Is this Air BnB host being weird???? Or AIBU???

[PringleKringle]

I’ve just found the perfect air BnB for an upcoming family holiday in Holland.

When I have tried to proceed and make the booking, I have been told I need to upload a profile pic because the host wants to see who is staying. I’ve also been asked to send the host information about who I’m bringing and why we’re visiting.

i have never been asked for this information before. Is this a new feature of air bnb? Is this now always asked for? Or is it this host who is requesting the info?

It’s a quiet cottage in the middle of nowhere so I’m worried about it being a dodgy host. 😬

I've had this before. Think it's an air b&b feature. Maybe the host can request it on their preferences but it's definitely not them asking personally.

I used to be a host & this is totally normal. I’d never accept someone without a profile picture and that’s probably why they are questioning you.

Hmm, maybe they've been scammed or something before. Or the house trashed ...
I'd almost see it as a good sign. They're bound to be safe if they're this fussy!

Not at all. As a host, I’ve had booking enquiries flagged by Airbnb as potential scams and been encouraged to ask more questions. A lack of profile photo can be such a flag.
The reviews should tell you one way or another how things are.

This is totally normal.

Is this your first booking on Airbnb ? If it is then Airbnb need to verify your identity and when you make the booking you will be asked if you are bringing someone with you.

I'm with PP - not weird to want a profile picture. I had to upload one as well a couple of years ago. Would you book an Airbnb from someone without a profile picture? Because I definitely wouldn't.

I had it on an apartment on booking.com.
Asked me to upload photos of our driving licenses or similar
I replied saying I wasn't happy sharing this as I don't know her, that we were a group of women in our forties wanting a quiet break and we're not a hen party. The woman apologised and said we didn't need to. It was very odd. If she'd responded with a valid reason for needing images of our ID I could understand it but she immediately said it was ok not to?

Nothing dodgy, we had a nice stay without issue. I would politely ask why the id/photo is needed.

They’ll want to a) be able to check that the person making the booking is actually the person who turns up and b) know in advance whether you’re a stag party of 12 rowdy men or a multi-family group looking for a quiet break before allowing you to rent. They’re ultimately trusting you with a huge asset, it’s not unreasonable to want to know who you are.

I don't accept airbnb bookings without a verified profile, which I'm pretty sure requires a profile photo.

I have used air BnB a few times so have a few reviews from hosts we have stayed with and have never been asked for this. I have just answered the questions and went ahead with the booking. Thanks for the reassurance. 👍🏻

I had to do this with my last booking , nothing to worry about.

It was Hungary, and we had to download a specific app (government mandated for air bnb there, i checked) to do it. No bother really, and security all round.

I don't understand though. What can they tell from a photo? Someone might look very respectable but still have wild parties and trash the place.

I used to have a holiday cottage and this is entirely normal, its also to know how many beds to make up etc and to leave a bottle of bubbly if you're travelling for an anniversary etc:)

I had to do this with a booking I made last week. It made the booking more friendly.