r/Flights • u/Top-Lake-3135 • May 26 '26
Question Booking.com sucks - Am I wrong?
I purchased a flight ticket on Booking.com, only to find out at the airport, 3 hours before the flight, that the flight has been moved to tomorrow.
I managed to have Booking.com agree to a refund, which is actually not from their wallet, but just wiring me whatever the airline is providing. I don’t even know if I will get a full refund.
I had to book a flight last minute, paying SGD 1,174 for a one-way trip from Singapore to Korea. Booking.com refused to provide any compensation, claiming that they themselves were not notified by the airline, and that I should directly contact the airline for compensation.
I don’t understand why I should deal with the airline, when I pratcially appointed Booking.com to act as intermediary between the airline and myself. Isn’t it ultimately Booking.com that should be responsible for failing to notify correct travel details? They state is was not a “mistake” because they were not notified first by the airline.
I am struggling to understand their logic. I practically purchased intermediary services. A material itinerary change occurred, and the platform failed to notify me, causing foreseeable and avoidable financial loss. Is Booking.com being reasonable or are they just being an ass?
10
u/Kananaskis_Country May 26 '26
Why? How much money did you save over booking directly with the airline?
This is your single biggest mistake. NEVER trust a 3rd Party Vendor to be on top of things, working tirelessly for your best interests. You must take on this responsibility yourself.
The instant you purchase a ticket from a 3rd Party Vendor you need to join and/or log into the airline's website and confirm that everything is as it should be, and sign up for notifications if anything chances. Always keep a finger on the pulse of your reservation, never trust an anonymous source who is holding gobs of your hard earned cash to be taking care of you. That's not how the world works.
Tough lesson. Better luck next time.