Anyone else have the same problem?

[pileapetals]

Hello all, I was wondering if anyone else is having the same problems with Airbnb whilst pregnant? Last April, I cancelled an Airbnb booking like everyone did due to Covid, and Airbnb credited my account instead of giving a refund. This past week, I reached out to them and learned that the credit is only valid until end December this year. I asked them to extend the validity due to the circumstances. The conversation basically went as follows:

Airbnb: That won't be possible. It is not our policy to extend credit.

Me: But I'm currently pregnant and only due to give birth end November. I have not yet been told when I could get fully vaccinated and it would be unrealistic/irresponsible to travel in my current condition (immune system is low during pregnancy). And it's unrealistic to travel in December, with an infant just a few weeks old.

Airbnb: You will either use the voucher or lose it. That is our policy.

I was astounded that in the circumstances we live in (pandemic still going on around the world; travel highly uncertain; most women who are pregnant still not vaccinated due to age) Airbnb gives no consideration to something as natural as pregnancy. It felt a bit like their policies do not account for basic things that could happen to women.

I reached out to one pregnant friend about the situation and she said she was fighting Airbnb over the same problem.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had similar problems where it's been very difficult to plan a trip and yet a global company like Airbnb doesn't seem to care about the needs and challenges that comes with carrying a baby?

I guess the trouble is there are lots of other reasons, that would be out of someones control, like being unable to be vaccinated due to a health issue or allergy. Or other personal circumstances that a person may feel Airbnb should consider, they have to draw the line somewhere for everyone.

Why not just use it in the uk? I'm pregnant and going to an Airbnb in a few months. Dh and I will be picking up our usual click and collect shopping from asda and driving in our own car. We will be enjoying lovely scenery and walks and no plans to interact with anyone, can't see how it's going to be more risk than staying at home. You might find something lovely and relaxing not too far away

Can you use it in this country and go away for a relaxing holiday pre-baby?

Did you book using a credit card? You could try claiming through your credit card company. I was meant to go to Budapest in May of last year and both booking.com and hire car companies refused refunds, only credits but I put a claim through with Barclaycard and the money was returned after a few weeks with no issue. Will always book travel with a credit card moving forward!

Forgot to add, not sure what the cut off date is for claiming so worth checking that

The tricky thing with pregnancy that I'm sure most of you already have realised for yourselves is that it can occur in a varying range of complexity for different women/depending on personal circumstances. The NHS considers mine a "high risk pregnancy" and I think in a normal world I'd have no issues doing a domestic holiday in my second trimester (even if it feels a bit forced).

But in a Covid world (and we don't have a car so will have to rely on public transport to get around) where many are still unvaccinated, I think there's an additional risk (eg. if pregnancy-related problems come up whilst I'm away from home/my usual healthcare providers).

I'll also admit that I feel a little extra vulnerable because there's been a rise of physical and verbal attacks on people of my race (Asian) in the past year. That story of the poor Asian lady who, whilst pregnant, got kicked in the belly by a stranger in public and subsequently lost her child - these stories haunt you. And in combination with everything else, it's hard to say "let's go on holiday!"

I'm just surprised that something that seems simple on Airbnb's end (and extension of credit, not that I'm asking for money back) can be so categorically denied without a bit of effort to resolve it somehow.

Use it in the UK , or see if you have any family or friends planning trips away who would use the credit and reimburse you.
I am due early Dec and planning as many UK weekends away as possible for this year whilst we still can! Not prepared to let Covid completely steal our last hurrah of childless fun.

Last September we stayed in a rural self catering apartment for a few days (only about 45 mins away) and it was impeccably clean, very few people about and felt incredibly safe. It felt like a proper holiday and did wonders for the lockdown cabin fever.

@mariebaby3 That's a good shout - I'll contact my credit card company and see what they can do, though I suspect their hands are tied since Airbnb can say "the customer has credit in their account" so can argue that they are still rendering a form of service, etc.

It’s worth a go! I had agreed to the credit with both companies too, as I didn’t think to claim back via the card company until my MIL mentioned it. It didn’t cause an issue with us (they didn’t even query it) so fingers crossed you will have the same result :)

@BeastOfBODMAS Yeah, I think the problem is acessibility as well (in addition to all the covid-related problems). You went to a rural self catering apartment - did you drive there or did you hop on a train/public transport? For us, only the latter is an option since we cannot drive in this country (I can in New Zealand as I've got a provisional license there, but that trip doesn't look quite possible given NZ's restrictions on foreign visitors!)

Also, the idea of holidays/leisure travel is that there's an element of desire/preference, right? Travellers are looking for very different things when they book their holidays on Airbnb's platform, and the way they're treating my case (and my friend's) has been so inflexible that even if we manage to book a trip, it'll feel like we took the trip by force rather than going on a holiday we are looking for. Personally, I can say I'd prefer staying in our home due to my condition and not have to squeeze in a trip in the next half year somehow. But that's just not an option unless I want to let my money go to waste.

@mariebaby3 - thanks! That's encouraging to hear. Will get on that.

Yes I did drive for our trip - but as my DH doesn’t drive I’ll be looking at public transport options for later on this year.
Perhaps a break away near enough to your local area that you are able to access by public transport, (and taxi to your usual hospital in the unlikely event of needing to be checked out) could still be a nice holiday? A change is as good as a rest they say!

Completely agree about different people wanting different things. Personally I will be looking out for somewhere with an open fire and a king size bed as I don’t have these at home, and take a stack of books and biscuits with me!

What would be your hypothetical ideal UK break, putting aside the travel issues and annoyance at Airbnb s policies for a minute?

@BeastOfBODMAS Hmm that's a tricky one. We don't generally take short weekend breaks (home is lovely as it is, without the packing/unpacking for a night or two away) and just use Airbnb for longer trips where we're seeing some place very different (think deserts and the like).

I'll have to have a proper think, but the key will be travelling without fear of racial attacks (which in addition to the other incident I talked about earlier, I've personally experienced since Covid started; really not thrilled at the prospect of going through that again whilst being obviously pregnant) and staying safe and within easy access to medical services if that's requred. Appreciate the prod though :)

Sort your driving license out in the UK as a priority! That’s number 1 to do before baby arrives.
As that’s also caused a lot of the issues you are discussing. Rates are so low no and will likely be more by summer in warmer weather/ more vaccinated so I do think you are over stressing generally.

I’d book a UK cottage in mid/ late December taking baby along with you. Would be a lovely time of year to go away as a little family. Make sure cottage offers a cot etc and at that time of year- a log burner or open fire- bliss.

I completely hear you, I would much prefer to be exploring far flung exotic locations again but in the short term, something is perhaps better than nothing!

As a child I always disliked all inclusive beach holidays so I’m hoping my own future DC will be the same and want culture and new experiences when all this is over!

So sorry about your experiences with racial attacks, that is really awful. Hopefully these incidents will become fewer and fewer as the irrational fears of the early pandemic subside. I would hope that the horrendous case you mentioned earlier was such headline news because it was a rare and isolated event.

@Iknewyouwerewaitingforme - I won't be able to get a license in the UK as the NZ license I hold is provisional and not a full license (which requires a separate driving test to obtain). In order to convert an international license into a UK license it'll have to be at least a full license. A license is also something we don't really need as we live in London and have plenty of friends with young children who also get by without driving a car themselves.

@BeastOfBODMAS Thank you! FWIW, I talked about my situation on Twitter and apparently Airbnb has re-opened my case and is reviewing it now in the context of their Nondiscrimination Policy. No promises as to how it'll end up but they are looking at it again. Fingers crossed!

Update: Airbnb has come back saying they acknowledge that covid does present unprecedented challenges for pregnant women like me and have extended the credits' validity by 5 months so I can now book something by May 2022 and as long as the trip starts by end Dec 2022 it's fine. Relieved!