AI bookings bypass OTA commissions — but the built-in safety net goes with them
sujingshen · x · 2026-10-05
The author points out that part of OTA platform commissions is essentially an insurance premium: covering scenarios like arriving to find no room, last-minute cancellations, and dispute resolution.
As AI agents help users bypass platforms and book directly via text messages, that safety net disappears and travelers bear the risk themselves. A subtle counterpoint to the "AI cuts out the middleman" narrative: the commission you save also buys protection you'd now have to live without.
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