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The three hard deadlines you must know before anything else
Free checklists tell you to "document damage and contact Airbnb". That is not a process, that is a starting point. AirCover has a specific sequence that must be followed in a specific order within strict deadlines. Skipping step 2 to go directly to step 3 will end in denial, even when the damage is real and well documented.
| Deadline | Window | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|
| File with the Resolution Center | 14 days from checkout OR before the next guest checks in, whichever comes first | Claim permanently denied. No exceptions. |
| Guest response window | 24 hours after your reimbursement request | After this you may escalate to Airbnb |
| Airbnb review period | 72 hours after escalation | Standard processing time. Follow up once exceeded. |
Do not skip this
If you have a guest checking in within 3 days of the damage, your filing window is 3 days, not 14. The next check-in always wins.
Phase 1 · 0 to 2 hours after checkout
Lock in the timeline before touching anything
Do not clean. Do not repair. Do not move anything. Every minute you wait without documentation is evidence you are losing.
- Confirm the guest has checked out: the app shows checkout, or you have visual confirmation
- Open the Airbnb app, go to Reservations, select the reservation, open Review and Report
- Screenshot the exact checkout timestamp
- Calculate your filing deadline: checkout date plus 14 days
- Write down the next guest check-in date
- Your actual deadline is the EARLIER of those two dates
Dollar impact
Claims filed within 48 hours are approved at a meaningfully higher rate than claims filed on day 13. File early, even while your documentation is still being assembled.
Locked in the full checklist
Phase 2 · 0 to 4 hours
Document everything before touching anything
Phase 3 · within 24 hours
Get repair estimates Airbnb will accept
Phase 4 · required step
Contact the guest first. Do not skip this.
Phase 5 · after the 24-hour window
Submit the formal claim
Phase 6 · 72 hours after submission
Follow up if Airbnb goes quiet
Phase 7 · the appeal path
If your claim is denied
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