Can I Get Refund from Airbnb for My Cancellation?, By Christopher

FEATURED COLUMNIST Can I Get Refund from Airbnb for My Cancellation?

By Christopher Elliott

Carl Baeuerlen cancels his vacation rental in Lanai, Hawaii. But Airbnb says he can’t get his money back. The owner says that’s wrong. Who’s right?

•••

Last spring, I made an Airbnb reservation for a vacation rental in Lanai, Hawaii, in November 2020. Because of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, I canceled the reservation in May.

Airbnb denied me a full refund. I attempted to phone Airbnb to discuss this denial, but the hold time was consistently over two hours. Feeling I had no other recourse, I disputed the claim with Capital One, my credit card company, and was given a conditional refund.

Capital One sided with Airbnb a month later and urged me to resolve this directly with Airbnb. I attempted to do so. I applied for a refund online and was told that, due to the vacation rental’s refund policy, there would be no refund.

I called the owner and she said she does not have a record of my reservation, nor does she have any money from me for my reservation. She also has no policy that would have denied me a refund.

I contacted Airbnb with this information. A representative promised to call the owner and get back to me. Although she didn’t call back, I received a notification from my credit card issuer that a refund of $282 had been issued to my credit card. But I never received it. Can you help me get my money back? — Carl Baeuerlen, Los Altos, Calif. •••

You should be able to get a full refund. But your case is a little complicated. Let’s see if we can unpack it.

Airbnb had an “extenuating circumstances” policy that allowed guests to cancel reservations for stays made on or before March 14, 2020, with check-in dates between March 14, 2020, and April 14, 2020. But you were outside of that window.

That means the Airbnb extenuating circumstances policy didn’t apply to your rental in Lanai. But here’s where things get interesting. Airbnb claims your rental wasn’t refundable, but the owner says there was no such policy. So who is right? I’ll get to the answer in a moment. You ran out of patience and filed a credit card dispute. In credit card parlance, that’s called a friendly dispute, because you were doing business with Airbnb. And your bank sided with Airbnb, which further complicated your case.

I think a brief, polite email to one of Airbnb’s executives might have helped. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of Airbnb’s top customer service managers at https://elliott.org/companycontacts/airbnb on my website, Elliott.org.

So whose policy should prevail — the owner’s or Airbnb’s? I think the rules to which you agree are the rules that bind you. But those weren’t the rules to which the owner agreed, so you have some wiggle room. I’m unhappy that the owner never received your deposit. That suggests Airbnb simply pocketed your deposit.

I guess that’s how Airbnb justifies its $80 billion valuation.

Given the fact that Airbnb had already promised a refund, I think the process should have been pretty straightforward. I contacted Airbnb on your behalf, and you received your $282 deposit back. n •••

Christopher Elliott’s latest book is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Get help by contacting him at http://www.elliott.org/help © 2021 Christopher Elliott.

European Capitals

ACROSS

1. RPM gauge 5. Have a bawl 8. *”Neutral” capital 12. Paella pot 13. Mend, healthwise 14. Deadly snake of southeastern Asia 15. Multicolored horse 16. Estimator’s phrase (2 words) 17. “The Addams Family” manservant 18. *Northernmost

European capital 20. One of British Isles 21. EUR, pl. 22. Ensign, for short 23. Pieces of glass, e.g. 26. Vacuum cleaner

alternative 30. “____ the land of the free...” 31. Oxygenate, as in lawn 34. Insane, in Spain 35. Just harvested, e.g. 37. A in IPA 38. Church song 39. Tiny amount 40. Military marksman 42. Fake tooth 43. Devoid of liquid 45. Jet setters’ vessels 47. Address abbreviation 48. Sports stadium 50. Japan’s highest mountain 52. *Capital that hosts

Nobel Prizes 56. Sophia ____, Italian actress 57. Genesis twin 58. Curved molding 59. Tequila source 60. Non-permanent office worker 61. Like dental surgery 62. *Capital on a fjord 63. Possesses 64. Big top

DOWN

1. Unit of pressure named after Torricelli 2. Post sun-bathing relief 3. Wallace & Gromit modeling material 4. Desire 5. Aussie gas station 6. Desert wanderer’s hope 7. Alexander Alexandrovich ____, Russian poet 8. *Also the capital of

European Union 9. James ____ Jones 10. Paddy grain 11. To the ____ degree 13. Like voice after a pep rally 14. “A Fish Called Wanda” actor Kevin 19. Judea, alt. sp. 22. Mama sheep 23. *Bulgarian capital and actress Vergara’s given name 24. Long-necked bird 25. Rocky ridge 26. Pas 27. Hunt illegally 28. AudienceÆs approval 29. Frolics 32. “Atlas Shrugged” author Ayn 33. Cassius Clay 36. *Balkan capital and 1984 Olympics location 38. Practical joke 40. Canine command 41. Eyeball washing vessel 44. Offer two cents 46. Collusion 48. Away from harbor (2 words) 49. Drifts 50. *London was famous for these pea soup particulars 51. Russian mountain chain 52. Comedian Rogan 53. Shrek, e.g. 54. Not fatty 55. Patty ____ 56. ____ Tzu

The last half of May, under Gemini Sun, is busy with two festivals, two retrogrades, a lunar eclipse and a full moon. Sun enters Gemini Thursday, May 20, an energy shift from Taurus earth to Gemini air, Under Gemini Sun, everyone begins to talk all a sudden and all at once.

Sunday, May 23, is Pentecost, a perfect Gemini festival. Pentecost is the Christian Festival (reflecting last week’s Jewish festival of Shavuot/Harvest Festival) of “Fiery Tongues,” or the descent of the Holy Spirit (Ray 3 of Divine Intelligence) into the minds of humanity. The story in the bible is that “tongues of fire” appeared above the heads of Christ’s disciples and they began to understood all languages, especially the language of the heart.

Saturn retrogrades on Pentecost, at 13.31 degrees Aquarius, Saturn is time, so with Saturn retrograde, our sense of time shifts. Saturn is also, skin, bones, teeth, inner and outer structures. Retrogrades turn things inside out, upside down. We turn inward, assess time, asking the question “What is time?” Everyone’s late during retrogrades. Saturn is structure and discipline. We assess our structures, ask if we are disciplined enough. Saturn is so many things — Law of Economy, the Teacher, Lord of Karma, scales of Justice, Dweller on the Threshold, St. Peter, guarding the Gate of Heaven. Saturn remains retrograde until Oct. 10th. The Gemini Festival of Goodwill (during a full moon lunar eclipse) occurs on May 26 this year. This Gemini festival sits squarely on the ascendant of the U.S. Gemini rising chart where Uranus (radical, revelatory & revolutionary change) is located. We know by now our country is in a state of sweeping, far reaching profound change. We won’t be returning to “normal” because the new era of Aquarius is here, Uranus rules Aquarius and the United states has Aquarius moon. The lunar eclipse at the festival makes sure that which is no longer needed simply disappears and falls away.

Mercury retrogrades Saturday, May 29th at 25 degrees Gemini. We all know by now what to do. Have fun with it! Love, Risa.

ARIES

Careful how you interact with others. Be kind. Don’t rely only on outer monetary realities though they are important. Rely first on instinct and then intuition to direct and guide your choices and to recognize the true qualities and purposes of a person, event, resource, and investment. You will be called to exhibit courage, a virtue of the heart and to remain poised so all will know that all is well. Because you made it so.

TAURUS

Be aware of your effects on others. Your deep intelligence magnetizes people to you and you make impressions on others leading them to trust and believe and follow your guidance. Though it may be difficult now, it’s important that you complete all plans, agreements and promises. Your attempt to initiate new projects impacts many lives far into the future. Proceed forward. You may be only one of the few able to accomplish this. The future of humanity awaits.

LEO

You may consider how to rearrange your work so that you have more time outside in the sunshine. In the past year there have been whispers, then murmurs then shouts of change in our world. The changes will accelerate. We will not return to the past. Perhaps your job interests, abilities and/or responsibilities will change too. Always perform tasks with excellence and innovation. Look also to those around you, emphasizing their qualities and goodness. As a good leader would.

VIRGO

You may begin to create various list of new tasks to perform, new realities to consider, new work to be accomplished. Mercury is your ruler and while it’s in Gemini you become busier and busier. Perhaps accounts need reckoning, travels need considering, responsibilities need completing, and problems need easing. Spending time in the garden with the devas brings a vitality to your smile. You may dream more at night as you travel throughout the ethers visiting friends here and there.

SAGITTARIUS

Career matters assume new dimensions, co-workers need more care, you want to improve your health, create new work methods and tend to the necessities of your life with more attention. You realize this takes balance and focused thought, and so your actions slow down, you contemplate what’s needed, foregoing too much adventure in order to create a long-term plan of practical goals. Your greatest success is acceptance of everything presently in your life. Then everything shifts into harmony.

CAPRICORN

Setting out each day’s agenda and realizing your priorities allows you to have more time to yourself, which you need. Are you writing in your journal about day to day activities? Are you writing your life stories? Writing down our lives brings a clarity and focus. You are always doing your best, while also realizing everyone else is doing their very best too at different stages of development. New opportunities appear at first as philosophical ideas and goals. Then they appear as reality. Rest more so you can imagine and create more.

GEMINI

You may feel the need for more rest. Sleep may escape you, dreams may assail you both at night and during the day. Our entire world is shaking and rattling itself loose, preparing for the new era. Your body is sensitive to this. The old ways will not return. Maintain a diet of light, fresh foods filled with vital greens, eliminate anything excess, drink more pure water, love more, and expect the changes to continue for a long, long time. Look to the stars for direction.

LIBRA

Are you harboring hopes, wishes and dreams you want to share with others? Are there resources you share with another that needs a conversation? Is everything transparent, clear and aboveboard in this area? As the economy shifts, it’s time to arrange your finances so that debts are paid quickly. It’s important to be economically prudent, thrifty and careful, to conserve resources for the future. Work always with efficiency. Be informed of these critical times and how to prepare for the times to come.

AQUARIUS

Home and family, property, community, childhood, experiences and parents have been on your mind these past weeks. These do need attention in the form of having gratitude for all that you received. Attempt to improve relationships with family while also improving the beauty and organization of where you live and breathe and have your being. Do nothing that unsettles your safety and well-being, challenge no one, and calm tensions with exercise, prayers and adequate vitamins, minerals and herbs. You can do all of this.

CANCER

It’s important to maintain close connections to what you identify as like-minded people who have your same values, morals and principles. All interactions are opportunities to connect and understand what the hopes and wishes of others are. As you look at your life now, you see greater levels of community have become available to both you and your family. Maintain health with proper hydration, more Vitamin C and finding yourself in the garden more.

SCORPIO

Relationships are primary now so listen very carefully to what others are communicating and have the intentions to respond with a depth of care, interest and emotional poise. Should you be uncooperative a feeling of imbalance will ensue and a sense of separation, too. You will feel quite alone and that you have neglected a responsibility. Kind attention toward others is what is needed so they feel your special care, love and safety. It’s your task now.

PISCES

You may be traveling this summer or fall to places far away. You may be asked to take on a new endeavor, one you have been prepared for over the many past years. You may be planning meetings, conferences, classrooms and/or curriculum. You will definitely be communicating with others on a grand scale, either personally or through writing, speaking, teleconferencing. Some or all of these will occur and all the while you will gain in knowledge, happiness, creativity and goodness. Many join you. “Youth Leadership” from page 18

Later on, Brenda Jauregui and Crystal Gonzalez took over the program and have helped us from there on.

Now that COVID-19 cases are declining, we are able to do more in-person interactions of course while following all Covid guidelines. Weekly meetings every Wednesday are back in session which make participants experience more pleasing and respective experience.

We hosted a vent session where participants and other community members who wanted to join were able to vent about overwhelming and saddening experiences that happened last year or earlier this year — as 2020 and 2021 have been one of the most life-changing years of many people’s lives.

Overall, as summer is approaching, I am excited for what is to come for our leadership program and new participants who will be joining us soon. Numerous events and lots of plans are being discussed and will eventually take place as Covid-19 cases decline in Santa Cruz County.

One’s aspiration may be for everything to go back to normal but slowly but surely our world will possibly adapt to a new form of life after a yearlong deadly disease took a toll of millions of people’s lives. But being part of a youth-led program has helped me empower my voice to stop any reforms that can influence an increase in substance abuse as well as influencing better mental health for the most vulnerable age group which are the youth. •••

Mariah Segura, 17

Watsonville High School

My experience at PVPSA has been a great experience so far.

Empower Watsonville Youth Leadership is a leadership group that focuses on informing the youth and community about substance abuse and we also focus on mental health.

As I first joined the team, everyone was very welcoming. I joined right before Covid happened and our meetings were in person, which quickly changed to online. Online was very difficult because you do not get the connection like you do when you are with them personally.

During Covid we still were connected as a team and tried to still accommodate meetings and activities. During the fire seasons, our team and I gave out fire safety packets in case of emergencies in our own neighborhood.

An activity that we have recently done is a vent session. This vent session was led by a licensed therapist who talked to us about our emotions and overall was a safe place to express your emotions.

Being part of PVPSA has helped me grow as a person and I hope that in the future more people will recognize that our program is a great opportunity that should not be missed. n