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Airbnb extends full refund policy worldwide amid virus frenzy
- The San Francisco-based company says it will extend its virus-related cancellation policy to every country in the world
- The policy applies to existing reservations made on or before March 14, with a check-in date up to April 14
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Airbnb has rolled out a full refund policy for reservations across the globe in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
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The San Francisco-based company said it will extend its virus-related cancellation policy to every country in the world, allowing hosts and guests to cancel reservations with no charge or penalty.
The policy applies to existing reservations made on or before March 14, with a check-in date up to April 14, the company said in a statement Saturday.
“We don’t want guests to feel like they have to travel because they cannot get their money back,” Airbnb’s Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky said in a tweet as the company issued the statement on its cancellation policy “in response to the extraordinary events and global disruption to travel caused by Covid-19.”
As the outbreak brings travel to a grinding halt across the world, Airbnb faced mounting pressure to extend its refund policy beyond China, Italy and South Korea. The late-stage start-up has been fielding complaints from angry guests who have been forced to cancel travel plans beyond these three countries and have been denied a refund.
After US President Donald Trump limited travel from most of Europe last week, Airbnb added the US – its biggest market – to the list. The new policy will, however, exclude domestic travel in mainland China, which is expected to return to normal rules on April 1.
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