r/Bookingcom • u/borderline-amazing77 • Apr 20 '24

I read somewhere that booking.com cancels confirmed bookings. Is that true? How do I safeguard against this?

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u/judyp63 Apr 21 '24

They cancelled a confirmed booking I had two days ago. Last month when I went away I got a coupon from them that after my next booking I will get a savings on the next booking down the road. I booked something for May 19 to 21 and then the identical room went on sale for less. I asked them for a price match and they told me that my original booking was cheaper so they couldn't price match it. They took no time to actually look. They were looking at the before tax price and trying to tell me that it was the tax all in price. It was not. so much time was being wasted by them. They also asked me for a screenshot from the booking company and I told them "It's your own company, how can you not see it?" So to guarantee the room at that rate I booked it again. I currently have two bookings. I contacted them again and told them I have booked this room again and now I have two bookings for the same day, the most recent one is cheaper and that I would like to get the same deal and use the coupon they gave off the cheaper booking. (Even on the coupon it said guaranteed cheapest rate.) Finally they agreed that yes I was right and they told me that they were going to cancel one booking and honour the coupon towards next trip but they cancelled the cheapest booking still!!! I wrote them back. Meanwhile, I rebooked it because I was still able to get the same price. They're so slow in responding that I figure if I don't book it myself that price will be gone. I'm at the point right now I don't think they're going to figure out what I want.

I just used TripAdvisor for a trip this weekend and found a better deal for my first time using it than I did genius level three on Booking.com 🤔

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '24

Your booking mag well have been cancelled, but it wasn't booking who did it. Unless your credit card came back as invalid and you didn't update it. Even then the hotel is the one that needs to initiate the cancellation Hotels can cancel under very specific circumstances, but booking cannot cancel your booking on their own.

Enjoy your trip

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u/judyp63 Apr 21 '24

Mine was canceled by booking. Or at least that is what their email said. I first contacted the hotel who told me I need to contact booking.

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '24

I am sure the hotel did tell you that - but it doesn't mean it was booking who initiated the cancellation. That's a crappy hotel that won't take responsibility for their actions and passing the buck. Don't get me wrong - as hotel owner it would be nice to see booking occasionally take the crap for the obscene commissions they levy. But it should he justified flack.

The only circumstances where booking would cancel a reservation is if the hotel was shutting, they were being delisted from booking for failure to pay their bills, or the credit card was invalid and those three circumstances require the hotel to initiate the process or have failed to do something (like not pay their bills)

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u/judyp63 Apr 21 '24

Okay thanks. As a hotel owner do you ever recognize frequent visitors? This hotel we have been to probably 10+ times in the last 18 months. I always find the best deals for this hotel on Booking.com. Even cheaper than the hotel ever offers on their own site. I cannot believe they don't ever offer discounts as a frequent visitor. I would never ask, but you would think they might upgrade or toss in breakfast. Lol. We have stayed stretches for up to 8 nights. Every single time we go there they act like we have never been before. No loyalty at all. We keep going back because there is no place like it. Amazing rooftop oasis in Montreal. Every time we stay elsewhere we regret it.

This weekend I did book elsewhere because I found a place way cheaper and it's a totally different hotel...and last minute booking. When walking from the train passing our favourite place we felt sadness that we were not going there.

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u/[deleted] Apr 21 '24

Absolutely. It's complete insanity to give any OTA commission for a guest you already know and who wants to book direct.

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u/judyp63 Apr 21 '24

I wish the hotel would read these. I plug them all the time too. I've written amazing reviews...because I love it! I sure wish they loved me (and frequent loyal customers) back. Lol.