Airbnb Takes Another Step to Keep Users From Straying Off-Platform
Skift Take
Airbnb plans to discontinue its email alias feature, citing safety reasons and aiming to prevent direct bookings outside of its platform.
Airbnb recently reminded hosts that it plans to shutter its email alias feature September 30. The feature enables hosts and guests to email and share documents, such as PDFs of property guides, passports and other IDs from their regular emails accounts without having to log into Airbnb.
Airbnb says there are safety reasons for the move, but it clearly also seeks to reduce the risk of the next booking taking place direct rather than on Airbnb's platform. That's a challenge because many hosts readily share their WhatsApp contact information or phone numbers with guests, for example.
Airbnb, which initially announced in March that the masked emails would become history in September, said it's safest to communicate with guests on the Airbnb platform, and that "you can still securely send documents by sharing a link with your guests in the Airbnb inbox."
Off-platform communications, however convenient, also leave guests and hosts vulnerable
