Travel Websites Claims Through Small Claims Court

You book your dream trip through a travel website—flights, hotel, maybe even a rental car—all with a few clicks. It seems convenient... until something goes wrong.

Maybe your reservation was never confirmed, your room was double-booked, or your refund never came through. You reach out to customer service and get endless delays or automated replies. At some point, you start wondering: Can I sue this travel website?

Yes, under the right circumstances, you can. But it’s not always easy—and this article will help you understand when legal action makes sense, how to get started, and what to expect.

If you have more questions about suing a travel website, visit Squabble to access simple tools, clear guidance, and the support you need to confidently take the next step.

Consider Suing a Travel Website

Travel websites (like Expedia, Booking.com, Priceline, Hopper, Travelocity, or even Google Flights and Trip.com) act as intermediaries between you and airlines, hotels, or other service providers. That means the lines of responsibility can get blurry. Here are the most common problems travelers face that may justify legal action:

Failed Reservations or Cancellations Without Notice*
- You booked a hotel or flight, received a confirmation, and showed up—only to be told there’s no record of your booking. Or worse, the travel site canceled your reservation without notifying you. If this causes you financial loss or ruins your trip, you may have grounds to sue for breach of contract or negligence.
Refusal to Issue Refunds
- If the airline cancels your flight or the hotel is closed and you’re legally entitled to a refund—but the travel website refuses to process it—you may have a valid claim. This is especially common when dealing with non-refundable bookings during unexpected events, such as a global pandemic, natural disaster, or airline strike.
Misleading Listings or False Advertising
- Did the site promise a beachfront hotel that turned out to be two miles inland? Or show photos of luxury rooms that didn’t exist? Misrepresentation can be considered false advertising or consumer fraud, especially if it caused you to spend money you otherwise wouldn’t have.
Charging the Wrong Amount
- Double charges, hidden fees, or inflated taxes after you’ve already paid—these types of billing errors are frustrating, and when the company doesn’t fix them, you may have a legal claim for unjust enrichment or unauthorized charges.
Failure to Deliver a Promised Service Package
- If you paid for a bundled deal (flight + hotel + rental car) and one or more parts were not delivered or honored, the travel website may be held responsible for breach of agreement—especially if they made the sale as a single package.

Who Can You Hold Responsible?

Many travel websites act as “agents” or “marketplaces,” meaning they may try to claim they’re not responsible for problems caused by the airline or hotel. They’ll often say they’re just a middleman.

But courts have shown that when a travel website accepts payment, confirms your reservation, and handles customer service, they may share responsibility for the outcome—especially if they failed to disclose risks or resolve known issues.

If the travel site collected your money and issued your confirmation, they could be the proper party to sue.

What to Do Before You File a Lawsuit

Suing should be your last resort—after you've tried to resolve the issue directly. Here’s what you should do first:

Step 1: Document Everything

Save all emails, screenshots, receipts, chat transcripts, and confirmation numbers. Keep a timeline of events and who you spoke with. This will be critical if you go to court.

Step 2: Contact Customer Support (in Writing)

Reach out through the company’s formal complaint or support system. If they call you, follow up with an email summary of the conversation. Be polite, clear, and specific about what you want.

Step 3: Send a Demand Letter

This is a formal letter explaining your issue, the outcome you expect (such as a refund or compensation), and that you intend to take legal action if the issue isn’t resolved. It shows you’re serious, and in many cases, it leads to a resolution without going to court.

Can You Sue a Travel Website in Small Claims Court?

Yes, and small claims court is often the most practical route for travelers.

Most U.S. states allow you to file a small claims case for amounts up to $5,000–$10,000 (depending on the state). It’s affordable, fast, and you don’t need a lawyer. Travel websites typically respond seriously once a court date is involved. You might sue in small claims court for:

A refund for canceled services that was never issued
Compensation for a botched booking or reservation error
Charges for services that were never delivered
False advertising or misleading photos

What You Need to File a Strong Case

Your receipts and confirmations
Screenshots of advertisements, listings, or emails
Documentation of your attempts to resolve the issue
A copy of your demand letter (if you sent one)
A clear explanation of your losses (monetary or otherwise)

You’ll also need to know where the company is based. Many large travel sites list their legal address in their terms of service. That’s where you’ll file your claim—or you may be allowed to file in your own state if the transaction occurred there.

Real Case Example

A traveler booked a flight-hotel combo on a well-known travel site, only to arrive and find no hotel reservation—and the hotel was fully booked. The site blamed the hotel, but the court found the travel website responsible because it had collected the money and issued the confirmation. The traveler won over $2,000 in small claims court, including reimbursement for a replacement hotel.

Challenges You Might Face

Terms & Conditions: Most travel sites have lengthy agreements with arbitration clauses and disclaimers. Courts may or may not enforce these, depending on your claim and jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction: You may need to file where the company is headquartered, but some states allow you to sue in your local small claims court if the service was purchased there.
Third-party confusion: If the travel website sold you a third-party service (like a hotel room), proving their responsibility takes more effort.

Is It Worth Suing a Travel Website?

If the dollar amount is significant, and the company is ignoring your request for help, yes—it can absolutely be worth it. Filing a small claims case costs less than $100 in most states, and the potential payout can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Even just the act of filing often gets companies to take your complaint more seriously. They know a court judgment can hurt their reputation.

Need Help Getting Started?

Legal paperwork and deadlines can be intimidating—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Tools like Squabble can help you:

Check the statute of limitations in your state
Draft a professional demand letter
Organize documents and prepare your case
File in small claims court with step-by-step guidance

Thousands of people have used Squabble to win or settle claims against large companies—including travel websites—and 95% report getting results.

Still have questions about suing a travel website? Visit Squabble today to get started.