Do I have to pay if my reservation request isn't accepted by the host?

No—if your reservation request isn’t accepted by the host or expires without a response, there’s no cost for the reservation or any Airbnb service fees.

Depending on your payment method, you may see a temporary authorization or a refunded charge after a reservation request is declined or expires.

Temporary authorizations and refunded charges

Before you submit a reservation request, you'll see whether your chosen payment method will place a hold (called an authorization) or charge on your account for the amount of the reservation.

Some payment methods or locations require that the full amount of the reservation is authorized at the time of your request. If your reservation is accepted, the authorization will turn into a real charge and the amount will be deducted from your payment account.

If the reservation request is declined or expires, you’ll either see the authorization disappear altogether or appear as a refund in your payment account. Depending on the processing time of your bank, the release of the authorization may take up to 7 business days.

Some payment methods or locations require that the full amount of the reservation is charged at the time of your request. If your reservation request is accepted, the charge remains and your reservation is confirmed.

If the reservation request is declined or expires, you’ll be refunded immediately and automatically. Depending on the processing time of your bank, the refund may take up to 10 calendar days to process.