> The company says the cancellation was approved under its standard policy permitting properties to void bookings in "rare cases where a property identifies a clear rate error." Following Go Public's questions, Booking.com told Mann it would honour her original booking and cover the price difference — allowing her to keep the same four bedroom unit at no additional cost.

Sounds like booking.com made a mistake in applying the wrong policy, and is trying to cover up for it instead of admitting their liability.

Let's take a look at incentives. Booking.com has an incentive to cancel. The hotel itself has an incentive to cancel. The laws in place don't prevent this, especially when some contractual fine print is involved.

Will this public case result in flood of people away from booking.com? Probably not.

This is just a simple abuse of power, most easily identified by the question: "What are you going to do about it?"

It seems the play is to tell the world. Congrats to this lady for getting her money/booking back.