In the Netherlands, two consumer groups are suing Booking.com for keeping hotel prices artificially high through unfair pricing tactics. But here’s the catch: if these practices distorted the wider market – which experts believe they did – then consumers across multiple platforms, including here the UK, may have overpaid for hotel stays too.
So even if you booked via a different travel site or went direct to the hotel, you could still have a Booking.com claim.
How could this affect other platforms?
Booking.com is one of the biggest names in global travel, and for years, it’s been accused of using “price parity clauses” to stop hotels from offering cheaper rates elsewhere.
That means:
- Hotels couldn’t offer better prices on their own websites
- Competing platforms had to match Booking.com’s prices or lose listings
- Travellers had fewer ways to find genuine deals
In effect, Booking.com’s tactics helped to set the market rate, and other platforms were likely forced to play along, just to stay competitive. So lawyers argue – even if you’ve always used Expedia, Hotels.com, or another travel website – there’s a chance you still paid inflated prices influenced by Booking.com’s actions.
What if I booked directly with the hotel?
Good question. In many cases, even the hotels themselves weren’t allowed to undercut Booking.com – not even on their own websites. This means you might have gone out of your way to book direct, thinking it would save money, only to find the price was artificially inflated anyway.
In short: no matter how or where you booked, if these pricing restrictions affected the hotel, you could have lost out.
So what’s happening now?
The legal claim in the Netherlands is gathering pace. Over 130,000 consumers have already signed up, and if the court rules in their favour, Booking.com may be forced to pay compensation.
Here in the UK, legal experts are watching closely. If the Dutch claim is successful, it could trigger similar group actions closer to home. That’s why we’re encouraging UK consumers to register their interest now, even if they’ve never used Booking.com directly.
Could I be eligible for compensation?
If you booked a hotel room online at any point since 2013, you could be eligible, even if you:
- Didn’t use Booking.com
- Booked through another travel website
- Went directly to the hotel
- Only stayed once or twice
Join the Claim is keeping a close eye on whether a UK Booking.com claim is launched. If it is, we’ll work with leading law firms to help people like you seek the compensation you deserve.
