Airbnb is finally putting an end to those surprise fees at checkout. Starting May 9, the platform will show the total cost of a stay — including taxes and service fees — right from the beginning of the booking process.
This is a big change from how it used to work. Until now, you’d often see a nightly rate that looked great, only to get hit with a much higher total when you went to pay. Now, what you see early on is what you’ll actually pay.
The update comes just ahead of new U.S. rules that crack down on hidden “junk fees” across industries — from hotel bookings to concert tickets. The goal is simple: make prices clearer for consumers, so they know exactly what they’re paying for.
Airbnb has been testing this all-in pricing in other parts of the world since 2019, and rolled it out as an option in the U.S. and Canada in 2022. According to the company, over 17 million people have used the feature so far — and it’s helped push hosts to lower or even remove extra charges. In fact, 300,000 properties cut their cleaning fees in 2023, and 40% of listings dropped them altogether.
For travelers, this update means fewer surprises and a smoother booking experience. It’s one more step toward making vacation planning a little more transparent — and a lot less stressful.
