Airbnb users will soon be able to see the total cost of booking stays before they depart, reversing a longstanding policy that has angered many users.
Starting next month, customers will be able to see the total price of reservations, including all fees, before taxes. The price will be displayed in search results and in map, filter and list views. Users will also be able to view full price breakdowns showing Airbnb’s service fees, discounts and taxes.
The change means that the total price, instead of the overnight price, will be prioritized in its search ranking algorithm. For similar listings in a given area, those with the highest quality and best overall prices will rank higher in search results, the company said.
“I heard you loud and clear, you feel like pricing isn’t transparent and payment tasks are a pain,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. said in a tweet confirming the change.
Airbnb’s fee structure is not changing. Guests will still need to pay Airbnb service fees, cleaning fees, and extra person fees, if applicable, as well as any taxes and deposits.
The holiday travel season is expected to be busy this year despite growing inflationary pressures. According to consulting group PwC, 47% of Americans plan to travel this holiday season, up from around 1 in 3 before the pandemic.
Even so, hotel price increases have begun to level off in the United States after an initial post-pandemic boom. After rising 9.8% from September 2021 to March, average daily rates for hotel rooms in the United States rose 5.2% through September to $154.32, according to the travel group. STR.
Airbnb also announced on Monday that it is changing its guest payment policy. Going forward, hosts should only make reasonable requests – those that would exclude bed stripping, laundry, or vacuuming.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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