The Guest Booking Fee

This article is for Customers and Hosts who want to understand how the Customer Booking Fee works for Casual Bookings and cancellations.

For Casual Bookings, a non-refundable Customer Booking Fee is included in the total price at checkout. It is calculated on the highest total value reached by an individual booking.

Fee Rates

• Australia: 2.5% ($1 minimum per booking)
• United Kingdom: 2.5% (£1 minimum per booking)
• New Zealand: 3.5% ($1 minimum per booking)

Note: The fee applies only to Casual Bookings. It does not apply to Regular Bookings.

How the Fee Works in Practice

The booking fee is non-refundable if a booking is cancelled, refunded, or reduced in value after the Host accepts it.

Example 1: Standard $100 booking Total paid at checkout: $100 (includes a non-refundable $2.50 booking fee).

• If the booking goes ahead as planned, no extra fees apply.
• If the Hirer cancels after Host acceptance under a 100% refund policy, the Hirer receives $97.50 ($100 minus the $2.50 fee).
• If the Hirer cancels under a 50% refund policy, the Hirer receives $50.
• If the Host cancels due to Host error or double-booking, the Host covers the booking fee through a payout adjustment or direct invoice, and the Hirer receives a full refund.

Example 2: Booking value changes A $100 booking is created (includes a $2.50 fee).

• The booking is edited and increases to $200. The fee increases to $5.00 (2.5% of $200).
• The booking is later reduced back to $100. The Hirer receives a $100 refund for the booking amount, but the fee remains $5.00 based on the highest total value ($200).
• If the booking is then cancelled under a 100% refund policy, the Hirer receives $95 ($100 minus the $5.00 fee).

Example 3: Minimum fee on small bookings A $10 booking is created.

• Total paid at checkout: $10 (includes the $1 minimum booking fee).
• If cancelled by the Hirer after Host acceptance under a 100% refund policy, the Hirer receives $9 ($10 minus the $1 minimum fee).

Example 4: Multiple bookings in one transaction Four $10 bookings are placed together in one transaction (total $40).

• Total paid at checkout: $40 (includes $4 in booking fees, at $1 minimum per booking).
• If one booking is cancelled after Host acceptance under a 100% refund policy, the Hirer receives $9 for that individual booking.
  
  

Important Details for Hosts

• Host acceptance: The fee takes effect only after a Host accepts a booking request. If a booking is declined or expires, no fee is charged.
• Discount codes: If a discount code is applied after a Host accepts a booking, the fee is calculated on the original pre-discount total. Discount codes bringing a booking below the fee amount must be applied before Host acceptance.
• Local government fee schedules: If a local government Host cannot charge a separate customer fee due to fee schedule restrictions, SpacetoCo can configure the account so the Host absorbs the fee. The fee is then hidden from the Hirer at checkout.