Is AirCover an insurance policy?

Only in part. The liability cover up to 1 million US dollars rests on a genuine insurance contract. The damage protection up to 3 million is an undertaking by Airbnb: the platform assesses the case and decides on reimbursement. In law those are two different things, and in a dispute you notice the difference.

Do I still need my own insurance with AirCover?

Yes, and Airbnb says so itself. Building insurance, contents and private liability remain necessary. More important still: tell your insurer about the short-term letting. Swiss contents policies regularly exclude commercial use — without a declaration you risk the cover for your own contents.

Does AirCover apply to bookings made through Booking.com?

No. AirCover is an Airbnb programme and applies only to stays booked and paid for through Airbnb. Anyone listing on several platforms has no such protection for part of their guests — one more reason to choose a policy that works independently of the platform.

AirCover for hosts: what Airbnb actually covers — and where your own policy has to step in

Three million dollars of damage protection sounds like nothing can go wrong. It is not insurance, and Airbnb says so itself.

What is AirCover?

AirCover is the protection Airbnb includes for hosts at no extra charge: damage protection up to 3 million US dollars, liability cover up to 1 million US dollars under a genuine insurance contract, plus screening before a booking. It does not replace building, contents or liability insurance — Airbnb states expressly that it comes in addition.

What AirCover consists of

AirCover is not a product but a bundle. It has three parts, and only one of them is an insurance contract.

Damage protection up to 3 million US dollars — an undertaking by Airbnb, not a policy. Airbnb assesses the case and decides on reimbursement.
Liability cover up to 1 million US dollars — a genuine insurance contract, for harm caused to third parties
Screening before a booking — identity verification and risk checks on reservations

Where the gap is

The gap is not the size of the sums but the nature of the protection. Damage protection is a platform's goodwill undertaking: it assesses the case and decides. A policy gives you a claim you can enforce if you have to.

The second and larger gap is your own insurance. Swiss contents policies regularly exclude commercial use, and short-term letting counts as such. Anyone who fails to declare it stands without contents cover when a loss occurs — regardless of what AirCover pays.

What AirCover does not replace, Airbnb says in as many words: building insurance, tenant's insurance and liability insurance. It comes in addition, not instead.

Frequently asked questions

Is AirCover an insurance policy?: Only in part. The liability cover up to 1 million US dollars rests on a genuine insurance contract. The damage protection up to 3 million is an undertaking by Airbnb: the platform assesses the case and decides on reimbursement. In law those are two different things, and in a dispute you notice the difference.
Do I still need my own insurance with AirCover?: Yes, and Airbnb says so itself. Building insurance, contents and private liability remain necessary. More important still: tell your insurer about the short-term letting. Swiss contents policies regularly exclude commercial use — without a declaration you risk the cover for your own contents.
Does AirCover apply to bookings made through Booking.com?: No. AirCover is an Airbnb programme and applies only to stays booked and paid for through Airbnb. Anyone listing on several platforms has no such protection for part of their guests — one more reason to choose a policy that works independently of the platform.

Read on

Your question is not answered?

Send it to us — we answer from practice, in writing, within one working day.