Instant book and booking requests

Hosts choose how bookings work on each listing: instantly, or by request.

How to tell

In search results, a Request badge means the host approves each booking.
On the home page, the Instant book quick filter shows only spaces you can book straight away.
On the listing, the Booking fact says Instant book or Request to book.

Instant book

You pay at checkout and the booking is confirmed right away. Your PIN and the host's access instructions appear in your booking.

Request to book

Book and go through checkout as usual. Your card is authorized, but not charged.
You see Request sent — awaiting host approval, and the booking shows Awaiting host in Trips.
The host has 24 hours from your request to accept or decline. You're notified either way.

The Request sent, awaiting host approval page

What happens next:

The host accepts: your card is charged and the booking is confirmed. Your PIN and the access instructions then appear in your booking.
The host declines: the request is cancelled and you aren't charged.
No answer within 24 hours: the request expires automatically and you aren't charged. It shows as cancelled with the reason that the host didn't respond.

Whenever you aren't charged, the hold on your card is released. Your bank may show it as pending for a short time.

Cancel a request

You can cancel a request while you wait. In Trips, select Cancel on the booking. Nothing has been charged, so there's nothing to refund, and the hold on your card is released.

Good to know

Wallet credit you apply to a request is only taken if the host accepts.
A recurring request covering several dates is accepted or declined as a whole.
A space that needs approval has to be booked on its own, not in the same checkout as other listings.
Send requests early. A host can take up to 24 hours to answer, which may be close to your start time.
Gate codes and other access instructions stay hidden until the host accepts and the booking is confirmed.