The host on the other hand IS encouraging us to cancel and rebook our flights for next year, arrive at his accommodation with his $2000 in our back pocket. Airbnb told us he didn't agree upon speaking to him, Airbnb encouraged us NOT to cancel. Just to clarify, the host agreed to a 100% total refund, I have three messages from him stating this, no confusion there. Please don't be malicious & vindictive, nor an entitled customer, - we're a community, remember?! Please try to see things from the host's point of view. THAT'S the rule, you accepted when you booked! So going by the rules, YOU cancel & you get 50% back (but lose service fee) & the host keeps 50%. YOU do not intend to complete the August 2020 booking, YOUR choice. Please don't be malicious & vindictive, nor an entitled customer, - we're a community, host is doing nothing wrong. If you hold the booking a bit longer, the EC policy may be adjusted in your favour! And you're losing money, not cos the host is bad, nor shady, but because the RULES of the cancelation policy say the host is entitled to 50%! - Your bad! It all boils down to you being angry (& vindictive) cos you're not getting your way. And if he doesn't honour it next year, you've still lost nothing, cos the cancellation policy states you get 50%/host gets 50% when you cancelled this year. So your host is doing nothing wrong in suggesting a private arrangement in future.

Airbnb does not own the relationship between host & guest forevermore, once the CURRENT booking is concluded.

once you've stayed this August or got a refund your Airbnb contract is over. THIS booking has been made through Airbnb, whether you travel & stay, or accept the 50% refund. It's NOT shady many hosts let on multiple booking sites & through private arrangements. It might be as allowing you back next year off platform for 50% of normal charge (cos he got the other 50% THIS year) would be doing you a favour, saving BOTH of you money in commission fees.

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