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?

@ImInStealthMode Precisely

[quote lookylookyhooky]@CirclesWithinCircles the legislation in place doesn’t cover this particular situation! It is entirely irrelevant. You’re becoming hysterical now. Copying and pasting links doesn’t make you correct.[/quote]
You're trying very, very hard to push this wrong interpretation, aren't you? I would say that its you who is becoming hysterical, but resorting to cheap insults isn't really my style.

I really think you must work for the travel industry and want to deter people from making claims.

You really think that posting a link to what the Competitions and Markets Authority say what the law is on frustration of contract is "hysterical"?

Are you suggesting that the CMA have got it wrong?

This is fun! Please challenge me further!

@CirclesWithinCircles. Cheap insults? You seem to have a short memory of our correspondence. If you (or anyone else) takes the time to look back at our transactions it is evidently clear who became rude first. I seem to recall being told I’m “ridiculous” yet you can’t accept being called “hysterical” when the majority of your posts include copious amounts of exclamation marks and sarcastic emojis. On top of that you’re referencing things that are not applicable to this particular situation. You’re being driven my your emotional response rather than your logical brain, therefore, I feel within my presumption to call you “hysterical” I call it as I see it.

I’m not suggesting CMA got it wrong, I’m pointing out that your interpretation of this guidance is irrelevant to this woman’s situation. Which part of that are you struggling to comprehend?

[quote lookylookyhooky]@CirclesWithinCircles. Cheap insults? You seem to have a short memory of our correspondence. If you (or anyone else) takes the time to look back at our transactions it is evidently clear who became rude first. I seem to recall being told I’m “ridiculous” yet you can’t accept being called “hysterical” when the majority of your posts include copious amounts of exclamation marks and sarcastic emojis. On top of that you’re referencing things that are not applicable to this particular situation. You’re being driven my your emotional response rather than your logical brain, therefore, I feel within my presumption to call you “hysterical” I call it as I see it.

I’m not suggesting CMA got it wrong, I’m pointing out that your interpretation of this guidance is irrelevant to this woman’s situation. Which part of that are you struggling to comprehend?[/quote]
I’m not suggesting CMA got it wrong, I’m pointing out that your interpretation of this guidance is irrelevant to this woman’s situation. Which part of that are you struggling to comprehend?

Evidence please, instead of "you said, she said".

You're suspiciously rude for someone trying to make such an allegedly simple point!

So go on then...

@CirclesWithinCircles. So now I’m rude because I don’t agree with you, even though the rudeness clearly started with you. That level of entitlement is clearly why you agree with the OP in the first place.

What do what evidence for in particular?

You want^

@CirclesWithinCircles

I’ve not RTFT but surely the point about CMA guidance and frustration is an entirely separate point and discussion about whether OP should get different treatment because she is pregnant.

Yes, OP should have been refunded, but her being pregnant and her claims about sexism have nothing whatsoever to do with what Air Bnb should have offered when she initially cancelled.

[quote lookylookyhooky]@CirclesWithinCircles. So now I’m rude because I don’t agree with you, even though the rudeness clearly started with you. That level of entitlement is clearly why you agree with the OP in the first place.

What do what evidence for in particular?[/quote]
We just need a little more evidence...

@NCAccount exactly this. All irrelevant to the actual situation.

@CirclesWithinCircles. I think I’ll leave it here. I have no desire to back and forth with a childish person such as yourself.

I don’t need to dismantle your argument any further, you’ve already done a good enough job of it yourself! Ha

[quote lookylookyhooky]@CirclesWithinCircles. I think I’ll leave it here. I have no desire to back and forth with a childish person such as yourself.

I don’t need to dismantle your argument any further, you’ve already done a good enough job of it yourself! Ha[/quote]
Stick to the point, avoid the increasingly bizarre weird personal stuff and provide evidence to back up your points

No one's interested in your cod psychology, in the same way that no one would be interested in the value of your house.

Just be relevant.

[quote lookylookyhooky]@CirclesWithinCircles. Cheap insults? You seem to have a short memory of our correspondence. If you (or anyone else) takes the time to look back at our transactions it is evidently clear who became rude first. I seem to recall being told I’m “ridiculous” yet you can’t accept being called “hysterical” when the majority of your posts include copious amounts of exclamation marks and sarcastic emojis. On top of that you’re referencing things that are not applicable to this particular situation. You’re being driven my your emotional response rather than your logical brain, therefore, I feel within my presumption to call you “hysterical” I call it as I see it.

I’m not suggesting CMA got it wrong, I’m pointing out that your interpretation of this guidance is irrelevant to this woman’s situation. Which part of that are you struggling to comprehend?[/quote]
This is beyond weird. The references to "our transactions" and "correspondence".

Theres obviously some imaginary battle going on in your head, but don't involve me in it.

@CirclesWithinCircles projection at its finest

I had the same issue with KLM a couple years ago. They totally screwed up our flights and gave us “compensation” in vouchers with a 12 month expiry. I fell pregnant almost immediately and couldn’t use the voucher. It’s really just one of those things. I was a bit peeved but not much I can do.

This is only a problem if they allow changes for other conditions - for example prostate cancer treatment convalescence. If it is applied uniformly then it is not sexist.

YABVU, it isn't their fault you'll be unable to use the credit, especially as it also seems to be down to your own choice (although you've given your reasons) to avoid travelling, even within the UK.
Nothing sexist about their policy in the slightest.

Yanbu. Equality doesn't mean treating everyone the same. For eg women are entitled to maternity leave even though men are not. Airbnb are a shitty company in general so on one level this is unsurprising but I'm sorry to hear OP.

YABU. You could still use it for a UK break. Has your consultant told you to stay local or are you just looking for another reason to argue why you can't use it

Update on the Airbnb situation - they reviewed the case again and admitted that their original decision (not to extend the credits' validity) was against their own Non-discrimination Policy, and given my pregnancy, my credits have now been extended by a full year so I now have until Dec 2022 (1.5 years from today) to use them. It literally took them half a morning to re-open and change their decision. Main difference seems like who was handling the case.

Originally, the case was handled by two men, who didn't seem to care at all. The revised response came from a women. Says something about the importance of female representation in the workplace.

So for all those haters out there, you now know what Airbnb decided.

P.S. I see this thread has spawned a whole chunk of arguments. Haven't read any of it (stopped reading soon after it became clear that there were a lot of people here who seem to just have flat out hate for pregnant women, some going as far as saying "it's your fault for getting pregnant", as if that in itself is a sin).

I only wanted to post an update because after speaking with other pregnant women I realised I wasn't the only one having this issue with Airbnb. Wanted to let others who may be out there know: if you're having the same issues, know that you absolute can get Airbnb to review their decision as their current approach is against their own Non-discrimination Policy. :)