Millions of UK travellers could be included in a proposed £2 billion competition claim against Booking.com, which alleges the travel giant’s pricing practices caused consumers to pay more for hotel accommodation than they otherwise would have done.
The claim is being prepared by consumer law specialist Chris Warner, a former legal director at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and is expected to be filed in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in the coming weeks.
If certified by the Tribunal, the case could become one of the largest consumer competition claims ever brought against an online travel platform in the UK.
What is the claim about?
The proposed claim centres on Booking.com’s use of so-called “price parity” clauses.
These are contractual terms that allegedly prevented hotels, guest houses and other accommodation providers from offering lower prices through their own websites or other sales channels than those available on Booking.com.
The claim argues that these restrictions reduced competition between booking platforms and accommodation providers, making it harder for consumers to access lower-priced rooms. As a result, it is alleged that millions of consumers paid more for hotel and travel accommodation than they should have.
What is an opt-out claim?
Opt-out collective actions allow a representative claimant to bring a case on behalf of a large group of people who may have been affected by the same alleged conduct.
If the Tribunal certifies the claim, eligible UK consumers would usually be included automatically unless they choose to opt out. This is different from traditional group claims, where individuals generally need to actively sign up to participate.
Who could be affected?
While the exact class definition has not yet been published, the proposed claim is expected to focus on UK consumers who booked hotel or other accommodation through Booking.com during the period when the alleged pricing restrictions were in place.
The Tribunal will ultimately decide who is included if the claim proceeds.
What happens next?
The claim is expected to be filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal shortly. Before the case can proceed, the Tribunal must decide whether it should be certified as a collective action.
If certification is granted, further details will become available about:
- Who is included in the claim
- The relevant booking period
- How any compensation process would work
- Whether consumers need to take any action.
Join the Claim is monitoring developments closely.
If a UK consumer claim moves forward, we will provide updates on the eligibility criteria and any important deadlines.
Join the Claim connects consumers with SRA-regulated lawyers. Visit the claim page to check your eligibility if a claim is open with one of our trusted legal partners. If a group action has not yet been launched, you can register your interest and we’ll keep you informed if a partner firm decides to take a claim forward.
