Just to add
If anyone does find themselves in this position
Know the Airbnb refund policy before you go ... especially their definitions of a Travel Issue .
And no, I hadn’t read it before I booked. Only their cancellation policy
airbnb/terms/guest_refund_policy
Contact the host immediately if there is an issue and do it through Airbnb messages as then Airbnb can read them. Don’t do it via text or email.
Contact Airbnb ASAP, give the host time to reply but a complaint needs to be lodged with Airbnb within 24 hours
Definitely take photos !
They kept telling me as I stayed a night, I had to pay that night according to their policy.
In the first paragraph of that policy there is an embedded link to Air Bnbs Terms of Service
Section 9.6 of those Terms of Service states they have discretion over issuing refunds, up to the full amount. And I couldn’t see anything about staying through circumstances making a full refund impossible.*
I quoted this back to them along with a list of how I had fully complied with their policy requirements, the whole storm /travel circumstance preventing my early departure and that I could not see how I was still getting a charge at all when they do have discretion in these situations.
I hope this helps but actually I hope no one ever experiences this
*and I’m not a legal adviser. This is just what I did which may be helpful. This is my disclaimer !