Airbnb waives fees in Sandy-hit areas

Online home rental service Airbnb says it is waiving fees for the more than 20,000 listings in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy.

Airbnb said late Wednesday that it will forgo fees it charges for both hosts and travelers booking from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7 in New York, the Hamptons, Providence, R.I., and Atlantic City, N.J. The stays must be seven nights or fewer.

The San Francisco-based startup connects people who want to rent out their homes, rooms, cottages, farmhouses and so on with travelers looking for alternatives to hotels.

Airbnb is also asking hosts to consider lowering their prices. It cites at least one user who is offering her five guest rooms to stranded travelers for free.