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Many Air Arabia passengers and travel agencies waited a long time for refunds or received travel credits instead. During that time, ticket prices increased, the AED exchange rate changed, and the available balance was often no longer enough to book the same flights. In some cases, payments for seats and other ancillary services were also lost.

Travel agencies were especially affected, with many refunding clients from their own funds while waiting for reimbursement.

Major disruptions are challenging for everyone, but transparent and timely solutions make all the difference.

Has Booking.com changed?

Lately, I’ve been asking myself this question more and more.

Working with accommodation providers every day, I’ve noticed a growing number of challenges:

Longer response times from customer support.
Account restrictions or suspensions with limited explanation.
Technical issues that can take days or even weeks to resolve.
More complex processes for property partners.
A feeling that partner feedback isn’t always being heard.

For many years, Booking.com was the go-to platform for hotels, guesthouses, and vacation rentals. Today, however, many property owners are looking for additional distribution channels instead of relying on a single OTA.

I’m curious to hear from others in the hospitality industry.

Have you noticed the same trend?
What has been your biggest challenge with Booking.com recently?
Has your experience improved or worsened over the past few years?
Which alternative booking channels are working well for your business?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments.