Are Airbnb's booking policies sexist?

[pileapetals]

Last April, I cancelled an overseas holiday due to Covid (planes weren't flying, was the responsible thing to do anyway, etc.) Airbnb credited my account instead of giving me a refund at the time (a refund was not an option).

This year, I find out I'm pregnant and due date is end November. Airbnb's credit expires end December this year. As I'm pregnant (ie. lower immunity) and still have no idea when I can get my covid shots, it's unreaslistic to expect travel whilst pregnant, and definitely don't see myself taking a holiday in December with an infant just a few weeks old.

So I call Airbnb and ask for the credit to be extended for a year so the credit doesn't go to waste. Airbnb flat out refuses, saying "you agreed to our terms and conditions". I escalate the case, and get passed from one male representative to another male rep. I again explain why I would be unable to travel given the ongoing uncertainties relating to travel in my current condition. The rep insists that they won't do anything and the voucher will just have to expire. Though he's fully aware of my condition and the enhanced risks that Covid poses to those pregnant, he further adds that they won't do anything because their policies need to reflect "equality and impartiality".

Implicit in his statement is that he cannot make an exception for pregnant women because it's not something that can be applied to male customers. I find his statement and Airbnb's booking policy extremely sexist. By his definition of what is equality and impartiality, maternity leave should not exist in the world because that's a benefit that is extended only to the gender capable of giving birth, and health insurers cannot extend coverage for screening of prostate cancer since that's only a test applicable to men but not women. What a horrible world that would be!

In my view, Airbnb's booking policy makes no consideration for the one of the most basic biological phenomenon on the planet: pregnancy, the very thing that gives us all life.

I can let the voucher expire worthless and waste my money, but I don't see why I should, especially since I've done nothing wrong here?! Unless Airbnb's view is that my one crime is being pregnant whilst in a Covid world?!

AIBU to think they are being ridiculous for refusing to extend the voucher validity here?

You have chosen to have a baby! It’s not their fault.

Personally I don't find that sexist. It's one of those changes in circumstance that you have to factor in. If I change jobs and my new employer won't approve annual leave at the same time my previous one did, I'd have to accept it as a consequence of my decision. Getting pregnant similarly impacts on things you'll be able to do, but isn't the fault of the company you booked with.

Yabu - you can use the voucher, you just don't want to. That is not Airbnb's problem.

You still have 6 months to use the credit and nobody says you have to use it going abroad or at the end of your pregnancy. You could use it for UK stays over the summer so your pregnancy will not be an issue wrt travel/jabs.

YABU

Just give it to someone else and they pay you the value of it

I find his statement and Airbnb's booking policy extremely sexist.

His statement may or may not be sexist, but I don't think their booking policy is at all. It is the same as if you'd booked anything that was non-refundable and then weren't able to take part because you got pregnant. I think you are being ridiculous.

Yeah was going to say the same as @melj1213 Why do you have to use it abroad? Pregnant people can holiday within their own country

Sorry - but I think you are clutching at straws here. It's not sexist.

Meanwhile you can keep polishing your Mother Earth halo

Can’t you just use it for a week in UK? I can understand them not extending it given you can still use it.

Should have booked a refundable hotel or B&B instead

There are no words for how unreasonable you are being. Jesus H.

You chose to get pregnant and to keep the baby, it's not AirBnB's problem.

Can you not just find somewhere nice in the U.K. to have a break before the baby comes?

I’m pregnant too but it’s not going to stop me having a holiday. And if it was permitted to travel abroad, I would, but will probably just have a break here anyway. You’re really not at that much of a special case and at risk from covid complications while pregnant, especially when rates are low and so many people are now vaccinated.

Is there a reason why you can’t just use it for a getaway closer to home before the baby comes? Because I don’t really get it.

Crying sexism over this is doing all women who are, have been, or ever will be, pregnant absolutely no favours. You chose to book with them, I assume you checked their refund policy at the time.

YABU and ridiculous claiming discrimination over this

They are allowing you to use the voucher, you are choosing not to because you chose to have a baby. Their are not responsible for your choices.

And pregnancy- the very thing that gives us all life!

No need for the saccharine dramatic statements, really. We all know what the result of pregnancy is.

Wow - very fast overwhelming responses of YABU. I predict this thread will be pulled.

I don’t think their policy is sexist in essence but I do think what that particular person has said is daft. I feel like he’s randomly made up some shit in response to your pregnancy reason. He didn’t need to bring up equality - it’s ridiculous.
They don’t do extensions period. That’s it. No need to bring up fairness.

Use the voucher for a UK stay or sell it to someone who is booking a holiday.

I do get what you’re saying OP but I don’t think it makes THEM sexist, one rep in a call centre doesn’t speak for all of their policies.

I think with the world situation as it is, they should be extending the credit and would keep pushing for this/a refund. However, I don't think they're being sexist or discriminatory and I wouldn't try and make it all about your pregnancy.

@singsingbluesilver

Crying sexism over this is doing all women who are, have been, or ever will be, pregnant absolutely no favours. You chose to book with them, I assume you checked their refund policy at the time.

Is that the crystal ball refund policy that covers unforeseen worldwide disruption from pandemics and pregnancies?

Even the most meticulolus small print checker would have been hard pressed to predict this eventuality, are you saying that you would have?

I think you're in a bad situation OP but it's not airbnb's fault

Pregnancy is a choice, so no, it's not sexist.

It's also why you can't claim on your insurance if you don't travel for a pregnancy-related reason (generally speaking).

First pregnancy then, is it? You’ll look back in five years and be mortified at yourself.

Men can effectively take maternity leave. Aside from the first two weeks a woman can hand the rest of her weeks of SMP over to her partner under the “shared parental leave” system.

we
all know what the result of pregnancy is

I have a feeling the OP is a FTM 😂

It's not the pregnant part that makes travel risky - in a non-Covid world, I'd have no issues using the voucher somehow. But with Covid, which is beyond my control, and with no timeline for my own vaccination, travel is something that can put you/your baby at risk. Sure you can say "oh people are vaccinated so even if you aren't, you'll be fine". But as a potential parent, that's definitely a risk there.

Re: question on why I don't want to travel domestically whilst pregnant, I have been classified by the NHS as a high risk pregnancy. So I don't want to risk getting caught out in an unfamiliar place if there is a medical emergency. Believe me, I'd LOVE to travel if I could. It was one of my favourite things pre-covid. I just don't think I should only think for myself and what I would enjoy since I'm responsible for the wellbeing of someone else right now as well.