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A post about an Airbnb guest’s unusual welcome has gone viral on Reddit after they discovered a peculiar “complaints hotline” in their rental property.
The post, shared by Reddit user u/Sharpie1965, was simply titled: “Just checked into our Airbnb.” The accompanying photo showed a sheet of paper with the words “Complaints Hotline” placed next to a landline telephone—its cord visibly cut. The image quickly struck a chord online, racking up 15,000 upvotes since it was shared on August 20.
The viral moment arrives as Airbnb continues to grow in popularity with travelers. The company reported in May that guests spent nearly $25 billion on Airbnb bookings in the first quarter of 2025. According to Airbnb’s survey, conducted between October 2023 and March 2025, one in five guests globally said they chose Airbnb specifically because they wanted a more local travel experience compared to hotels.
Air travel itself has also surged alongside short-term rentals. The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) reported that May saw a record load factor—the percentage of airline seats filled by paying passengers. “Globally, the industry reported five percent growth with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4 percent. The outlier was North America which reported a 0.5 percent decline, led by a 1.7 percent fall in the U.S. domestic market,” Willie Walsh, the IATA’s director general, said in a statement.
On Reddit, reactions to the tongue-in-cheek “complaints hotline” were mixed. Some users saw it as clever humor, while others thought it crossed the line into poor hospitality.
“Oh, disdain for the customer. What fun!” wrote u/piercedmfootonaspike.
“I would certainly do this as a joke if I were a host,” commented u/haleloop963. “However, I would actually give all the information needed & way of contacting me, & of course clean up the Airbnb. Good as a joke, [but] ask if they actually are serious & give you this.”
Another user, u/Julian_Sark, suggested a twist, saying: “I would probably also write underneath: ‘Tell your dad the ’80s called, they want their lame jokes back—and they called using THIS phone!'”
Some pointed out that such a joke could backfire when paying guests are involved. U/daekle said: “Seems like a great way to knock 2 stars off your review. ‘Host was passive aggressive from the get go. Would not stay here.'”
Others felt the humor only worked under the right conditions. “I find this funny, but only if there’s nothing to complain about. The dirt on the table makes me think otherwise,” noted u/morphcore.
“This might be funny at a relative’s house I’m staying with for a few days,” wrote u/Call__Me__David. “It’s not funny when it’s in a strange place that I’m paying real money for.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
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