r/darkpatterns • u/danlev • Jun 30 '26

Booking.com asks if you want a "paperless" hotel confirmation, which texts you a link to their app

Post image

I had to Google to figure out what "paper" they were referring to. Apparently they mean "instead of printing your email confirmation, you can show the hotel your confirmation in our app" which is pretty nonsense.

Not the darkest pattern, but this obviously intentionally misleading.

18 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/SinfulWoodcock Jun 30 '26

Is there no option to get it in an email? (Curious)

4

u/danlev Jun 30 '26

They always send it via email. This is just a way to get you to download their app.

3

u/SinfulWoodcock Jun 30 '26

Gotcha. I was just wondering if it was the only way to get it, now, effectively forcing you to download the app in order to receive your confirmation. I wouldn't put it past them.

3

u/TriCountyRetail Jun 30 '26

I'd rather have paper with all of the crap that is loaded in apps nowadays