Airbnb addresses fee concerns, complaints about cost compared to hotels

Airbnb is addressing concerns from customers complaining about the costs compared to hotels.

The company was started in 2008, advertising itself with its original tagline as “a cheap, affordable alternative to a hotel.”  

However, Airbnb users have become increasingly frustrated with rising prices — especially when the total spikes due to cleaning and other fees.

In response to the growing irritation, CEO Brian Chesky addressed the complaints on an earnings call on Wednesday, according to Business Insider.

“A year and a half ago, we noticed that, you know, there was a lot of concern about Airbnb prices increasing,” Chesky said before divulging the ways the company has tried to remain an affordable travel option.

Chesky noted that the site now allows customers to view a full price breakdown including service fees, discounts, and taxes before booking.

He also shared that Airbnb integrated a tool that allows hosts to compare their listings with others to stay updated on the average prices of similar booked and unbooked listings, including all fees charged.

Chesky claimed that the tool has been widely used and pushed 300,000 hosts to remove or lower their cleaning fees — which seemed to be customers’ biggest gripe.

He also highlighted the discounts that the site has begun offering for guests with longer stays.

Chesky claimed that over two-thirds of hosts offer a monthly or weekly discount as nearly half of the nights booked are for stays that last a week or longer. 

Due to all of these changes, Chesky shared that Airbnb listing prices are down from where they were a year ago, while hotel prices continue to climb.

“I think that trend line is going to continue, given all of our efforts,” Chesky said.

As the company continues to make changes to appease customers, they recently announced an array of exotic experiences from a stay in a Paris museum to the house in “Up” — some of which are free.

Chesky said the company will invite people to fill out a profile and explain why they want one of the listings, and Airbnb will pick about 4,000 winners over the course of the year. He said winners will be able to book the featured properties or events for free or at prices under $100.

However, some Airbnb options are still questionable and shockingly priced.

In January, an Airbnb listing for an $85 (£68) a night tent inside a London home went viral and inspired outrage for its meager offerings and exorbitant cost. 

It was promptly removed but has freshly returned for an increased price of $100 (£80) a night, or more than $2,800 a month (and that’s before a $17-plus daily service fee).