Recordset .value property
Solution 1:
Value is the default property of the Field object, so in VB6 there is no difference between rs("bookingdate") and rs("bookingdate").value when used without Set.
I personally prefer not using default properties that don't take parameters. It makes the code less confusing IMO.
In VB.NET the default property must have a parameter, so this situation does not occur.
Note Recordset has such default property with parameter, and you are using it to return the Field object: rs("bookingdate") is actually rs.Item("bookingdate"). Using those, IMO, makes no harm.