What Is the Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy?
The Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy is Airbnb's rule for cancellations caused by large-scale events, such as a natural disaster or a government travel restriction, that happen at the destination after a booking is made. When it applies, it overrides the listing's own cancellation policy (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)).
Last updated: November 2026
How the Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy works
Cancellations and refunds on Airbnb normally follow the cancellation policy on the listing (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)). The Major Disruptive Events Policy sets that aside for five types of event: declared public health emergencies and epidemics, government travel restrictions, military actions and other hostilities, large-scale outages of essential utilities, and unforeseeable natural disasters and severe weather (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)).
Two conditions apply to every event. It must occur after the time of booking (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)). Since the 2024 update, it must also be a large-scale event at the destination itself (An update on our Major Disruptive Events Policy (Airbnb Newsroom)).
When a qualifying event hits, both sides of the reservation get a way out. Guests can cancel and receive a refund, travel credit or other consideration, whatever the listing's cancellation policy says, and hosts can cancel without fees or other adverse consequences (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)). The policy covers reservations for homes, services and experiences, so it reaches beyond overnight stays (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)).
Some widely discussed reasons sit outside it. COVID-19 is not covered, and neither are travel advisories and similar government guidance (What is the Major Disruptive Events Policy? (Airbnb Resource Center)). A reservation hit by one of those, or by a personal reason the policy excludes, goes back to the listing's own cancellation terms.
Why the Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy matters for hotel distribution
The policy carried a different name until 2024. The Airbnb extenuating circumstances policy is the same rule under its former name (What is the Major Disruptive Events Policy? (Airbnb Resource Center)). Airbnb announced the rename on March 28, 2024, effective for reservations on or after June 6, 2024 (An update on our Major Disruptive Events Policy (Airbnb Newsroom)). Airbnb said the update also brings the policy in line with industry standards (An update on our Major Disruptive Events Policy (Airbnb Newsroom)).
The change followed host complaints. Earlier versions drew criticism from hosts over last-minute cancellations, refunds and blocked calendar periods, as reported in the trade press (Airbnb revised Major Disruptive Events Policy (ShortTermRentalz, 2024-04-02)). Coverage of the update read the destination rule as ending cover for events that only stop a guest from reaching the location (Airbnb revised Major Disruptive Events Policy (ShortTermRentalz, 2024-04-02)).
A host who cancels under the policy receives no payout for the canceled dates, and if Airbnb has already paid out, the refunded amount is withheld from the next payout (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)) (Airbnb Natural Disaster Policy: what it is and how it works (PriceLabs)). The listing's calendar also stays blocked for the dates of the canceled reservation (Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320)).
For a hotel or rental selling the same rooms on Airbnb, other online travel agencies and its own website, the policy adds one more set of rules to track. A storm or an outage can cancel several Airbnb stays at once under Airbnb's terms, while bookings for the same week from other channels follow each channel's own policy. Knowing which reservation sits under which rule, and which rooms are actually free again, is what keeps a disrupted week from turning into lost bookings or double bookings.
Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy compared with related policies
| Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy | Listing cancellation policy | Vrbo Extenuating Circumstances Policy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it applies | A qualifying large-scale event at the destination, after booking | Every Airbnb reservation in general | Large-scale travel disruptions that prevent or prohibit a guest from starting or completing a stay, at Vrbo's discretion |
| Guest outcome | Refund, travel credit or other consideration, regardless of the listing's policy | Refund set by the terms the host chose | Refund possible regardless of the listing's policy |
| Host outcome | Can cancel without fees; no payout for the canceled reservation | Host's chosen terms apply | May be eligible for a host cancellation fee waiver |
Table sources: Major Disruptive Events Policy (Help Center, article 1320) About Extenuating Circumstances Policy (Vrbo Help)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Airbnb Major Disruptive Events Policy?
Does the policy cover hurricanes and other seasonal weather?
Can a guest cancel for a canceled flight, an illness or jury duty?
Is the policy a form of travel insurance?
Related terms
See all termsWhere Jetstream fits
When a major event cancels a run of bookings on one channel, the rooms behind them still need to show the right status everywhere else the property sells. Jetstream builds an AI channel manager that connects a property's reservation system to the channels where guests book and keeps rooms, rates and availability accurate on each one, managed from one place.