Auckland Airbnb hosts told to ignore Covid alert levels or face fines 28 Feb, 2021 09:28 PM 3 minutes to read Airbnb's cancellation policies are incentivising bad behaviour, says host. Photo / Yuriko Nakao, Getty Images Thomas Bywater is a writer and digital producer for Herald Travelthomas.bywater@nzherald.co.nz@ThomasBywater With just 9 hours notice, Auckland went back into Covid Alert Level 3 restrictions on Sunday morning, affecting many New Zealanders' travel plans. However hosts on a leading accommodation booking website say they are being given an unwelcome choice: ignore Covid-19 alert levels or be hit with fines. Currently users of Airbnb are charged for 'last minute' cancellations, by hosts or guests. In spite of guests unable to travel to Auckland, these no-fault cancellations result in guests or hosts forfeiting booking fees upwards of $140.