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Comment by random42 | Hacker News Reader

> Airbnb has the benefit of a much better UI and UX compared to several over hotel aggregators like booking.com

While AirBnB might be pleasing on the eyes, Booking's UI is optimised for conversion. The benefit of "better UI and UX" is arguable here if it does not result in more $ for the business. Specially if they want to compete in the public market.

Disclaimer - Ex-Booking.com employee

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I genuinely like Booking.com's interface. I've learned to read the dark patterns so I don't get forced into a bad deal. But once you go past that, they offer all the information you actually need to make a decision

The fact that you feel the need to mention that "I've learned to read the dark patterns" speaks volumes about booking.com. And not in a positive sense.

I believe their point was that the "UX is good (conditions applied").

Also, If you have not tried, I'd recommend giving the (android) app a go, bias aside, its one of the smoothest look-to-book experience I've had.

It gets the job done. But maybe that's not the UX itself but Booking.com's usual "no payment, free cancellation" deals. I often just find a hotel that looks okay and book it straight away. I check out the reviews later and cancel if something doesn't look right.

I don’t discredit Booking’s priority on conversion, but Airbnb is also known for prolific A/B experimentation, atleast in the first booking funnel

My point about how do we define "benefit of UI and UX"? If the criteria is conversion/revenue/profit - as arguably it should be for a publicly trading business - Booking and Expedia are no slouches.

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