FAQ

Questions, answered properly

If something is not covered here, ask us and we will add it.

The service

What does AirPilot do?

We take the recurring operational work out of letting a property short-term, and we handle the physical side ourselves. We survey the property, install the equipment, connect it to your booking platform and run it from there. Today that covers guest access and noise monitoring, with turnover inspection in development.

Is this a product or a service?

A service. The hardware is part of it, but what you are buying is the running of it: the integration with your bookings, the codes going out on time, the monitoring, the maintenance and someone to call. That is why there is a monthly plan rather than just a price tag on a box.

What is included in the monthly fee?

Integration with your booking platform, guest codes issued and sent automatically, credentials for cleaners and contractors, the dashboard and software, remote monitoring, battery replacement, maintenance of the hardware and the lock, and callout support whenever somebody needs help at a door. There is no separate software licence and no charge for support.

Which products can I buy today?

Smart Access and Noise Monitoring are available now across England, Scotland & Wales. The Inspection Robot is in development and you can register interest, and we will email you once when it is ready.

Do I have to take all of it?

No. Most customers start with guest access because it touches every booking, then add noise monitoring later. Everything is priced per property per product, and it all sits on the same dashboard and the same invoice.

Getting set up

How long does installation take?

Usually under an hour for a single door, including connecting it to your bookings and testing a real code before we leave. Additional doors at the same property are quicker again.

Do I need to be there?

Not necessarily. Somebody just needs to let our engineer in, and plenty of customers arrange it around a cleaner's visit.

Do I need to be technical?

No, and that is rather the point of a managed plan. We set everything up and spend ten minutes showing you the dashboard before we go.

How quickly can you get to me?

Most single properties are surveyed, fitted and live within a couple of weeks of the first call. Portfolios are scheduled in blocks so properties come back into service the same day. Start a quote and we will confirm dates on the call.

How does it connect to my bookings?

Two ways, and we set up whichever suits you. Calendar sync works with Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and effectively everything else: you paste in a calendar link once and we read new reservations from it. If you run a management system such as Hostaway, Guesty or Hospitable, we connect to it directly for richer guest detail.

The hardware

What gets fitted to my door?

A compact unit on the inside of the door that turns the lock you already have, plus a small hub elsewhere in the property to connect it. The outside of your door is untouched.

Will it fit my door?

The great majority of UK doors, including uPVC, composite, wooden, euro cylinder, multipoint and nightlatch setups. Sending a photo of the inside of your door with your quote is the quickest way to confirm it, and we check compatibility at survey before anything is booked in.

Do my existing keys still work?

Yes, always. Nothing is replaced or drilled, and every installation keeps a mechanical key override. That is a fixed rule for us.

Who looks after the batteries?

We do, on the managed plan. Power is monitored remotely and we attend to it well ahead of time, with the batteries and the visit included. On the self-install plan the alerts come to you.

Do I own the hardware?

Yes. Once the installation or the kit is paid for, the equipment is yours to keep.

I rent, or my flat is leasehold. Does that work?

Usually, and this is where our approach helps. The unit fits on the inside of the door over the existing lock, so nothing is drilled, nothing is replaced and the outside of the door is unchanged. That leaves far less to agree with a landlord or freeholder, and we check it with you before install day.

Guests and your team

Do my guests need to download anything?

No. They receive a link and a code, open the link in whatever browser is already on their phone, and let themselves in. There is no app, no account and nothing to set up.

How do guests receive their code?

We send it for you, ahead of arrival, along with your own instructions for finding the property. It is generated from the booking, so nobody has to remember to do it.

What about my cleaner?

Your cleaner gets their own permanent credentials, restricted to the hours they work if you want that. The same applies to contractors, and access can be issued or withdrawn from your phone in seconds.

Can I let someone in remotely?

Yes, from anywhere. So can our support team, which is how most unexpected arrivals get resolved without anybody driving over.

Is every entry recorded?

Yes. Each entry is timestamped against the booking and kept in your dashboard, which settles most questions about a stay in seconds.

Commercial and data

Is there a minimum contract?

The monthly plan is rolling and you can cancel with 30 days' notice. We would rather keep you because the service earns its place.

Is support charged separately?

No. Support and callout assistance are part of the monthly price, and we would much rather you called us early.

What does it cost?

There is an installation fee per property and then a monthly plan per property. The exact number depends on your doors, how many there are and where they are, so we confirm it after the survey. You can see the structure on the pricing page and get a real quote in about three minutes.

What if I sell the property?

Tell us and we will move the plan to another property or close it. The equipment stays with the door, or we can collect it if you would prefer.

What do you do with guest data?