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About Airbnb Service Fees When Connecting via Delta PMS

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Written by Delta HQ Support Team
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Who should read this article?

This article is for hosts who:

  • Are planning to connect Airbnb directly with Delta PMS

  • Are currently connected to Airbnb via another channel manager (like neppan!), and considering switching to Delta PMS

  • Noticed that prices appear lower on Airbnb after connecting with Delta PMS, and are wondering why


Why does the price shown on Airbnb change after connecting to Delta PMS?

When you connect Airbnb via Delta PMS, Airbnb automatically switches your account to the “host-only fee” model, which changes how fees are charged and how prices appear to guests.

This is not a bug or an issue caused by Delta PMS. It’s a specification determined by Airbnb.


Two types of Airbnb service fee structures

Airbnb uses two different pricing models depending on how your account is connected:

1. Split-fee model (used by most individual hosts managing listings directly on Airbnb)

  • The guest pays ~14% service fee on top of your nightly rate

  • The host pays ~3% service fee

  • Airbnb shows the nightly rate as-is to guests, then adds the fee at checkout

2. Host-only fee model (automatically applied when using a channel manager like Delta PMS)

  • The guest pays no additional fee

  • The host pays ~15% service fee

  • Airbnb displays the full price (including fee) to the guest


So does this mean the host pays more?

It may seem like the host’s fee jumps from 3% to 15%, but in reality:

  • Under the original model, the total fee was 14% (guest) + 3% (host) = 17%

  • Under the host-only model, the total fee is ~15%, all paid by the host

👉 The total amount of fees is actually similar — what changes is “who pays”.


🔍 Example: If your base nightly rate is ¥100,000

Model

Guest sees this price

Host receives (after fee)

Split-fee (before PMS connection)

¥114,000 (¥100,000 + 14%)

¥97,000 (after 3% fee)

Host-only fee (after PMS connection)

¥100,000 (fee included)

¥85,000 (after 15% fee)

If you don’t adjust the price, your payout will decrease.


✅ Simple solution: Raise your Airbnb price by 15% or more

By increasing your Airbnb price in Delta PMS before connecting, your payout will stay the same.
For example, if you set the price to ¥115,000, Airbnb will display that to guests, and:

  • Airbnb takes ~15% (¥17,250)

  • Your payout is ¥97,750, same as before


✅ You can easily apply a price increase only for Airbnb

With Delta PMS’s OTA-specific surcharge feature, you can easily apply a custom percentage markup (e.g., +15%) only for Airbnb, while keeping prices the same on other OTAs like Booking.com.


Benefits of connecting Airbnb with Delta PMS

Even with the fee model change, connecting Airbnb directly to Delta PMS gives you many advantages:

  • Centralized price and availability management

  • Automated messages and check-in instructions

  • Cleaner task scheduling

  • Accurate reporting and unified operations across OTAs

Once you set the right price, the benefits will far outweigh the fee model adjustment.


💬 FAQ

Q. Is the lower price shown on Airbnb a bug?
→ No, this is Airbnb’s official behavior when connected via a PMS.

Q. Can I choose between the fee models?
→ No, once connected through a channel manager like Delta PMS, the host-only fee model is enforced by Airbnb.

Q. Will I earn less?
→ Not if you raise your Airbnb price accordingly. The fee model shifts, but your payout can stay the same.

Q. Can I raise prices only on Airbnb?
→ Yes! Delta PMS allows you to add a specific markup just for Airbnb using the surcharge feature.

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