Overview
An alteration request occurs when an Airbnb guest requests a change to their confirmed reservation — such as modified dates or a different number of guests. Hostaway allows hosts to review and respond to these requests directly from the platform, without having to log in to Airbnb.
How It Works
1. Receiving an Alteration Request
When a guest submits an alteration request, Hostaway notifies the host in the Unified Inbox. The reservation is automatically moved to the top of the inbox, similar to how a new standard message behaves — ensuring hosts never miss it.
2. Reviewing the Request
Inside the inbox conversation, an "Alteration Requested" button will appear while the request is in pending status. The host can review the proposed changes before taking action.
3. Approving or Declining
The host can Approve or Decline the request directly from Hostaway. If approved, the changes are automatically applied to both Airbnb and Hostaway — no need to go to Airbnb manually.
4. Alteration History Log
Every reservation page includes an alteration log that tracks the full history of alteration requests for that reservation. The log includes:
- Timestamp of when the request was received
- Status (
pending,accepted, ordeclined) - Who initiated the request (guest or host)
- OTA timestamp
- List of modified fields with previous and new values
Inbox Improvements (March 2026)
Two updates were released to improve how alteration requests surface in the inbox:
- Prioritised Alteration Requests: Alteration requests are now displayed at the top of the inbox — just like a regular message — so hosts can act on them promptly.
- Refined "Guest Sent Last Message" Filter: This filter was updated to exclude automated messages, showing only conversations where a guest sent the last message and the host has not yet replied.
Previously, alteration requests did not bring the corresponding reservation to the top of the inbox, which could lead to missed requests.
Notifications & Permissions
- Hosts can configure notifications for alteration requests at the account level.
- Any user with permissions to modify reservations can respond to an alteration request.
- Alteration requests can also be approved or declined from the Hostaway mobile app.
Important Notes
- Alteration requests are currently supported for Airbnb guest-initiated changes. For other channels, the process may differ — refer to the Alteration Request Flow by Channel article for details.
- If an alteration request is accepted for dates that are already blocked, this can cause a double booking. Always verify calendar availability before approving.