Customers who booked vacation rentals through Airbnb in areas experiencing wildfires or utilities outages are eligible to cancel for a refund, the company announced on Wednesday. This decision came after a customer's social media post went viral, highlighting Airbnb's initial refusal to cancel a booking in the Los Angeles area.
The customer, Ana Mostarac, expressed concerns about traveling in Southern California despite her rental being located away from the danger zone. Following the backlash, Airbnb has since offered Mostarac a full refund, acknowledging the challenges she faced.
While Mostarac did not provide further comments, her post gained significant attention online. In response to the ongoing wildfires, Airbnb also revealed plans to provide free temporary housing for those displaced by the natural disasters.
