Airbnb will make prices more transparent after complaints

Airbnb addresses two of its biggest customer complaints: hidden fees and checkout tasks.

The company will introduce a feature next month that will allow users to see the total price of their stay upfront, before taxes. This includes cleaning and other service charges.

It also prioritizes total price over nightly price in its search results, chief executive Brian Chesky said in a tweet.

“I heard you loud and clear – you feel like pricing isn’t transparent and payment tasks are a pain,” he said.

“You shouldn’t have to do unreasonable checkout chores like stripping beds, doing laundry or vacuuming. But we think it’s reasonable to turn off the lights, throw food in the trash, and lock the doors, just like you would when leaving your own home.

Airbnb announced last year that it would review its royalty system following customer complaints about transparency.

The company, which has lost around 37% of its share value so far this year, has benefited from strong travel demand following the Covid-19 pandemic, but now faces the risk of a spike in inflation.

Castles, caves and treehouses: Airbnb’s favorite stays — in pictures

1. A luxury treehouse with a hot tub and high-end interiors in Georgia, USA. All photos: Airbnb

Reuters contributed to this report

Updated: 08 November 2022, 19:17