Updated : Mar 28, 2025
Every vacation rental host has received a request in their career: Airbnb early check in, way before the check-in time. Most guests choose to reach their destination early in the morning to make the most of their day. They just want to check into their accommodation to keep their luggage and freshen up.
You can either accept the Airbnb early check-in request or deny it upfront, but you have to communicate everything with your guests with reasoning. Without an appropriate reason, your guests might feel attached and unaccounted for, which leads to frustrated guests and bad reviews!
How to Deal With Airbnb Early Check in Requests?
While it is a reasonable request, you might not be able to concede. You need your time to clean and restock the rental before their arrival.
Read more: Airbnb Checkout Instructions: 8 Essential Things To Add
Here are some ways to deal with these requests while being an accommodating host.
1. Send a pre-arrival email with the check-in time
Some guests arrive early due to a misunderstanding. Your check-in time can be different from the standard check-in time. To avoid these situations, you can implement a pre-arrival email or Airbnb message sent to the guests closer to their arrival date with the check-in time.
Others might just be in an impossible situation. They either have a toddler with them or just spent 16 hours in the place; either way, they need you to show them compassion and expect you to understand their situation.
If there are no bookings for the day before, you can also give them the option of early arrival in that email. If they arrive early, they will choose the early check-in option. This will allow you to prepare for the guests accordingly.
2. Give the option to choose an early check-in time at an additional cost
Another method you can implement to avoid last-minute Airbnb early check-in requests is to facilitate your guests’ choosing an early check-in at the time of booking for an additional charge. This will help you prepare for their arrival accordingly and allow you to earn some extra money. After an exhausting journey, most guests are willing to pay extra to get to their rooms.
You should choose this option only when you are sure that you can get the house ready before their arrival. If other guests check in at your accommodation, this could be a tough promise to keep.
3. Allow early check-in if no guest stayed the night before
You could allow early check-in requests if there were no bookings the night before. It won’t cost you anything extra; you will come across as an accommodating host and ensure better Airbnb guest reviews.
If the guests make an Airbnb early check-in request at the time of booking, you can respond with the following message:
“Early check-ins and late check-outs are free if there are no check-ins or check-outs on your dates. If interested, please check with me the day before your stay. If your trip depends on early check-ins or check-outs, I suggest you book that night to ensure its availability.”
It is also helpful to mention the market demand and the likelihood of availability. Mentioning whether it is peak or slow season will help make better decisions.
4. Explain why you can’t agree to an Airbnb early check-in request
There will be times when you get a last-minute early check-in request. If you have had a booking the night before, conceding to this request is tough. Explain to the guests that you must prepare the room after the previous guests check out.
Read more: A Complete Guide to Building a Cancellation Policy For Vacation Rentals
You can say, “I understand your early check-in request, but we could not make the necessary arrangements since we were not informed earlier. A guest residing on the premises will check out at (time). We need to clean and prepare the house for you after the check-out. I will try to speed up the process and prepare the house for you as soon as possible.”
5. Provide your guests with a list of activities to do in the vicinity
This is a continuation of the previous point. You can be a more accommodating host without providing an early check-in. Most guests just want to keep their luggage and freshen up before starting their day. You can have a secure cupboard or room prepared for such circumstances. They can just keep their luggage until check-in and, if possible, freshen up a bit.
As a host, you can offer them a list of activities, sites, or cafes they can visit until their check-in time. You can just say, “Sorry, we can’t accommodate your early check-in request with the way we operate. We can provide you with a place to keep your luggage and freshen up. Also, here are some fun activities you can try in the meantime until your room becomes available for check-in.”
Doing this shows your guests that you care about their experience even if you can’t provide them with what they requested. Most guests understand and will appreciate you for making the extra effort to ensure their comfort.
6. Mention your strict Airbnb early check-in rules in the description
If you are strictly against early or late check-ins, you should mention that in your house rules or descriptions. Doing so will make it clear to your guests that you won’t entertain such requests. If someone’s trip depends on an early check-in, they will book their accommodation accordingly. This will save both of you a lot of trouble and effort.
Read more: Airbnb Lockbox: How to Provide Self-Check-In to Your Guests?
Conclusion
The vacation rental industry is moving toward flexible check-in and check-out times. This trend is beneficial for both guests and vacation rental owners.
Guests get more freedom and control over their stay. At the same time, the hosts can monetize this trend by offering extra hours at their accommodation for an additional fee. Hosts can also add Airbnb early check in service for free to enhance their guest satisfaction and make themselves stand out from their competition.
As a host, you must decide how you approach this request in a manner that benefits you and your guests.
