Airbnb API FAQ

Airbnb API FAQ: What You Need to Know

Sympl’s integration with the new Airbnb API provides a faster, more reliable connection than before—delivering seamless updates to pricing, availability, messages, and bookings. However, this new API comes with several important changes and limitations, many of which are required by Airbnb.

Whether you're transitioning to the new API or setting up a new Airbnb connection, it’s essential to understand how this impacts your listings and workflow. Below is a breakdown of the most important features, limitations, and frequently asked questions.

🔁 Key Changes in the New Airbnb API

Here are the main differences introduced by Airbnb’s latest API version:

✅ 1. Instant Book is Required

• All listings connected through the new API will be made Instant Bookable.

• This is enforced by Airbnb and cannot be disabled either in Sympl or Airbnb.

📋 2. Listings Must Meet Airbnb Content Criteria

• Airbnb automatically delists any listing that doesn’t meet their required listing standards.

• See the full content criteria below.

👥 3. Co-Hosting is No Longer Supported

• Airbnb has removed co-hosting support for API-connected listings.

• Recommended: Log into Airbnb and switch to Hosting Teams instead.

• Learn more about Hosting Teams.

💡 Alternatively, if you can't use Hosting Teams, you can:

• Connect the listing using the main Airbnb host account, or

• Use iCal calendar sync instead of API.

⏳ 4. Listings Previously Connected Before August 9th

• Listings connected before this date may have lost sync temporarily due to a required setting that Airbnb introduced.

• Sympl is now automatically applying this setting, but any listing that:

  • Is co-hosted, or

  • Does not meet content requirements,
    will be rejected by Airbnb until corrected.

🛠️ 5. Availability & Pricing Now Managed Exclusively in Sympl

• Once connected via API, availability and pricing can no longer be managed in Airbnb.

• All rate and calendar updates must be made through Sympl.

🔄 6. Synchronization Options

• Sympl supports two levels of Airbnb synchronization:

  • Rates & Availability Only (default)

  • Full Synchronization (includes content)

  ⚠️ If you enable Full Synchronization:

  • You will no longer be able to edit listing content, pricing, or availability on Airbnb.

  • All changes must be made within Sympl.

👤 7. Guest Requirements Are Removed

• Airbnb automatically removes guest requirements for listings connected via any channel manager.

• These settings cannot be restored.

📅 8. Airbnb Blocked Dates Are Not Imported

• Dates that you manually block on Airbnb will not sync to Sympl.

• You must block dates in Sympl to ensure full synchronization across all channels.

🏠 Airbnb Listing Content Requirements

Airbnb enforces the following minimum content standards for all listings connected via API. Any listing that fails to meet these will be delisted automatically until corrected.

Airbnb Host Requirements for Connecting to a Channel Partner

Difference between Quick Connect & Advance Connect

• For a new user, both works same way, we will import the listings and connect it.

• For second time, or for older users who wants to connect a new Airbnb, Quick Connect will just list down Airbnb properties in our system and user have to link & push rates/availability manually. For Advance Connect, user can choose listings they want to import and only those will be imported but in that case user has to wait a bit to see it as we are importing listings with all data including images etc, booking, pushing rates, pushing availability, creating hold event, SO for an account with tens on listings it might take 30-40 minutes to see everything