasonable to expect service providers to eat everything. By all means, OP can stay home. That's not a bad idea. What we're talking about is who should bear the loss here. I don't see why the condo owner should be the one to have to bend when OP booked something non-refundable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I have friends with non-refundable stays booked for all over Europe: two separate for Spain, one in Italy, several in Austria, France, Switzerland... Every single owner has been understanding and has refunded, despite the non-refundable policy. We are set to lose $6,000, and the condo has been empty all month except our week, per AirBnB. And I am not asking for my money back! Asking for credit to be used for a future stay.

Think of it from their perspective. They need your money to pay their bills.

I think many of us are out money.

I think it's unfair to collect money for a service you are not going to provide, and reputable businesses always try to work with the customers. Hotels, airlines, Disney, European VRBO owners: everyone is refunding money back this week, or at the very least issuing credit. If I am sick and have to cancel my fitness class, they waive the late cancelation fee. If you get stuck with no childcare or work travel and cannot make it to your doctor or dentist - they'll waive the late cancel or no show fee, at least the first time.
What happens if we go to Colorado and get quarantined there? Would they let us stay for a long period of time? If not, how can they expect me to risk traveling and getting displaced with young children?

Ultimately one needs to stop booking at the non refundable places. I don't book if my cancellation loss is over $500. If my loss is going to be over $500 I'll find another option even if it is 2 or 3 star. It takes me too long to earn my money.

[Anonymous]

OP this is the risk you took. If the owner cancels, they refund. But they are not cancelling or telling you not to come. And they know you aren’t repeat business so there is no incentive for them to refund you.