Extra cost for Airbnb guest numbers

[AccountNumber24]

Booked an airbnb for a family break in a few weeks time. We've currently booked for 4 but it can hold up to 10, and we need to add 2 more people into the booking to make it 6.

Host has asked me to update the booking and when I have tried to do this the cost has change and it will charge me an extra £80 (£40pp)

AIBU to think that it is U to charge for extra guests when it doesn't make any difference to the logistics of the stay? and AIBU to not know what I am paying extra for?

If there are 4 guests who take a double bed each, thats 4 rooms used. If 2 of them add their partners, to make 6 guests, they are still only using 4 rooms.

What are we paying more for?

@greenflower1

I wouldn't have told them! How would they even know? They could be day guests. I'd just reply back and say they have booked somewhere else nearby so you can proceed with original booking. Worst case they bring their own towels lol.

This is really shitty behaviour and will get you kicked out if you get found out

But op hasn't said she got a reduced rate for booking a house for less people than it can fit. I've booked a holiday home that fits 6 people next year for just me and my partner, I didn't get a discount. Had to pay the full price.

It's up to the hosts how they want to structure their pricing. You as guests either accept it or book elsewhere. She paid less for fewer people and now has to pay more for more. What you paid somewhere completely different is irrelevant.

I would look at the property for a future date and see the cost for 4 vs the cost for 6 for that particular date. If they are charging more for 6 than 4, they are fairly applying their policy. If not, they are taking advantage of you

@morechocolateneededtoday

I would look at the property for a future date and see the cost for 4 vs the cost for 6 for that particular date. If they are charging more for 6 than 4, they are fairly applying their policy. If not, they are taking advantage of you

Extra guest payments are set up in the listing so if she's tried to add guests and it automatically increases the price then it's the same for anyone trying to book. They aren't trying to fleece her.

@CloseYourEyesAndSee I see what you mean. Sorry didnt read OP in detail and thought the host had asked for the extra. Sounds like it is automatically applied and therefore the policy that was agreed to when booking in that case

£40pp for what is presumably at least 2 nights accommodation is bloody cheap.

Just pay the £80 for Christ's sake.

[quote ArielFelix]@FreedomFaith
Airbnb lets you charge extra for guests over a set number (so in this place I imagine it’s 4) and any over that they charge whatever the host sets it at, in this case £40pp. So had they booked 6 people initially, they would have been charged £40pp for the 2 people over 4. So not exactly a discount but cheaper than if the place was at full occupancy.
However if you were 2 people and the base number was 4 before they start charging extra, you wouldn’t get a discount. Maybe as there is probably 4 beds, it’s likely they make up all 4 beds and then have to launder it even if unused.[/quote]
Didn't realise that was an ability on Airbnb, another reason for me to never use it. I just checked the cottage I booked again, and they don't even ask how many people are coming, the price only changes depending on the time of year (as usual). Never known it to be any different to be honest.

Fair enough, but it does mean that if a house with 8 occupancy (4 double beds say) charges £10pp for every guest over 4, with a base cost of £100, so total of £140 at full occupancy, then technically it may work out cheaper for some groups than if they charged £140 to everyone, which obviously some people like. Not all hosts choose that option and charge a flat rate and you can see before booking if they do charge extra for number of guests over X.

@AccountNumber24 do they plan on using towels and electricity and hot water? Do they plan on sleeping in the bed?

This is entirely normal for Airbnb. An extra 2 guests add to usage and wear and tear costs. Plus insurance.

Don't try and fiddle it - plenty of hosts have ring doorbells and can see who's coming and going for entirely this reason.

If you check the listing you can see the cancellation policy that you agreed to when you booked. Check this and then you can cancel this booking and find another property which is more to your liking and doesn’t charge for extra people.