whats third party travel

Mistakes People Make When Booking Travel Through Third-Party Websites

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

Expedia. Skyscanner. Booking.com. Trip.com. Priceline. These days there are countless third-party platforms for booking flights, hotels, rental cars and other aspects of the travel experience.

While these websites can make the planning process feel more seamless and convenient, there are some potential drawbacks that are important to understand before you make any reservations.

Below, travel experts share the common mistakes people make when booking trips through a third-party service ― and their advice for avoiding these errors during your travels.

Assuming They Have The Lowest Prices

Travel booking websites can be great for comparing prices across different providers and potentially finding exclusive deals. But you’re often going to see the same costs across platforms ― including the travel vendor’s direct website.

“You should not assume online travel agencies have the lowest prices,” said Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer . “While coupons and other promotions can make it appear that you are saving a lot of money, you should always check directly with the airline or hotel.”

When booking a flight, you should check the prices on the airline websites, as well as results on search engines like Google Flights. As you look for accommodations, compare rates on hotel websites and third-party booking systems.

“In many cases, hotels will guarantee the cheapest rate when booking directly with them. In certain situations, third-party booking sites will hide resort fees until the very last moment or put them in an easy-to-miss spot.”

Losing 24-Hour Cancellation Options

“You should not book airfare with an online travel agency if there is a chance you may take advantage of the federal 24-hour cancellation rule,” Dengler said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has mandated that air carriers allow customers who purchased tickets at least seven days before a flight’s scheduled departure to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without penalty within 24 hours of booking.

“Unfortunately, the flight must be booked directly with the airline,” Dengler noted. “That means third-party booking sites do not have to honor the rule, which means you could be out of luck if you are looking to cancel within 24 hours. If there is any chance you may need to cancel your flight, check with the third-party booking site before you book to see if they honor the 24-hour cancellation rule.”

Not Reading The Fine Print

“Always read the fine print so that you know their return or refund policy,” said Ciara Johnson, a travel blogger at Hey Ciara . “For added protection, book with a travel credit card that has insurance in case something goes wrong. If you’re not booking for a deal, it’s always best to book direct on the company website. It’s likely cheaper to book direct anyhow!”

Ravi Roth , a queer travel expert and host of “ The Gaycation Travel Show ,” echoed this advice. He emphasized being aware of any extra fees or troublesome policies regarding cancellations, itinerary changes and refunds, so you should make sure to read and save your confirmation email with the details.

“I recommend using trusted sites like Orbitz for hotels and Airbnb to book experiences. As for flights, I would try Skyscanner, but while booking, make sure to stick to the major airlines,” Roth noted. “Sometimes folks can find a super cheap flight, but in the fine print, there is a charge for overhead and checked luggage. I cannot stress enough to read the fine print.”

Missing Out On Loyalty Points

If hotel or airline loyalty points and status are important to you, using a third-party booking site might not be the best move.

“Many online travel agencies let you insert your frequent flyer number or hotel rewards number, but that does not mean you will earn status credit and points,” Dengler explained. “Some airlines and hotels will allow you to earn status when booking with online travel agencies, but you should make sure first.”

Trying To Modify Bookings Through The Travel Provider

“Third-party booking sites like Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity are also known as online travel agencies, and they are essentially middlemen between you and the airline or hotel,” Dengler explained. “In other words, your reservation is with them and not the airline or hotel. That means you contact them for customer service instead of the airline or hotel.”

So if access to direct customer service with the travel provider is a big deal to you, avoid these third-party platforms when making your reservations and use them as search engines for comparisons instead.

“While the larger online travel agencies have better customer service than the smaller ones, it is still better to talk to the source directly,” Dengler said. “That is important for both reservation modifications and cancellations. If there is a possibility that there will be severe weather during your trip, I recommend booking directly since there is a real chance you will have to modify or cancel your itinerary.”

Because canceling or making an itinerary change can be a bigger hassle through third-party platforms, make sure to pay close attention when you’re making your reservation.

“Travelers should just ensure to double-check all of their information, such as travel dates, name and contact information when booking via third-parties,” said Casey Brogan, a consumer travel expert at Tripadvisor.

Choosing A Travel Provider That Doesn’t Allow Third-Party Sales

“Be aware that several budget carriers, most notably Ryanair in Europe , technically don’t allow third-party sales of their tickets,” said Marek Bron, a travel blogger at Indie Traveller . “If you book their flights through a third-party anyway, then this is done through a work-around way that’s not supported by Ryanair.”

As a result, making cancellations or changes through the third-party site might be more expensive or challenging than it would have been if you booked directly through the airline. Ensure you can actually get an official confirmation with your chosen air carrier or other travel provider when you book through an external system.

Not Reading The Reviews

Not all third-party booking sites and travel agents are created equal. As such, it’s important to read the reviews of these services before making your reservations through them.

“Check reviews of these third-party sites, such as on TrustPilot, before booking as some of them are to be avoided,” Bron said. He advised paying extra close attention to mentions of customer service, as you might need this to handle changes or cancellations down the road.

“If working with a travel agent, ensure they have the right qualifications and double-check your reservations with the airlines and hotels,” echoed Jessica van Dop DeJesus , a travel media specialist and blogger at The Dining Traveler. “Also, look into travel insurance and check with your credit card to see if they provide any travel insurance services.”

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9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly

Editor's Note

When it comes to travel, you have a lot of options.

You can book directly through the website of an airline, hotel, rental car company or other travel provider. You can also use online travel agencies like Expedia or Skyscanner. And many banks offer their own portals, such as Capital One Travel and Chase Travel .

While there are some horror stories from cancellations associated with portals, booking with one linked to a credit card in your wallet can be an attractive option.

Consider asking yourself these nine questions to determine the best approach for planning your next trip. They will help you decide whether to book directly, use an online travel agency or utilize a credit card portal for your next vacation.

Will you forfeit status perks and status earnings?

When booking a hotel room through online travel agencies like Hotels.com or Expedia , you may not receive your stay credit from the hotel brand (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy ). Any nights that would typically contribute toward your status won't be counted.

Moreover, as a member with elite status, you often won't receive the usual perks during your stay — like free breakfast or room upgrades. This applies to all major hotel loyalty programs . Many hotels offer a best-price guarantee , allowing you to request a match to a better price you find elsewhere, even if it's on an online travel agency. With this guarantee, you can enjoy loyalty benefits without spending more than necessary.

The decision becomes less straightforward if you want to leverage perks that require booking through a credit card travel portal — which can include bonus rewards or statement credits. You must prioritize what matters most: receiving elite perks and night credits or earning more credit card points and benefiting from automatic discounts for your stay.

However, it's worth noting that flights booked through third-party sites generally qualify as ordinary revenue tickets and are thus eligible to earn points or miles in the given airline's loyalty program. However, be sure to read the terms carefully to avoid booking restrictive basic economy fares .

Related: Why you don't earn hotel points when booking through an online travel agency

Do you have travel credits you can use from your credit card?

Several credit cards offer travel credits on your statements when you book through their travel portals.

For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) offers $300 in annual credits when you reserve flights, hotels and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal .

Similarly, anyone with The Platinum Card® from American Express can enjoy various benefits of the Amex Platinum , including an annual hotel credit worth up to $200 for prepaid reservations at Fine Hotels + Resorts properties or The Hotel Collection (the latter of which requires a two-night minimum). The perk is issued as a statement credit to your account. Like the Capital One credit, the only way to receive the Amex credit is to book an eligible stay through the American Express Travel portal .

Those with a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also receive a comparable credit for hotel reservations, though it's significantly lower at $50 per year. Simply book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to have the annual credit appear on your account.

If you have a travel credit you have yet to use, take advantage of it before it expires. But carefully consider its rules to ensure your booking qualifies for reimbursement.

Related: The top 11 credit cards with annual travel statement credits

What will cost you the fewest points?

If you have accumulated enough points in credit card portals like American Express Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou points , you should carefully consider which redemption option will require the fewest points for your upcoming trip.

Sometimes, transferring your points to a partner program and booking through their website may be the most cost-effective option.

On the other hand, it may be cheaper in some situations to keep your points in your credit card account and use them through the card's travel portal. This is especially true for hotels, as transferring points to a partner hotel loyalty program may provide less value than redeeming them directly through your credit card issuer.

This can also make sense for boutique properties that don't participate in a loyalty program.

Always compare both redemption options before transferring your points to ensure that you get the best value .

Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable points

What will get you the most points on your credit card?

Regarding travel expenses, you should consider which credit card offers the best rewards for each purchase .

For instance, the Capital One Venture X (see rates and fees ) card provides 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Additionally, you earn 5 miles per dollar spent on flights booked this way. Comparing these rates to the 2 miles per dollar earned on purchases made outside the Capital One Travel portal, it's clear which option is more advantageous.

Chase follows a similar pattern. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve and book through the Ultimate Rewards portal, you will earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars and 5 points on flights. These rates are significantly better than the 3 points per dollar earned on travel booked through other methods.

The Amex Platinum card presents a more drastic example. It offers 5 points per dollar for prepaid hotels booked through the Amex Travel portal. You also receive 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 in flights per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent). However, for hotel reservations booked directly with a hotel, you only earn 1 point per dollar spent. While you can choose either option for airfare, booking hotel stays through Amex Travel is best to maximize your earnings — though again, you'll likely give up the opportunity to earn hotel points by doing so.

Related: What are points and miles worth?

Do you have to choose between rental car loyalty perks and a better price?

Online travel agencies and portals are popular because they offer convenience. You can visit a single website and compare results from various rental car companies.

However, there is a trade-off to consider.

When you see a lower price on an online travel agency or credit card portal than a rental car website, you usually won't receive any elite benefits associated with a rental car loyalty program . This is because most online travel agencies and credit card portals do not provide an option to add your rental car loyalty number to the reservation (though there are exceptions ). Even if they do, the rental agency often doesn't honor the associated benefits, such as skipping the line during car pickup.

In such situations, you must decide whether booking the lower price or receiving perks is more important. Ultimately, the decision may come down to the price difference.

Related: Get automatic rental car elite status through your credit card

Will the hotel give preference to guests who booked directly?

In short: Possibly. You may not receive the same perks when booking a hotel through a third-party website instead of directly with the hotel.

For example, a TPG staffer faced this issue while staying at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort in Orlando. He booked through the Capital One Travel portal to earn miles with his Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ). However, this meant he couldn't use the mobile check-in feature and had to wait in a long line at check-in. Additionally, he was assigned a less desirable room near noisy areas like the service elevators and housekeeping storage.

If you're not a light sleeper or prefer in-person check-in, these drawbacks may not be significant concerns. Nevertheless, it's worth considering these factors when deciding how to make your hotel booking.

Related: The best ways to book hotels through online travel agencies and bank portals

Can you get free perks from hotels booked via a portal?

Why not add free perks to the deal if you're paying cash for a hotel?

With American Express, you can enjoy extras by booking through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection . However, you will not get these benefits if you book directly with the hotel.

Capital One and Chase offer similar programs through the Capital One Premier Collection , Capital One Lifestyle Collection and Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection . When you book with these programs, you can expect to receive perks that could include free breakfast, a welcome gift or space-available room upgrades.

Related: 6 surprising ways to use your on-property credits at hotels

Will you get free nights added to a hotel booking?

Adding free nights to your hotel reservation could be a huge differentiator.

For example, the Citi Prestige® Card offers a fourth-night-free benefit . But there are some restrictions and nuances to using this benefit. There's a limit of two uses per year and you must book through Citi ThankYou Rewards to receive it.

The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Likewise, you can get a fourth or fifth night free when redeeming select types of hotel points for award stays — which could lead you to book directly with a hotel program.

Related: Can I mix hotel points and free night certificates to get a 4th or 5th night free?

What if something goes wrong with your flights?

Unlike rental car and hotel reservations made through portals and online travel agencies, flights booked outside airline websites will still earn you miles and frequent flyer status credits.

This is good news, but it gets even better when you realize you can stack rewards by booking flights through online travel agencies . This means you can earn points on your credit card, miles from flying, shopping portal bonuses and rewards from the loyalty programs of online travel agencies .

However, there is a potential issue to consider if unexpected problems arise before or during your trip.

When you book directly with an airline and your flight gets canceled, you can deal with the carrier directly. They will reimburse or rebook you based on their change or cancellation policy . However, this may not be the case for portals and online travel agency bookings.

If the airline cancels your flight due to bad weather, they may instruct you to purchase new tickets for a later flight through your credit card portal or the online travel agency you booked with. If you have a schedule change or want to adjust your reservation, you often need to go back to the third-party site for support instead of contacting the airline directly. This can be a significant drawback when booking flights through a third-party option, particularly if your trip carries a high risk of weather-related issues or you think there's a possibility that you'll need to change (or cancel) your trip.

Related: Flight canceled or delayed? Here's what to do

Bottom line

Having various options for booking trips is great. You can compare prices and use your points and miles effectively. You might even get extra perks that other websites don't offer.

However, having too many options can be overwhelming and confusing.

To simplify the process, consider these nine questions before making your booking. By considering factors such as your travel credits and how the booking will impact your elite status strategy, you can avoid surprises during your trip and make the most out of the rewards you earn.

Additional reporting by Kyle Olsen.

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• Travel Tips

Third-Party Sites Vs. Booking Directly

Published: September 8, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Heath Sousa

• Hotel Reviews
• Hotels & Accommodation
• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

When planning a trip, one of the key decisions you’ll have to make is how to book your accommodations, flights, and other travel arrangements. In today’s digital age, there are two primary options: using third-party travel booking sites or booking directly with the hotels, airlines, or other service providers.

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important to weigh them carefully to make an informed decision. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of using third-party sites versus booking directly, with a focus on travel tips to help you navigate through the process.

Third-party travel booking sites, such as Expedia, Booking.com, and Kayak, offer an array of options and convenience. They allow you to compare prices, read reviews, and book everything from flights and hotels to car rentals and activities, all in one place. On the other hand, booking directly with the service providers, such as hotels and airlines, gives you more control, personalization, and sometimes even better deals.

In the following sections, we will delve into the pros and cons of each option, comparing factors such as prices, transparency, loyalty programs, ease of use, customer support, and security. By understanding these factors, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to choose the best option that suits your needs and preferences.

Pros and Cons of Third-Party Sites

Using third-party travel booking sites can be a convenient and time-saving option, but it’s essential to be aware of the pros and cons before making a decision.

• Variety and Convenience: Third-party sites offer a wide range of travel options, allowing you to compare prices, amenities, and reviews. You can easily book flights, accommodations, rental cars, and more, all in one place.
• Discounted Packages and Deals: These sites often have exclusive deals and discounted packages, providing an opportunity to save money on your travel expenses.
• User-Friendly Interface: Third-party sites are user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces that make it easy to browse and navigate through various options. You can filter results based on your preferences, such as price range, location, and amenities.
• Customer Reviews: One of the key advantages of third-party sites is the access to customer reviews and ratings. These reviews give you insights into the experiences of other travelers, helping you make informed decisions.
• Hidden Fees and Additional Costs: Third-party sites may sometimes have hidden fees and additional charges that are not immediately visible. These can include booking fees, resort fees, and additional charges for services that may be included when booking directly.
• Lack of Transparency: While third-party sites provide information on prices and amenities, they may not always offer complete transparency, especially when it comes to the terms and conditions or cancellation policies. It’s crucial to read the fine print carefully to avoid any surprises.
• Limited Personalization: With third-party sites, you have less control over customizing your travel arrangements. Certain requests, such as room preferences or special accommodations, may be more challenging to fulfill when booking through a third party.
• Limited Loyalty Benefits: When booking through third-party sites, you may not be eligible for loyalty programs or special benefits offered by hotels, airlines, or other service providers. These can include perks such as room upgrades, priority boarding, or exclusive discounts.

While third-party booking sites offer convenience and a wide range of options, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks. In the next section, we will explore the pros and cons of booking directly with the service providers to help you make a well-informed decision.

Pros and Cons of Booking Directly

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers offers a different set of advantages and considerations compared to using third-party sites. Here are the pros and cons to keep in mind:

• Best Price Guarantee: Many hotels and airlines offer a best price guarantee when booking directly. This means that if you find a lower price for the same accommodations or flights elsewhere, they will match that price or even offer a lower rate.
• Flexible Booking Policies: Booking directly often means more flexibility with cancellation or modification of reservations. Some hotels and airlines may offer more lenient policies, allowing you to make changes or cancel without incurring heavy fees.
• Personalized Service: When you book directly with the service providers, you have the opportunity for more personalized service. You can communicate your specific preferences or requirements directly, increasing the chances of having your needs met.
• Loyalty Programs and Benefits: Booking directly can make you eligible for loyalty programs offered by hotels, airlines, or other service providers. These programs often come with perks like room upgrades, complimentary amenities, and exclusive discounts.
• Limited Options: While third-party sites offer a wide range of choices, booking directly may have more limited options, especially in less popular or remote destinations.
• Time-Consuming: Booking directly with multiple service providers can be time-consuming, as you need to research and make individual bookings for different components of your trip.
• Lack of Price Comparison: Booking directly means you won’t have the opportunity to easily compare prices across different hotels or airlines in one place. This may require more effort on your part to ensure you are getting the best deal.
• Reliance on Customer Support: If any issues arise during or after your booking, you will need to rely on the customer support of the specific service provider. This can vary in quality and responsiveness.

Booking directly with service providers offers more control, personalization, and potential for better deals. However, it’s important to consider the limitations and potential challenges involved. In the following sections, we will dive deeper into the comparison of prices and deals, transparency and control, loyalty programs, ease of use, customer support, and security to help you make an informed decision between third-party sites and booking directly.

Comparison of Prices and Deals

One of the most crucial factors when booking accommodations, flights, or other travel arrangements is the price. Let’s explore how prices and deals compare between third-party sites and booking directly.

Third-Party Sites:

Third-party travel booking sites have built a reputation for offering competitive prices and exclusive deals. They often negotiate discounted rates with hotels and airlines, allowing them to offer lower prices than what you might find when booking directly. Additionally, these sites may bundle accommodations and flights, providing discounted package deals that can save you money.

On these sites, you can easily compare prices across different hotels, airlines, or other service providers. They often have search filters that allow you to set a price range, preferred amenities, and other criteria to find the best deals within your budget.

Booking Directly:

When booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers, you may have access to exclusive deals and promotions that are not available through third-party sites. Some hotels offer direct booking discounts, loyalty member rates, or additional perks for booking directly. They may also have best price guarantees, assuring you that you are getting the lowest available rate.

Booking directly allows you to communicate with the service provider directly and negotiate the best price. If you find a lower rate elsewhere, you can reach out to the hotel or airline to see if they will match or beat that price.

Overall, both third-party sites and booking directly can offer competitive prices and deals. It’s important to compare prices across different platforms and consider any exclusive promotions or discounts before making a decision. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on the destination, time of year, and availability, so it’s always a good idea to do thorough research and compare options to ensure you are getting the best value for your money.

Transparency and Control

When it comes to planning your trip and making reservations, transparency and control play a significant role in ensuring a pleasant experience. Let’s examine how third-party sites and booking directly compare in terms of transparency and control.

Third-party travel booking sites provide a convenient platform for comparing prices and reading customer reviews. You can easily access information about hotel amenities, room types, airline baggage policies, and more. These sites typically offer a user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and find the information you need.

However, it’s important to be cautious about the level of transparency offered by third-party sites. While they provide general information about prices and amenities, there may be additional details that are not readily visible. This can include hidden fees, resort fees, or extra charges for services that may be included when booking directly.

Furthermore, the terms and conditions, cancellation policies, and refund policies may not be as transparent as when booking directly. It’s crucial to read the fine print carefully and understand the terms associated with your booking to avoid any surprises or misunderstandings.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers often provides more transparency and control over your reservations. It allows you to communicate directly with the service provider and address any questions or concerns you may have.

When booking directly, you can have more clarity on the terms and conditions, cancellation policies, and any additional fees that may apply. This gives you a better understanding of the flexibility and options available should you need to make changes to your reservations.

Additionally, booking directly provides an opportunity for personalized communication. You can specify your preferences, such as room type, special requests, or any specific needs, ensuring that your requirements are known and met by the service provider.

However, it’s important to note that not all service providers offer the same level of transparency and control. Some hotel chains or airlines may have stricter policies or less flexibility compared to others. It’s always a good idea to research and read reviews about a specific hotel or airline to get an idea of their reputation in terms of transparency and customer service.

Overall, when it comes to transparency and control, booking directly can provide a clearer understanding of the terms and conditions, while third-party sites offer convenience and a wide range of options. It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons and choose the option that aligns with your preferences and priorities.

Loyalty Programs and Benefits

One enticing aspect of booking accommodations, flights, and other travel arrangements is the potential for loyalty programs and associated benefits. Let’s explore how loyalty programs compare between third-party sites and booking directly.

While third-party travel booking sites offer convenience and a wide range of options, they may not always provide access to loyalty programs offered by hotels, airlines, or other service providers. Some third-party sites have their own loyalty programs, but they may not be directly linked to the service providers’ programs.

This means that if you book through a third-party site, you might miss out on accumulating loyalty points or enjoying the perks and benefits associated with direct bookings. These perks can include room upgrades, priority check-in or boarding, complimentary amenities, and exclusive discounts.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers often allows you to access their loyalty programs and enjoy associated benefits. These loyalty programs are designed to reward repeat customers and offer incentives for booking directly.

With hotel loyalty programs, you can accumulate points for each stay and eventually redeem them for free nights or other rewards. Some programs also offer status tiers, which come with additional benefits such as late check-out, access to executive lounges, or dedicated customer support.

Airlines often have frequent flyer programs that award miles for each flight, which can then be used for upgrades, free flights, or other travel-related rewards. These programs often have alliances with other airlines, allowing you to earn and redeem miles across multiple carriers.

When booking directly, you can ensure that your reservations are linked to your loyalty program, allowing you to accumulate points or miles for your stays or flights. You can also enjoy the associated benefits, such as priority check-in, preferred seating, or access to exclusive lounges.

It’s important to note that not all hotels, airlines, or service providers have the same loyalty programs or benefits. Some may have more extensive programs with greater rewards, while others may have limited offerings. It’s recommended to research and compare the loyalty programs and benefits of different providers to determine which aligns best with your travel preferences and goals.

Overall, booking directly with service providers offers a higher likelihood of accessing loyalty programs and enjoying associated benefits. However, it’s essential to weigh this factor alongside other considerations, such as price, convenience, and the overall quality of the service provided.

Ease of Use and Time Efficiency

When it comes to booking travel arrangements, ease of use and time efficiency are crucial considerations. Let’s compare how third-party sites and booking directly stack up in these aspects.

Third-party travel booking sites excel in terms of convenience and ease of use. These platforms provide a one-stop-shop where you can browse and compare prices for accommodations, flights, car rentals, and more. Their user-friendly interfaces and search filters allow you to quickly narrow down your options based on your preferences, saving you time and effort.

Additionally, many third-party sites offer customer reviews and ratings, giving you valuable insights into the experiences of other travelers. This can help you make informed decisions and choose options that best suit your needs and preferences.

With third-party sites, you can often complete your booking with just a few clicks. The platforms securely store your payment information, eliminating the need to re-enter it for each reservation. This makes the booking process quick and efficient, especially if you are booking multiple components of your trip.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers may require a bit more effort and time compared to using third-party sites. You need to visit individual websites and navigate their booking systems to make your reservations.

However, booking directly offers the advantage of personalized customer service. If you have specific preferences or requirements, such as a particular room type or dietary restrictions, you can communicate directly with the service provider to ensure your needs are met. This direct communication can save you time compared to going through a third-party intermediary.

In terms of time efficiency, booking directly can be advantageous when it comes to modifications or cancellations. Since you are in direct contact with the service provider, it may be easier and faster to make changes to your reservations without having to go through customer support channels.

It’s worth noting that some hotels and airlines have streamlined their direct booking processes to make them more user-friendly and efficient. They strive to provide a seamless experience that rivals the ease of use offered by third-party sites.

Overall, third-party sites excel in terms of convenience and ease of use, while booking directly can offer a more personalized experience. The choice between the two depends on your preferences, the level of customization you desire, and the time you are willing to invest in the booking process.

Customer Support and Assistance

When booking travel arrangements, having reliable customer support and assistance can make a significant difference in your overall experience. Let’s compare the customer support and assistance provided by third-party sites and booking directly with service providers.

Third-party travel booking sites typically offer customer support through various channels, such as phone, email, or live chat. They have dedicated support teams trained to assist you with any questions or issues you may encounter during the booking process or after your reservations are made.

These sites often have customer support available 24/7, ensuring that help is accessible at any time, regardless of your time zone or location. They can assist with inquiries related to reservations, changes, cancellations, or refunds.

Keep in mind that the level of customer support may vary between different third-party sites. Some platforms have established reputations for excellent customer service, while others may have mixed reviews in this area. It’s recommended to do research and read reviews about the customer support of specific third-party sites before making a decision.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers also provides access to customer support. When you have a direct relationship with the service provider, you can reach out to their support team for assistance with any questions or concerns you may have.

Booking directly allows you to communicate your specific requirements, preferences, or special requests directly to the service provider. This direct communication can help ensure that your needs are understood and addressed, leading to a smoother and more personalized experience.

However, it’s essential to note that the quality of customer support can vary among different service providers. Some hotels or airlines may have dedicated customer support teams that provide prompt and efficient assistance, while others may have more limited support resources.

It’s also worth considering that in certain situations, third-party sites may have more leverage and influence with service providers when it comes to resolving issues or addressing concerns. They may have established partnerships or agreements that allow them to advocate on behalf of their customers to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

Overall, both third-party sites and booking directly can offer customer support and assistance. It’s important to research and consider the reputation and reviews of the customer support provided by specific platforms and service providers to ensure that you will receive the assistance you need in case of any issues or inquiries.

Security and Trustworthiness

When it comes to booking travel arrangements, security and trustworthiness are paramount. Let’s compare the security measures and trustworthiness of third-party sites and booking directly with service providers.

Reputable third-party travel booking sites prioritize the security of their users’ personal information and payment details. They implement industry-standard encryption technologies to protect sensitive data during transmission. These sites often display security badges or logos to assure users that their information is being securely processed.

It’s important to be cautious when providing personal or financial information on any website, including third-party booking sites. Always verify that the site has a secure connection (https://) and look for trusted payment gateways, such as PayPal or secure credit card processors.

Additionally, third-party sites may have built-in review systems that allow users to rate and comment on their experiences. Reading reviews can give you insights into the reliability and trustworthiness of both the third-party site and the service providers it partners with.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers can provide added security as you are sharing your personal information and payment details directly with the service provider. Established hotels and airlines often have robust security measures in place to protect customer data.

It’s recommended to book directly through official websites or authorized channels to ensure the security and legitimacy of your bookings. Look for secure connection indicators (https://) and verify the authenticity of the website before providing any personal or financial information.

Service providers may also showcase their security measures, such as encryption technology, secure payment gateways, and data protection policies. You can usually find this information in the privacy policies or terms and conditions sections of their websites.

Trustworthiness can also be assessed through customer reviews, testimonials, and reputation. Researching the service provider, reading reviews, and considering their industry reputation can help ensure that you are dealing with a reputable and trustworthy organization.

Overall, both third-party sites and booking directly with service providers can be secure and trustworthy, provided you take appropriate precautions and verify the authenticity and security protocols of the websites. It’s crucial to stay vigilant, use secure connections, and only provide personal and financial information on trusted platforms.

Choosing between third-party travel booking sites and booking directly with service providers is a personal decision that depends on various factors. Both options have their own set of pros and cons, and it’s important to consider your priorities and preferences when making a decision.

If convenience, variety, and the ability to compare prices are important to you, then third-party sites could be the way to go. These platforms offer a one-stop-shop where you can easily browse and book accommodations, flights, car rentals, and more. They often have user-friendly interfaces and provide access to customer reviews, making it easy to find the best deals and make informed decisions.

If you value transparency, control, and potentially better deals, booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers might be the better option. This allows you to communicate your preferences directly, enjoy the benefits of loyalty programs, and have a more personalized experience. It also provides more clarity on the terms and conditions, cancellation policies, and any additional fees that may apply.

It’s important to consider other factors as well, such as the comparison of prices and deals, transparency and control, loyalty programs and benefits, ease of use and time efficiency, customer support and assistance, and security and trustworthiness. Assessing these factors will help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and priorities.

In the end, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It may even be beneficial to utilize both options based on the specific circumstances of your trip. For example, you might use a third-party site to find the best deals on accommodations and flights, and then book directly with the chosen service providers for added benefits and personalization.

Ultimately, the key is to research, compare, and weigh the pros and cons based on your individual travel requirements. Whichever option you choose, always prioritize the security of your personal information and ensure that you are booking from reputable sources. By doing so, you can set the stage for a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

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The Pros and Many Cons of Third Party Booking Sites

When I first started Next Departure, I heavily relied on affiliate links from third-party booking sites like FlightHub and CheapOair. I would get a tiny cut if anyone chose to use our link when booking their flight. However, after hearing nightmare stories about how poorly they handled canceled flights during the pandemic, it was clear to me, I have to downscale promoting most third-party booking sites. 

What is a third-party booking site?

A third-party booking site or an OTA (online travel agency) is any website where you can book your flight, hotel, cars, and packages that is NOT an airline’s official website. Some of the most common OTAs are Expedia, FlightHub, Priceline, Orbitz, SellOffVacations, iTravel2000, Booking.com, and Hotels.com. Those are the well-known ones in Canada but there’s A LOT more. When searching for the cheapest flights online, there are hundreds of choices when it comes to third-party booking sites.

What is a flight search engine?

Websites like Kayak, Google Flights, Skyscanner & Momondo are flight search engines or aggregators. They search through all the OTAs and airline’s websites and compare prices. It helps a lot to see which sources are showing the best pricing, giving you the option to book with either the airline or an OTA. I use these search engines extensively to find those cheap flights, mistake fares, and unadvertised deals. 

Cancellations or Changes

A lot of the OTAs are known to have very frustrating customer service. If you book with an OTA, you will have to go back to them if you need any changes to your booking (date change, canceled flight, etc…) and not the airline. 

The agents at these third-party agencies often have little power over any decisions; they might not be empowered to do more than provide basic information. And their wait times? Forget it: They’re notoriously long! 

If you booked with an OTA and call the airline for any issues with your booking, the airline might redirect you to the OTA. Then when you contact the OTA, they will place blame on the airline. You may just end up going in circles.

Not to say that airlines have any better customer service, but if there’s an issue, you’ll deal with them and  only  them. 

Mistake Fares

One of the best reasons why it’s better to book directly with the airline is that they are more likely to honor the price of a mistake/error fare. They’re able to issue your e-tickets instantly whereas an OTA can take up to 24 hours of sending you e-tickets, which will lead to cancellations. For example, Ethiad Airlines honoured a crazy mistake fare flight from New York to Johannesburg for only a $250 roundtrip back in 2015. Air Transat also honoured an error fare from Canada to Europe starting at $110 roundtrip. 

Prices & Availability

At times, prices are cheaper with OTAs than they would be if booked on the airline’s website. They can offer special discounts on packaged trips which include both airfare and accommodations together.

Occasionally, you can find flight complexes/combinations using two or more separate airlines on one itinerary that cannot be found on the airline’s website. Booking on OTA gives you the ability to view pricing on all airlines. Often they will show two one-way flights from different airlines (example: Departing with Air Canada, Returning with Westjet) that would, in turn, be priced cheaper than booking a round trip with the same airline. 

But does the lower price outweigh all the risks that come with booking with the OTA? I’d have to save at least $100. 

Perks & Fees

Booking directly with the airline/hotel and an OTA can come with some perks. Hotels.com offers a free night every 10 nights you book with them. Expedia allows you to earn and redeem TDRewards points. Hotels can give you free upgrades and gift cards when you book direct with them. 

The fees are higher when booking with a third party. For example, they might charge you their cancellation/change fee  on top of  the airline’s cancellation/change fee. They also might charge a booking fee (some of the lesser-known OTA’s) that might only show up on the last page of checkout. 

Handling of the COVID pandemic

Poor customer service by both airlines and OTAs is nothing new, but it’s been amplified by the pandemic. Everyone was looking for a refund for their canceled flights and the finger-pointing between the airline and OTAs was now intensified. 

In these uncertain times, the flight you book is not set in stone. Airlines are constantly changing flight schedules based on country reopening/closure and increased demand. Weather, crew shortage and airport capacity restrictions can also lead to more flight delays/cancellations. Just look up any Canadian airlines social media

When booking directly with the airline, you’ll still have to deal with potential flight changes and cancellations however you’ll no longer have to deal with the middle man. Also, most airlines are now offering free changes and cancellations even on their most basic fares. Although if you’re changing to a higher priced flight, you’ll have to pay the difference. If the price is lower, you’ll get a travel credit.

When booking your next flight, make sure you’ve done your research by using a flight search engine and comparing prices. Always compare those prices with what’s showing on the airline’s website. On the flight deals I post, I’ll always do that research for you and provide the best possible options. 

Here are the scenarios:

• I will direct you to a trusted OTA
• I will direct you to the airline & trusted OTA
• I will direct you to the airline

I want to make sure I’m providing you with the best service possible which is why I’m moving away from promoting OTAs. I will always encourage you to book directly with the airline as they are just simply much more reliable and less likely to waste your time when any issue arises.

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The weirdly common, very expensive travel scam you should avoid

Do not click on that travel website (probably).

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Kathy could have sworn she called Qatar Airways to change her flight last spring. Looking through her call records now, she clearly didn’t. Instead, she wound up talking to a third-party booker called Infinity Travels. She has paid Infinity thousands of dollars she may never get back, even after spending countless hours trying.

Her labyrinth of a saga is hard to keep straight. In November 2022, she realized she would need to fly back home to Canada early from a trip to visit her husband in the Middle East scheduled for the following March. She called to make the switch. Kathy, who asked to withhold her last name to protect her privacy, spent six hours on the phone in the endeavor.

Initially, she says she was told she’d need to spend 1,650 Canadian dollars on a new flight and would get a CA$2,700 credit from the airline — she wanted a refund, not a credit, and was transferred to a supposed supervisor. The next agent told her she needed to pay CA$6,990 for the new flight and that she’d receive a refund of CA$8,080 after she had taken her departing flights. She took the deal, which was confirmed in an email from Infinity. “It was dumb of me,” she says. “But by this time it was 1 am and I was so tired.”

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That refund never came through, and Kathy has been locked in a battle with Infinity for months, which is taking place over WhatsApp and the phone. Infinity claimed the initial agent who offered her the refund was fired for making unauthorized deals. A subsequent agent she spoke to — while on her vacation — told her they would refund CA$4,250, nearly half the original amount promised. That was supposed to come through if she agreed not to dispute the CA$6,990 charge, which she did. That agent seems to have disappeared, too, after allegedly being promoted to a new job.

Kathy isn’t sure how she found that wrong number to make her flight change, but it seems likely she did an internet search and called the number that came up without checking its provenance. “It’s incredibly frustrating,” she says. “For me, the money sucks to lose, but it’s more like how are they getting away with doing this? Because I’m sure there are other people.”

There are. A look at TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau shows others have had similarly confusing experiences with Infinity.

People all over the world get sucked into a variety of travel-related schemes and scams all the time. In this day and age of vacation, sketchy websites and companies and third-party bookers abound.

Third-party booking websites and companies — meaning entities consumers can use to handle reservations without dealing directly with, for example, an airline — are everywhere. Not all of them are bad. Plenty of people use them without issue all the time, including popular ones such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Booking.com. But some of them employ shady and even fraudulent tactics.

These operations seek to get consumers’ money by saying they’ll take care of their travel plans, booking their plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars, or even helping them get their passports faster. They then go on to charge exorbitant fees for executing the transaction or making minor changes and often give consumers the runaround. Sometimes, they never reserve anything at all. Victims of these scams show up at the airport for a flight that doesn’t exist, or appear at a hotel to sleep in a room that was never booked, and their money’s just gone.

Feelings can run high when people travel, whether they’re going to an event or spending time with family and friends or just getting a much-needed and much-anticipated break. “That’s one thing scammers prey on,” said Melanie McGovern, director of public relations and social media for the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, “the emotion of it all.”

Kathy’s emotions got the better of her the night she made that payment to Infinity — endless hours on the phone will do that to you. Since then, she has gotten about CA$325 back from Qatar Airways. After months of wrangling (and after I reached out for comment for this story), Infinity returned CA$1,816 to her. She’s got all of the documentation from the ordeal: emails, text messages, recorded phone calls. It’s just not clear whether any of that matters.

Kathy still has that number she first called saved in her phone as “Qatar Airways Help,” even though that’s not what it is. When you call the number now, the person on the other end of the line simply says, “Reservations.” It’s easy to see how people get tricked.

Qatar Airways said in a statement that Infinity is a travel agent that is entitled to sell its tickets, like many others, but that as an airline, “we do not forward phone calls to travel agents, and we do not accept agents making promises on our behalf.” Infinity said in an email it was “disappointed to hear about the poor experience by this individual” and did not respond to a follow-up email.

One of the primary ways fraudulent third-party companies suck people in is with the promise of a deal. They offer a price that seems too good to be true — because it is — and people’s internet-driven deal-hunting instincts take over.

“The biggest thing we see are the people who are using a third-party website trying to get something a little bit cheaper,” McGovern said. “We know travel can be really, really expensive, and ... people are trying to find an alternative.”

That’s what happened to Sarah, who asked for her last name to be withheld to protect her privacy, when she was trying to snag a flight to Iceland to see the northern lights in late 2022. Most of the flights she found were above her $800 budget, but she found one option for $755 from a website called Travelcation. After booking the trip, she received an email from the company saying the fare she had agreed to was no longer available and had increased to $995.

Sarah noted the email had weird language and grammatical errors, as did the company’s website, upon further inspection. She then googled “Travelcation scams.” “I started reading these horror stories,” she says. She responded to the email saying she didn’t agree to the new price and alerted her bank that any attempted charge would be unauthorized. “My card never ended up getting charged, so I managed to avoid the worst of it,” she says. She took a budget-friendlier trip to Puerto Rico instead.

A spokesperson for Travelcation said in an email that in the travel industry it’s “not uncommon” for prices to fluctuate because of issues such as airline ticket availability, dynamic pricing, taxes, fees, and other charges added during the booking process.

What is uncommon, or at least should be, is for prices to fluctuate after booking.

Reporting for this story, I spoke with multiple experts and individuals about their experiences with scammy websites and travel agencies and combed through complaints to the Better Business Bureau. Many of the strategies these entities employ are quite simple — and effective.

Some websites will figure out how to game search engines like Google . Travelers might think they’re calling Delta or Hilton or Hertz but are actually on the phone with someone else because they just called whatever number came up in search results or on some website without verifying it’s right. The numbers can be completely different from the actual phone number, or they might be one or two off — and 888 instead of 800.

In the same vein, consumers wind up on these websites because they appear in their searches, sometimes because those websites have paid to rank higher. People then book there, not realizing the website is untrustworthy. The site in question then follows up with a call or email saying that the price of the booking has increased to try to squeeze more out of consumers there, or they charge super-high fees for small changes. (Assuming they make the booking at all, which doesn’t always happen.)

Jim still isn’t entirely sure how he wound up in his predicament. He called Delta’s phone number on a voice over internet service (VoIP) to book a flight to San Francisco; in his first interaction, everything seemed fine. He got a confirmation email from a company called Boketo, not Delta, but he didn’t immediately notice. A while later, he realized his middle initial was incorrect on the reservation, so he called to change it. After agreeing to pay $200 and receiving a follow-up email, this time from an outfit called Travel Makers, it dawned on him he had been duped. “That’s when I recognized that I’m an idiot,” he says.

Jim reported the charges as fraud to his credit card company, which he thought would be the end of it. But in the lead-up to his trip, he says the agent he first dealt with began calling him and harassing him, saying she would not issue his tickets unless he restored the $200 payment. In the end, the flights went just fine, although Jim was worried until he successfully boarded his plane. He asked for his last name to be withheld out of fear of more harassment from the agent.

Jim’s phone records show he did indeed call Delta’s real number, which is quite disturbing. A spokesperson for Delta recommended consumers take extra precautions when using VoIP internet calling to make sure their service is secure. “Whenever we become aware of an alleged scam targeting our customers, including in this situation, we immediately conduct an investigation. Using the facts gained from an investigation, when able, we can then address each unique situation as appropriate with the necessary legal means at our disposal,” the spokesperson said.

Boketo did not respond to a request for comment for this story. When I reached out to Travel Makers for comment, someone purporting to be from the company said that it has nothing to do with Boketo and that the situation “seems like a case of misplaced anger.” They defended the extra $200 charge. Their email address was listed as Fly Cheapest Online.

There is no surefire way to scam-proof your life or even your next vacation, but there are measures you can take to try to protect yourself.

The first step is really to slow down, take a deep breath, and pay attention to what you’re doing, said Amy Nofziger, the director of fraud victim support with AARP. It’s not always easy — people’s lives are busy, and we’re often distracted or in a hurry or stressed. But those situations are where we’re likeliest to make mistakes.

Nofziger also said to be wary of offers that are really out of step with the rest of the market. “If you find the best deal on a flight or on a car, I would be really suspect of why it’s the best deal. Go into this with the mindset that I think this is a scam until I’m proven otherwise,” she says. “Even if you think you’re going to get the deal of the century, they’re going to get the deal of the century, not you.”

If the website’s charging you $500 less than everywhere else, question why that might be. Yes, it feels good to beat the system, but there might not be a system to beat. This goes not only for hotels and flights but also, for example, for expedited passport processing, which Nofziger says AARP gets complaints about weekly. Consumers pay some website extra to get their passports faster, only to hand over sensitive personal information in exchange for no quicker service. “There really is no ‘beat the system’ with the State Department,” she says. “I suggest everyone pull their passport out today, look at when it expires, and start the process.”

If you see a website offering what appears to be a good deal, open up another browser and type the name of that site in along with words like “scam,” “fraud,” and “reviews.” You might save yourself a real headache, depending on what you find. “Do your research,” McGovern says.

Experts say it generally is better to book directly with the hotel or airline or whatever you’re trying to accomplish, or at least to start there. And triple-check the number you’re calling. Really. “Travel agents can be reputable ... but you need to be clear that who you’re talking to is who you intended to talk to,” says Summer Hull, director of content at The Points Guy. “If you intended to talk to American Airlines and you’re now talking to a travel agency, that’s a red flag.”

You should also be suspicious if you get a follow-up phone call asking for more information. “Never provide personal information to an inbound call, even to an airline,” Hull says. “They should not be calling you to ask for your confirmation number or your credit card number or your flight plan,” she said. If you’re not sure it’s legitimate, say you’ll call them back.

There can be some recourse in the event you are scammed. You can try to dispute charges as fraud with your credit card company, which is why it’s always best to pay with a credit card (and not with Venmo, crypto, or a prepaid card). You can also report your experiences on websites such as the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and other places, and, if necessary, contact law enforcement. Still, options are limited.

“Most people don’t think they’re ever going to be scammed, but unfortunately, I’ve had this job for 21 years, and I don’t see it going away anytime soon,” Nofziger says.

As for Kathy, she remains stuck in what feels like a doom loop, most of her refund still pending.

We live in a world that’s constantly trying to sucker us and trick us, where we’re always surrounded by scams big and small. It can feel impossible to navigate. Every two weeks, join Emily Stewart to look at all the little ways our economic systems control and manipulate the average person. Welcome to The Big Squeeze .

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Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

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Book Now, Pay Later: Everything You Need to Know About Third-Party Travel Financing

If your wanderlust knows no bounds—but your budget does—third-party travel financing might just be the match for you..

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With travel financing, a lack of upfront funds needn’t keep you from that dream vacation.

Happily, a shortage of cash on hand doesn’t have to stir up an incurable case of FOMO these days, thanks to a crop of newish companies that have started offering up third-party travel financing over the past few years, including Uplift , Affirm , and FOMO Travel , among others. Basically, think of it as a sort of layaway plan: You purchase your trip today and then pay for it over a set period of time in installments (though with interest and/or applicable fees). Here’s the 101 on third-party travel financing to help navigate the ins and outs of this burgeoning industry and to figure out if it’s the right fit for you.

What’s the advantage of funding a trip with third-party financing? The big thinking behind the idea is simple: Make travel more affordable and accessible. By giving consumers the option to break up the cost of a purchase over several months or a year, financing offers a way for travelers to comfortably afford a trip that might otherwise be outside of immediate financial reach.

“People may be taking advantage of a holiday to see family, or have a family vacation when the timing is right, even if they haven’t saved in advance. Some of our customers are traveling last minute to visit a sick relative, or to attend an important event like a wedding,” says Rob Soderberry, president of Uplift, an industry leader that expects to do $1 billion in financing this year . “Paying monthly allows our partners’ travel consumers to lock in trips before costs rise and enables them to afford more rewarding travel options for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” he adds.

Compared to booking a trip on a credit card, the interest rates on these financing packages are sometimes more competitive; in fact, FOMO Travel doesn’t charge interest at all (instead, it relies on a flat fee), and Affirm occasionally offers zero percent interest rates. And because you have a fixed time period to pay it off, the debt won’t stick around indefinitely, as can happen with credit card purchases.

Third-party financing companies work with travel providers like United Vacations, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Expedia, so that you can book your trip now, and pay for it later.

Can I travel anywhere and with any airline, hotel, or cruise that I choose? Third-party financing companies work with a variety of travel providers with whom they have sometimes negotiated exclusive arrangements. Travel partners for Uplift, for example, include companies like Southwest Vacations , United Vacations , and Norwegian Cruise Line , while Affirm partners with Expedia , CheapAir.com , and Suiteness , among others; in these cases, the financing can be secured via the travel partner’s website.

However, applicants interested in custom-tailoring their own vacation plans through independent arrangements can also apply for financing directly through the loan provider’s own website (excluding FOMO Travel, which exclusively books travel through its contracted partners). Once approved, the credited loan amount can be used to pay for travel with any airline, cruise line, or hotel that the recipient desires.

How do I apply for a loan? Each financing company differs with its procedures. Uplift’s application process is automated and integrated into its travel partners’ websites (or on its own website), where they collect applicant info to review and render a real-time decision for financing approval. Affirm likewise collects applicants’ data online to make a near-instantaneous underwriting decision. If approved, the shopper can then select his or her preferred repayment term, which generally must be made within three, six, or 12 months (longer terms are available with select merchants).

At FOMO Travel, which works more like store-style layaway than a traditional bank loan since it doesn’t charge interest, there are no credit checks and everybody who applies is approved. CEO and founder Andrew Katzwinkel explains, “There is zero friction or waiting period when activating a payment plan.”

What factors help determine who qualifies? Many providers, like Uplift, use credit history data to ensure the borrower has the ability to repay. Importantly, though, “Checking your rate does not impact your credit score—there is no hard credit pull unless you accept an offer,” says Soderberry.

“We want to ensure we’re only approving someone for what we believe they can comfortably afford and, unfortunately, that means sometimes we have to tell someone no if this isn’t the case,” adds Rustom Birdie, who leads the travel sector at Affirm, which also uses credit history data for loan determinations.

For FOMO Travel, however, the only major factor for qualification is an agreement that the vacation be paid in full at least 30 days prior to departure. “If the package is not paid for in full, we do not issue the travel documents and the client cannot travel,” says Katzwinkel. However, FOMO does allow clients to make fee-free amendments to their travel dates if they aren’t going to be able to make their final payment in time.

You can take a loan to travel anywhere in the world (Jordan, anyone?)—but be mindful of potential pitfalls, like steep interest rates.

What type of interest rate and payment terms are in place for these loans? Depending on the trip type, Uplift, for one, extends financing from $200 to $15,000 with repayment terms of three, six, or 11 months (which can be repaid in the months both before and after the trip), and rates ranging from 9 percent to 35.99 percent. All fees and costs for the loan are included in the upfront annual percentage rate (APR) disclosures and in the quoted interest rate; Uplift does not charge late fees or prepayment fees.

Affirm’s interest rates range from zero to 30 percent, and recipients can choose a repayment term of three, six, of 12 months; with Affirm, travel may also be completed before full repayment is made. “We don’t have hidden or late fees, which differs greatly from the experience other lenders provide, which typically involves origination and/or late fees,” says Birdie.

FOMO’s model is different: It charges a 2.5 percent transaction fee on the total value of the package, to process and manage the layaway payments, which must be paid 30 days in advance of the booked trip. “We do not charge a booking fee or charge interest onto the client,” notes Katzwinkel. However, if the client cancels a trip within 12 weeks of travel, the client will be refunded, though minus the initial deposit.

This sounds like a good idea, but what do I need to keep in mind? “Like any loan, make sure you can take on additional debt. Be clear about the interest rates as they can be as high as 36 percent; while that may not seem like much on a small loan, if your trip is for thousands of dollars that adds up,” says Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center.

It’s never a good idea to go into high-interest debt for nonessential trips, cautions Sara Rathner, NerdWallet ’s travel expert. Instead, she advises that you look into obtaining credit cards that offer long zero percent intro APR periods, but only if you can pay your trip off in full before the zero interest period ends.

Lastly, Leslie Tayne, a debt resolution attorney with the New York–based Tayne Law Group, advises forgoing financing altogether by including vacation savings in your monthly budget. Then find the best deals in other ways. “Travel at less-popular times, go to off-the-beaten path destinations, find discounts through reputation organizations, and use reward card points and travel miles; put the travel on your rewards card, but pay it off ASAP.”

No doubt, the rise of third-party travel financing will allow many more people to indulge their adventurous spirit. But, like all financial products, know what you’re getting into first, so that you can be sure it’s the right solution for you.

>> Next: How to Get the Best Last-Minute Travel Deals

Third-Party Sites Vs. Booking Directly

What’s the difference between third-party sites vs. booking directly? A typical travel question most people don’t know the answer to. We’ll discuss the difference between third-party sites vs. booking directly, explain what booking through a third-party site entails and, most importantly, explain the pitfalls of third-party sites.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our  disclosure and privacy policy  for more information.

Types of Third-Party Travel Sites

The market is flooded with third-party travel sites. The easiest way to think about third-party travel sites is to think of them as travel agents acting on a provider’s behalf. Some big ones are Expedia, Hotwire, Booking.com, Travelocity, etc. These sites sell everything from flights and hotels to car rentals and travel insurance on behalf of the actual provider.

A third party is an entity that is involved in some way in an interaction that is primarily between two other entities. 

Most third-party travel sites have ventured into private accommodation rentals, cruises, car rentals, camping, and glamping.

The key is that while they can book an entire vacation for you, which is convenient, none of your reservations are direct, and this is where the problems kick in. 

Let’s say that you have booked a holiday package to Barbados . Expedia issues you your plane tickets and provides you with your hotel information. Something goes wrong. Who do you call? The logical; Expedia, however, you’ll learn very quickly that unless you booked directly with the providers (airline, hotel, and so on), you will end up engaged in a three-ring circle of “It’s not my problem.”

Let’s dive in and talk through the different types of third-party travel sites. Then, we will discuss the potential challenges.

Third-Party Travel Providers

Price comparison sites.

Comparison sites compare the cost of hotels, cars, and flights (and other travel services) in different booking systems that work on the same principle as flight search engines. They do not sell anything; they help you find the best deal across various booking systems. After the search, you are redirected to the 3rd party booking system website and book your travel there.  Kayak and Skyscanner are great examples of comparison sites that most of us use.

I use comparison sites to determine the best pricing and then go directly to the source. For example, if I find that the best flight to England is on Virgin Airlines, I will go to Virgin Airlines directly to book. 99% of the time, the price is equal to or less. And, with hotels, if the price is not less, most of a price match guarantee.

Note: While some people have had sucess using hotel price matches I have not. There are so many hoops to jump through you’ll be lucky to get the hotel to honor a price match.

One-Stop Shops

These are the big players that are household names. Expedia, Hotwire, Booking.com, Travelocity. These sites sell everything from flights, hotels, and cruises to car rentals and travel insurance on behalf of the actual provider. And most of the big carriers can sell you an entire vacation package that includes everything from soup to nuts.

These companies are essentially a broker, the third man operating between you and the companies providing the actual service or amenity.

A common myth is that these providers offer the best prices. Sometimes they do, but not always, and if you book through a third party, you have entered into an agreement with a third party.

Private Accommodation Price Comparison Sites

Renting an apartment or house is becoming more and more common. It’s a very convenient way to travel. Think Airbnb , VBRO, AGODA, RU, and HometoGo as examples.

When you rent a private apartment or house, you can feel at home. You can buy in the supermarket and cook for yourself, which significantly reduces the overall cost of the vacation. This is much more affordable for families with children than staying in a hotel.  It is almost always cheaper to rent an apartment or house for a family with children. 

Sites like Airbnb serve as intermediaries between you and the host. You pay immediately, but the host will receive your money only after you have stayed with them. The price is fixed at the time of booking, and we cannot increase the cost under any circumstances or charge you any undisclosed fees.

Booking.com, best known for hotels, has a fantastic selection of apartments and houses. One of the things that I like most about Booking.com is that you can view hotels, houses, and apartments simultaneously. Just be aware that if you use them to book a hotel, you are then using a third-party site for the hotel reservation vs. booking directly with the hotel.

Travel Agents

A dying concept, but they still exist. When you use a travel agent, even though it’s a third-party agreement, their sole role is to represent you. For example, if your flights are delayed, your travel agent should be the go-to person, and their part is to resolve it.

Cruise Aggregators

As with all travel niches, there are 3rd Party Booking providers, and cruising is no different. The big names are cruise.com, cruisedirect.com, and vacationstogo.com.

The same concept applies here; if you use one of these providers and something goes wrong, you will face challenges working directly with the cruise line. I will tell you that I’ve run into fewer issues with cruise aggregators. I often use vacations to go, and I’ve never had a problem. However, I am acutely aware that the third party I booked with is to provide service. And, I know from years of experience that a cruise line can and will refer you back to where you booked if not directly with them.

Cons of Using A T hird-Party Travel Site

In a nutshell, the issue is “whose problem is it.” If you didn’t book directly with the hotel, airline, or cruise, they have every right to refer you back to where you booked. I had a harrowing experience with Expedia on a package deal to Iceland . To make a long story short, the flight was canceled, and the airline’s response was “call Expedia.” We called Expedia, and hours later, they said, “talk to the airline.” Neither party will accept responsibility and will give you the runaround.

Here are some other cons:

• If you don’t book with the provider directly, you are not eligible to earn reward points .
• It’s almost always cheaper to book directly with the provider. vs. using a third-party provider. You’ll have to make separate reservations, but it is typically more affordable.
• Modifying a reservation with a third-party provider is a challenge. It can be done, but it will cost you.
• When you buy a vacation package that includes flights and hotels, the flights are often connection flights or flights at inconvenient times. 
• It won’t be easy to upgrade anything because you did not book directly.

Pros Using A T hird-Party Travel Site

• They make bundling very easy. With a few clicks, you can have flights, hotels, car rentals,s and travel insurance.
• Some people love that it’s “one” reservation and fewer companies to deal with (in theory).
• Sometimes you can score a deal that is too good to miss and is worth losing loyalty points and taking the chance of clunky travel.
• You can earn loyalty points from third-party providers.

What is third-party booking?

Third-party booking means researching and making reservations on an internet travel site such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, Hotels.com, etc. A third party is an entity that is involved in some way in an interaction that is primarily between two other entities.   

Is booking com a third party?

Yes, Booking com is, in fact, a third-party travel provider.

Why do hotels use third-party websites?

The reason is that online booking sources have become so important that they can no longer be ignored. Hotels that do not acquire business through third-party websites are scarce. Third-party websites generate 40–50% of the monthly revenue for many chain hotels.

What is a third-party travel agent?

Online travel agents are third-party websites that sell travel-related services provided by their partners, such as hotels, hostels, airlines, car rental companies, event organizers, and more.

Closing Thoughts

Third-party sites have a purpose, and we all use them at some point. However, booking directly is always the way to go if you can. Using a third-party site vs. booking directly is not the way to go unless you have found the deal of the century. 

How about you? What horror stories do you have to share on experiences with third-party travel sites?

Looking for more Travel Hacks? Start here:

• 20 Best Ways to Earn Lots of Credit Card Rewards Points
• Airline Passenger Rights – The 12 Steps to Handle Flight Cancellations
• Disney World Resorts on A Dime
• Eight Travel Hacks That Are Bull
• Get Your Guide or Viator – Which One Is Best?
• Gifts For Travelers – Fifty Fabulous Ones Under $50!
• Multi-City Flights – A Travel Hack You Need to Know!
• Wizz Air Review – Europe’s Worst Airline You Should Avoid

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Ryan is a passionate blogger and writer who likes sharing his thoughts. Now he works as a content editor and internet researcher. You can check his website . He likes to travel and explore new countries .

Share with others!

Nikki Webster is a travel writer who covers how to travel while grinding a day job without breaking the bank. Nikki is always in search of off-the-beaten-track experiences and unique stays. She is particularly fond of Florida and writes extensively about the state. She flies around 60,000 miles annually and has visited 74 countries, 50 states, and six continents. You can read all about her travels at www.britonthemove.com or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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Hi I booked through (booking.com) and I’ve chosen partner offers which is booking facilitated by partner company. But the big problem is I made mistake with the date I booked and I was trying to solve it with booking.com but I didn’t get any help because the booking is with partner. On pant and booking.com have nothing to do !!! So bad that I can’t reach the partner company to solve my problem.

Hi Hanan, So sorry to hear you experienced this:( I’ve never had an issue with Booking.com; I use them all the time for hotels. But I’ve experienced this many times with flights and now only book them directly. If you paid by CC, call your CC company and dispute the charge…. this should resolve it. Hope it works out – Nikki Also, by law, you do have 24 hours with all reservations to amend them.

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The great booking debate: Is direct better than a third-party site?

Travelers swear by both methods, but the best way may be to use a little of each.

Is it better to book your next trip directly with a travel company or turn to an online agency promising a good deal? As the popularity of online travel planning grows, the question can elicit strong opinions on either side.

Kathy Lopez, an author from Prescott, Ariz., prefers the direct approach, saying it allows her to cut out the middleman for her airline tickets. That means the carrier contacts her when there’s a schedule change. She says working with an intermediary can result in miscommunication — and even a missed flight.

For hotels, she finds that she’s treated like royalty with a direct booking. “I get perks of a top-tier member in loyalty programs, even if I’m not a top-tier loyalty program member,” Lopez says.

But other travelers feel differently. Mark Beales, a retired mortgage banker from Mill Creek, Wash., booked directly for years. But he recently had a problem with a car rental company in Ireland, which made him see the appeal of a third party.

“They wanted me to pay in dollars at a terrible exchange rate,” he recalls. “Appeals to the corporate office went nowhere.”

Beales wonders what would have happened if he had worked with an online travel agency that may have been able to negotiate a better deal for him. Would he have saved himself a lot of trouble by booking through Expedia or Booking.com?

Online travel agencies are in growth mode after a pandemic pause. According to the Business Research Company , the global online travel market is projected to grow from about $461 billion to about $972 billion between 2020 and 2025.

J.D. Power’s latest analysis suggests that travelers who book a hotel directly get slightly better customer service, with an overall satisfaction score of 838 out of a possible 1,000 points vs. 821, according to the company. They also get more bang for their buck, with an 808 in their “value for money score” for direct booking, compared with 793 points.

“Year after year, our research shows that guests who book directly with a hotel chain have a better overall experience,” says Andrea Stokes, who heads J.D. Power’s hospitality practice. It’s a sentiment broadly shared across other industry sectors, such as airlines and car rentals.

So why does direct booking have a small edge in customer satisfaction? That’s a question more travelers will be asking in the weeks ahead, as they plan spring break trips and start to consider summer vacation plans. To find out, you have to understand the differences between a direct and an online agency booking, and how travel companies will try to entice you to skip the middleman.

The great airplane debate: Should you ever switch seats?

What is a direct booking?

A direct booking means you’re making arrangements without the help of a travel agent or third-party booking company. You’re reserving airline tickets, hotel rooms or rental cars by contacting the business directly, which could be online, through its mobile app or by phone.

A direct booking can be significantly faster, because you don’t have to rely on a third party to complete it. Travel companies claim a direct booking is safer, because you only share your credit card information and other details with one party.

What is an agency or online booking?

A third-party booking means you’re letting someone else make the reservation on your behalf.

You work with a travel agency, adviser or — most common these days — automated platform, such as Expedia or Booking.com, to reserve your flight, hotel room or rental car. In the context of comparing a direct booking to a third-party booking, most people are referring to an online platform.

You asked: Do I need an international license to drive abroad?

What are the benefits of a direct booking?

Travel companies may offer incentives for customers to buy directly from them, including lower prices, extra loyalty points, special offers and other perks.

For example, at the Carlton Tel Aviv Hotel , guests who book directly can also get a taxi ride to the airport at no extra charge, a $40 value. If your direct booking is for more than three nights, the hotel will sometimes throw in a complimentary 45-minute massage and a room upgrade. “By means of a direct booking, we can build and nurture a strong relationship,” says Adi Uzan, the hotel’s sales and marketing director.

Guests at the Eastern Slope Inn in New Hampshire who book their reservation on the hotel’s website have access to the best rooms in the house, says Megan Scheid, the resort’s vice president of hospitality. “They also have access to last-room availability,” Scheid says. “We shut off the online travel agencies long before we sell out.” The Eastern Slope also offers a 10 percent discount on future bookings if guests buy directly with the hotel.

CitizenM, a hotel chain that caters to young companies and knowledge workers, offers discounts and perks through its free and paid membership programs. Special events for members include networking sessions or presentations from experts, such as a talk that CitizenM Miami Brickell will host with venture capital investor Jason Calacanis on Jan. 25.

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It’s not just hotels. At Seattle Ballooning , owner Eliav Cohen says he can take better care of his customers, because he can see all the details in their reservations and has direct contact with them.

“If guests use a third-party site, they typically have to go through them to make any changes, since they have different rules,” he says. “The process takes much longer, there are long hold times, and often ends up with frustrated guests.”

Cohen says that, in 2023, he plans to stop working with online travel agencies and accept only direct bookings.

Lastly, booking directly may help support a small business.

“Travelers may not know that third-party sites take up to 40 percent commission,” says Leanne Turner, chief operating officer of the hotel consulting company Alo Index . “Big hotel brands have the leverage to negotiate this percentage down, but independent hotels struggle to balance the wide distribution of a third-party booking site with losing nearly half the room revenue to commission.”

What are the benefits of booking online?

Should you stop using third-party websites to book flights, hotels and rental cars? Not necessarily.

Travel companies may treat you better when you book directly — of course they will if they’re saving a 40 percent commission — but there’s also a bigger picture.

Online agencies are an essential part of the travel ecosystem, because they allow easy price comparisons across a range of businesses. Some may also have access to deals you won’t find by booking directly.

So if you’re looking for a beachfront hotel in Tel Aviv, it’ll show you the Carlton — and the Savoy and the Dan — and it will let you compare prices. Without an online agency, you’d have to go to each hotel’s website and run a search, which might test your patience.

Online agencies have also upped their game with improved security, ensuring that your data is safe.

But the most significant benefit may be that, if something goes wrong, you’ll have a third party to help you fix your problem. (At the same time, the agency controls your booking, which may create its own challenges.)

“One of the most enduring and universal principles of hospitality is that guests should always be treated exactly the same, regardless of how they booked or who they are,” says Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner , an online agency that specializes in group hotel bookings. “Of course, some guests have more unique needs and requests than others, such as celebrities or elected officials with entourages. But generally speaking, hotels should treat all guests equally, regardless of how they booked their stay.”

Even Lopez, the author who prefers direct bookings, says she sometimes uses an online agency.

“When I book an international trip, I use Booking.com, because I don’t stay in chain hotels,” she says, “so sometimes I need the power of an intermediary if I have an issue.”

She says Booking.com has helped her negotiate refunds on bad hotel stays that she booked abroad. Had she made the booking directly, she says, the hotel would probably have just ignored her.

Because online travel agencies have millions of customers, they can negotiate discounts that ordinary travelers can’t find on their own. And they can create dynamic packages — airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals — that can save you lots of money.

Take the online agency out of the equation, and everyone must pay retail, which is not good for customers.

Bottom line: It’s best to mix and match

The best strategy is to keep an open mind about booking. Run a price comparison on your favorite online travel agency. Then check if your airline, hotel or car rental agency can offer you a better deal by booking directly.

More spring travel tips

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How to Get a Flight Cancellation Refund from a Third-Party Travel Site

By Eric Rosen

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As coronavirus has spread and countries have imposed travel restrictions and lockdowns, millions of travelers have seen their plans disrupted. It’s hard enough getting a hotel or flight cancellation refund if you booked directly, but it can be even more difficult to get cash back if you made your reservation through a third-party site, including online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia or Priceline.

First, the good news: If the airline , hotel chain , tour, or cruise line you were supposed to travel with has issued change or cancellation waivers and is offering refunds, you're already in luck. The bad news? It could take a while to get your money back—but it's important to be patient and persistent, and know what you’re entitled to. Here's how to do it.

Check with your online travel agency

If you booked reservations through a third-party site, the first thing you should do is check their homepage for travel warnings or advisories. At this point, the major OTAs have all posted their coronavirus policies and those of their travel partners that you can use as a guideline for their specific refund process. To get you started, here are links to the major online travel agencies’ dedicated coronavirus pages.

Booking.com coronavirus FAQs

Expedia coronavirus travel advice

Hotels.com cancellation policy

Hotwire coronavirus travel updates

Kayak coronavirus resources

Orbitz coronavirus travel advice

Priceline coronavirus FAQs

Travelocity coronavirus travel advice

Third-party bookings are subject to the change or cancellation rules that have been put in place by their travel partners, including airlines , hotels, cruise lines, and car rental agencies. That means OTAs must wait for responses from their partners in order to process refunds, which has created an enormous customer-service bottleneck.

Because of that, most OTAs are asking customers to refrain from contacting them unless their original travel plans take place within the next three to seven days in order to limit the number of calls coming in. Many have also posted online cancellation and refund request forms that you can fill out both for near- and long-term travel plans, though you might also receive a proactive email asking if you would like to make such a request in the days leading up to your trip.

For the moment, these sites are focusing on bookings made prior to March 19 for travel through April 30, 2020. If your plans are further out, you may need to sit tight for a bit. Doing so is also a good idea because it could affect whether or not you are entitled to a refund, based on changing policies.

Check your partner airline, hotel, cruise, or car rental page

Before you actually submit a cancellation request to your OTA, it is imperative that you also confirm if your travel arrangements fall within the refund time frames of the airline, hotel, cruise, car rental, or other company that you used the OTA to book.

In general, if the travel partner is the one to cancel your itinerary, like axing a flight or cruise sailing, you should be eligible for a refund. Some hotels and airlines are even offering to streamline the process and issue a hotel and flight cancellation refund directly rather than making customers go back through OTAs, so you might even consider calling the travel partner to see if you can request your money back.

Just keep in mind, if you are the one initiating a change or cancellation, you may be subject to penalty fees, or only eligible to receive credit toward future travel purchases. So if your plans are still several months away and scheduled as normal, you might want to wait and see if the travel partner ends up cancelling them before requesting your refund.

If you're supposed to be traveling within 72 hours

It's crunch time. Some travelers might be waiting until the very last minute to see if their reservations are canceled, so they don't have to initiate the refund request and are better positioned to get their cash back. If you're at the 72-hour mark and they still haven't contacted you, reach out to your OTA and start your cancellation request immediately. Some have online forms up on their coronavirus advisory pages, so try that first. Otherwise, be prepared to call customer service and wait on hold for long periods of time. You can consider alternative methods of communication including online chats or tweeting to the OTA’s Twitter handle. If you are still having trouble talking to someone, your best option might instead be to contact the airline or hotel directly to request a cancellation and refund now that many are offering to do so.

If you have some time

If you have been notified further in advance that your flight or other booked travel has been canceled, or simply aren't comfortably waiting until the last minute in hopes of a cash refund, you should contact your OTA to start the refund process one week out from your original travel dates.

Laura Walsh

Alex Erdekian

Charlie Hobbs

If your travel was set to take place between now and the end of April and you are eligible for a refund, you might be able to submit your request through the “My Trips” page on your OTA’s website. You should see an option to change or cancel your booking. Click on that, and you will be directed to a page outlining your choices and whether you can expect a full refund or are subject to any penalties. At this point, you might also be directed straight to an airline or hotel website in order to complete the process. Make sure you have any information will you need on hand, including the credit card you used to make the booking, your itinerary confirmation number, and any confirmation or ticket numbers from the airline or hotel.

In some cases, you will be offered credit or vouchers for future bookings. But if you are entitled to a refund and would prefer to get your money back, do not be afraid to ask for it . Despite what any OTA or travel representatives tell you, you do not have to settle for future travel credits in that case. If you do choose a voucher instead , consider booking a refundable ticket down the line so you can cancel your plans more easily if necessary.

As a last resort, put a hold on your credit card charge

Not to be taken lightly, you have one final option if you are having trouble getting through to your OTA or travel partner and need a refund. If you booked with a credit card, you can call your bank and ask them either to hold or reverse the travel purchase charge on your statement. You will have to provide your reasons for doing so, and likely need to submit evidence that you were eligible for a refund and that you made a good-faith effort to cancel your reservation. It’s not guaranteed to work, but it can’t hurt to try if you are getting nowhere with your OTA.

We are still in a period of unprecedented uncertainty due to the coronavirus, and that is especially true for travelers who booked through an online travel agency. Many OTAs are making it easier to change or cancel reservations, but it remains your job to make sure you are eligible for a refund, get familiar with the policies of travel partners like hotels and airlines that were part of your plans, and stay on top of any timing requirements so you do not find yourself stuck on hold for hours as your travel dates approach.

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The 10 best online travel agencies in 2024

The top 10 online travel agencies.

• Booking.com
• Lastminute.com

Best online travel agencies for business travel

1. travelperk.

Main offerings and features:

• Industry-leading travel inventory
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 fast customer support in target 15s
• VAT reclaim
• Integration with 3rd party tools , such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

Save time and money on your business travel with TravelPerk

2. sap concur.

• Works with some of the biggest brands
• Easy tracking and reporting of expenses for expense reports
• Many connected apps, such as Uber and Airbnb for cars and hotels
• One solution for a variety of business travel spending

Click below to compare both platforms’ features and benefits

• Ample integrations
• Award-winning mobile app
• Employee-centric travel management

Click below for a more detailed comparison between both platforms:

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel, 1. booking.com.

• Intuitive booking tool and website
• Flight + Hotel booking for easily planning trips with no cross-referencing travel websites
• Simple car rental options and taxi hire
• Available in over 40 different languages and offers over half a million properties across 207 countries
• You can book experiences in your destination city to entertain you on your travels
• Genius rewards program

• Simple interface and booking tool
• Deals when making more than one booking
• 38 different languages and offers a 24-hour, multilingual customer support service
• Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
• Millions of reviews to help make your decision

3. Lastminute.com

• Filter hotels according to budgets, star ratings, guest ratings, board types, and more
• ATOL protection on flight + hotel bundles
• Flash sales for last-minute deals
• Payment plans to spread out the cost of travel
• Extra entertainment booking for your trips, like theatrical productions and day trips
• Gift cards for gifting travel

• Expedia rewards for hotels, cars, and more
• Experienced support
• Compare cruise lines
• Big savings when booking flights, hotels, and car rentals
• Operates in nearly 70 countries and in over 35 different languages
• Luxury travel options

• Book hotels, flights, cars, and bundles
• 24/7 support
• Lower prices on the app
• Great last-minute deals for spontaneous travel

6. Bookmundi

Best online travel agencies for flights

1. skyscanner.

• Super flexible booking filters
• Cheaper flights and hotels than other OTAs
• Price alerts for travel routes of interest
• Easy-to-use booking tool and UI
• Hundreds of location and currency options
• One-way, return, and multi-city travel options

2. Kiwi.com

• Simple flight booking tool
• Partnerships with Booking.com and Rentalcars.com
• Discover deals anywhere with the option to open up your search
• Easy-to-use app

How do online travel agencies work?

What are the advantages of booking through an online travel agency.

• Access to comparison tools
• Peer reviews to help you with your decisions
• Flexible cancellation policies
• All your travel in one place
• Local flights and deals

Rewards programs

Comparison tools, peer reviews, flexible cancellation.

Flexiperk: Cancel anytime, anywhere. Get a minimum of 80% of your money back.

One account for all of your travel needs, a local approach to global travel, wrapping up.

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

• See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
• Find hundreds of resources on all things business travel, from tips on traveling more sustainably, to advice on setting up a business travel policy, and managing your expenses. Our latest e-books and blog posts have you covered.
• Never miss another update. Stay in touch with us on social for the latest product releases, upcoming events, and articles fresh off the press.

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The 8 best business travel management companies in Europe

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• BROWSE ISSUES

THE PROS AND CONS OF BOOKING THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY SITE

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Kristen Payne - Issue 5 , Key Notes

Raise your hand if as a consumer, you’ve ever reserved a hotel through a third-party booking site – sites such as Expedia, Orbitz and Hotels.com. Now keep your hand raised if as a hotel, you partner with such sites to bring in additional revenue. my guess is many of you have your hands in the air because in today’s fast-paced, tech-savvy world, third-party booking sites have become the norm. Consumers are driven by price point and ease, both of which are met through third-party sites, and it gives hotels the opportunity to fill rooms that would otherwise remain empty. Is the “Party” Really in the Third-Party? While this seems like a win-win situation, there is the obvious downside of enabling consumers to be disloyal in terms of brands. In the age of eblasts and social media, deals literally fall into consumers’ laps, and of course it’s only human nature to take the better deal over a specific brand. So the question stands: is litreally a better deal for consumers and hotels to book through third-party sites? Or are hotels treating third-party bookers differently than direct bookers, ultimately resulting in a less-than-perfect experience for guests? Advantage #1:   Price


The first and most obvious advantage is price. The prices found on third-party sites are often less expensive than the listed price on hotel websites. What many consumers don’t realize however, is that many hotel brands commit to the “best rate guarantee.” If a hotel commits to this philosophy, it is important that they ensure it is readily available so that potential guests are aware the property will match the third-party site. Having the guest book directly through the property means more revenue for the hotel brand since third-party fees will not have to be paid. Advantage #2:   Ease of Use


Next up is ease of use for the consumer, particularly when comparing several hotels. The busy consumer is more likely to pull up comparable hotels in one browser window rather than search six different hotel brands. Third-party sites allow this ease of price comparison. For hotels, it is important to ensure that your website is user-friendly and enables price comparing. This could attract the brand loyal consumer who is looking for ease of reservation process.

When consumers book through third-party sites, they are unable to use or earn points through hotel loyalty programs. In many cases, guests who are members of a hotel brand’s loyalty program will receive free upgrades on rooms – a perk that is not always accessible to third-party bookers. Additionally, a former front office manager at a Hilton property shared that guests who booked through third-party sites are not even guaranteed a room type. In contrast, another hotel insider shared that when it comes to upgrades, the front desk employee has complete control over who gets upgraded. This person adds that it has nothing to do with how the reservation was made, just that you’re a kind and pleasant guest. To bust this myth in hotels, be sure all employees are trained to treat all guests equally no matter how they ended up there. Another perk for consumers booking direct is the online booking systems that hotel brands offer. Consumers are able to create an account and save their preferences, making for an easy reservation process each and every time. Hotels should advertise this perk as a way to attract more direct reservations.

Disadvantage #2: Poor Customer Service


Most third-party sites outsource their customer service departments. This can result in a disadvantage for the hotel brand itself, just by association. Think about this scenario: a consumer is trying to change a reservation through a third-party that they made at a Hilton property and the customer service representative they are speaking with is either unhelpful or very rude.  The consumer is likely going to have a bad taste of Hilton properties now, thanks to an unrelated customer service representative. Melissa Roy, office coordinator at PreGel AMERICA, shares that she books travel for PreGel employees through Hotels.com 90 percent of the time. The other 10 percent she books directly, but usually just to get corporate rates that PreGel has set up at certain hotels. Contrary to this being a disadvantage, Roy states, “I find that the customer service is the same whether booking directly with a hotel or through a website such as Hotels.com. Booking hotels through Hotels.com is more time-efficient than calling a hotel directly because I can create an account and have all the information saved that is needed to book a hotel, but when I do have an issue and I have to call customer service, the staff is very friendly and takes the time to work with me on the issue until it is resolved.”Be sure when partnering with third-party sites that you do your due diligence and ensure that the  sites you are interested in working with regulate their customer service. Disadvantage #3: Hard to Change Reservations

Once consumers have booked a reservation through a third-party site, it is often hard to change dates or hotels. One reason being that many of the rates on these sites are cheaper but non-refundable rates. Additionally, it is always harder to solve issues when there is a middle man involved. It’s better to go directly to the source  for changes. Entrepreneur.com recently predicted that reciprocal loyalty will take center stage as a 2014 trend. They describe reciprocal loyalty as that “in which not only are customers loyal to a brand through advocacy and brand support, but the brand is also investing back into the customer through rewards, personalized experiences and customer service.” This trend is good news for hotel brands as brand loyalty has been swept to the wayside by third-party sites. To stay relevant in the industry, reassess your loyalty program and ensure your hotel is meeting this demand. The bottom line is consumers will continue to book through third-party sites for the sole reason of price point and ease of use. As a hotel, a way to compete is to provide a direct booking solution for consumers based on pricing and ease. While partnering with third-party sites does help get rooms filled, continue to promote loyalty programs to create an avid following for your brand. Once you have the consumer at your property no matter how they got there, if you treat them well you can attempt to create a loyal customer.

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The 12 Best Websites for Booking Flights at the Cheapest Prices [April 2024]

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

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Book Direct Through the Airline’s Website

4. priceline, 8. skyscanner, 9. travelocity, 10. google flights, 11. cheapoair, price comparisons, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Searching for a flight can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many factors: dates, times, price, fare class, airline, and more. Even when you know exactly when and where you want to fly, where should you look for the absolute best price?

Unfortunately, no website consistently has the lowest prices. Most of the popular OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are usually in the same ballpark for the price, but not all offer the same benefits or search functionality.

We’ve combed through many popular OTAs to compare prices and show you the benefits and drawbacks of each site.

More often than not, booking directly through the airline’s website will give you the best price, or will at least be the same as the OTAs.

Some airlines, like Southwest, won’t even show up on sites like Expedia or Orbitz, so you have to book direct. It can also be the most simple way to book. If a problem arises, you don’t have to deal with a third party to get it resolved.

Another reason to book directly through an airline’s website is to use those frequent flyer miles — hooray for award flights!

Of course, to book through the airline’s website, you first need to know which airline has the best prices. There are lots of travel search engines and OTAs that can help you find the best deals so you know which airline’s website to visit. Some OTAs even offer perks that might make it worth booking someplace other than the airline’s site.

Hot Tip: A card such as The Platinum Card ® from American Express earns an impressive 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with  AmexTravel.com on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Momondo is a travel metasearch engine similar to Kayak. The home page displays a simple search box where you can plug in your travel details.

One of the things we love about this site is the visual way it shows you the price trends for your flight. At first glance, you can tell if you could save some money by shifting around your travel dates a bit. It also offers a price tracker and lots of filtering options on the left-hand side of the screen.

Pros and Cons of Momondo

• Great price tracking tools
• Mix & Match fares require you to make 2 separate reservations; this is usually handled “behind the scenes” on other websites

Hot Tip: We cover the ins and outs of finding cheap airfare with this website in our guide to using Momondo .

Kayak is not an OTA. Rather, it’s a travel search engine — making it a great place to start your flight search.

The site compares prices from many websites in a single spot, so you can easily see the cheapest options . Most of the time, you’ll click through to a different site to complete your booking.

Kayak offers the ability to combine 2 one-way tickets (usually on different airlines) in 1 itinerary, which is a great way to save money on your flight. These itineraries can be pretty good deals and something that doesn’t always appear in search results of other websites.

A couple of new features were introduced in early 2024 — Kayak PriceCheck and Ask Kayak. Kayak PriceCheck allows you to upload a screenshot of an itinerary in the Kayak app, and Kayak will compare it to prices on hundreds of other sites to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Ask Kayak is an AI tool that helps you personalize your travel planning.

Pros and Cons of Kayak

• Ability to combine 2 one-way flights on a single itinerary
• Price Alerts to keep an eye on flight prices
• Kayak PriceCheck
• Kayak offers the most benefit when your travel plans are very flexible; many of its most valuable tools help you search for deals, so this site might be less appealing when you have a specific flight in mind

Bottom Line: For more information about Kayak’s travel search tools, check out the complete guide to booking travel with Kayak .

Daily Deals Special: Click here for up to 40% off at Expedia

Expedia is another tried-and-true OTA that people have been using since the 1990s. Back then, Expedia was a go-to source for searching and booking flights. But how does it stack up now?

You aren’t necessarily getting a better deal booking through Expedia, but you aren’t paying any more than you might on the airline’s website.

A nice perk of using Expedia is that it offers a rewards program called One Key. This program offers member pricing plus the ability to earn points for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, activities, and more.

The One Key loyalty program is also used by Hotels.com and Vrbo.

If you’re a member of an airline’s frequent flyer program, you’ll be happy to know that you can still earn airline miles on a flight booked through Expedia . However, you often won’t be able to earn miles/points toward status or be eligible for seat upgrades.

Pros and Cons of Expedia

• Earn and redeem points through the One Key program
• Booking through Expedia may limit your mileage earned toward elite status
• Your ability to be eligible for upgrades can be limited when you book through Expedia

Hot Tip:  For more information, check out our post about how to use Expedia to find great deals on flights, hotels, vacation packages (and more).

Priceline is a popular OTA that introduced the Name Your Own Price tool and opaque bookings. These types of bookings can offer discounts, but many of the details are hidden until after the booking. The Name Your Own Price tool was discontinued for flights in 2016, so now Priceline operates like most other OTAs .

One of the nice things about searching for flights on Priceline is that it has a nice color-coded calendar, so you can easily see which days offer the lowest prices.

The search results on Priceline are clear and easy to navigate. As you scroll through your search results, you can easily see the cheapest nonstop options and things like flights with no change fees or early bird flights.

Another way to save money is by looking at Priceline’s Express Deals . These opaque bookings are ones where select details of the flight (like the departure, arrival times, or even the airline) are hidden until the booking is complete.

Pros and Cons of Priceline

• Express Deal flights can offer a good discount if you have some flexibility; many of the details of the flight, including airline and arrival and departure times, are hidden until the booking is complete
• Color-coded calendar and easy-to-read search results
• Price Match Guarantee
• Free online cancellation within 24 hours of booking (except for Express Deal flights)
• No rewards program
• Express Deal flights can be good deals, but they can sometimes be even more expensive than a standard booking

Bottom Line: For more information, check out the complete guide to booking travel with Priceline .

Daily Deals Special: Check out Orbitz’s Daily Deals

Orbitz is another reliable OTA that has been around since 2001. One thing that makes this site a little different is that it offers its own rewards program called Orbitz Rewards . You can earn Orbucks when you book hotels, flights, and vacation packages through Orbitz. However, you can only redeem Orbucks for hotels.

When booking a flight through Orbitz, you’ll earn 1% of your purchase price back as Orbucks (or 2% if you use the Orbitz mobile app). If you book a $500 flight, you will earn 5 Orbucks, which is worth $5 toward a hotel booking. Joining the Orbitz Rewards program is free.

Unfortunately, Orbitz sometimes charges a 1% booking fee . Keep an eye out for these on your trip summary page before finalizing your purchase, and factor them into your calculations to see if you’re getting a good deal or not. While earning Orbucks is great, paying a booking fee could wipe out all of the benefits.

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

• Orbitz Rewards lets you earn Orbucks that can be applied to hotel bookings
• 24-hour cancellation policy
• Low Price Guarantee: if you find a lower price for your flight on another website within 24 hours, Orbitz will refund the difference
• Flight booking fees

Bottom Line: For more information, check out our guide to booking travel with Orbitz .

Agoda is an OTA owned by Priceline. This website doesn’t offer much more than a simple search with limited filter options when looking for flights. If you’re looking for unique accommodations such as an apartment or private villa, Agoda is worth checking out, but it doesn’t offer much when searching for flights.

One cool thing about Agoda is that the site is multilingual. You can select your language by clicking on the flag in the top menu bar.

Pros and Cons of Agoda

• Simple search functionality
• Multilingual option
• Limited filtering options for flights

Hot Tip: Agoda has a loyalty program called VIP, but it only applies to hotel stays. For more information, check out our guide to booking travel through Agoda .

Special: See these Hotwire Flight Deals

Hotwire is a popular OTA that has been around for almost 20 years.

The simple home page offers the main search box to input your departure and arrival cities as well as your desired dates of travel.

Hotwire can offer a great deal when booking a hotel along with your flight . Many times during the booking process, you’ll see pop-ups or prompts advertising great savings when booking a hotel at the same time. We tested it, and every time we priced out a Hotwire vacation package deal against purchasing a flight and hotel separately, the package deal was cheaper.

Bottom Line: If you need a hotel in addition to your flight, booking both together through Hotwire can save you money.

Another thing to remember when using Hotwire to find great flight deals is that sometimes a booking fee will be charged.

Pros and Cons of Hotwire

• Package deals that include a hotel stay can save money
• Low Price Guarantee
• Hotwire can sometimes charge a booking fee

Bottom Line: For more details about finding great deals, check out our complete guide to booking travel through Hotwire .

Skyscanner is another travel search engine that does not sell flights directly. It shows you a list of flights and links to the airline’s website or OTA to complete the purchase.

This site excels for travelers with flexibility . In the search box, you can select Explore everywhere  to search for the cheapest destinations on your chosen dates.

If you have a set destination with specific dates, Skyscanner operates like most other travel search sites.

Pros and Cons of Skyscanner

• Flexible searches, including Explore everywhere  and Multi-city search
• Easy to change language and currency
• Price alerts

Hot Tip:  For more information, check out our in-depth piece on Skyscanner . 

Travelocity is yet another OTA that has been around for a while and is very similar to the other websites we’ve been looking at.

On the plus side, there are some nice filtering options to help you find the best flight for your needs. On the downside, prices can change between selection and booking. We did a dummy booking, and by the time we got to the payment section, the flight price had gone up from $157 to $338!

Much like other online travel agencies, Travelocity can also charge booking fees, so keep an eye out for those in the payment section of the booking process.

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

• Price Guarantee: If you find a lower price on an identical itinerary within 24 hours, Travelocity will refund the difference in price
• Free cancellation on flights within 24 hours of booking (on most airlines)
• Travelocity sometimes charges a booking fee
• Prices can change between flight selection and payment

Bottom Line: For more information, check out our guide to booking travel with Travelocity .

Google Flights is not an OTA. Rather, it’s a metasearch engine similar to Kayak. Once you find a flight, Google Flights will link you to the airline’s direct website or an OTA to complete the purchase. It is a powerful search engine built on the ITA Matrix , which was originally developed for travel agents.

This site shows you price trends and how your travel dates could affect the cost of your ticket. Plus, it allows you to track the prices of a route , so you can jump on low prices when they pop up. These features make Google Flights a great tool to help you feel confident that the price you’re getting is a good deal.

Google Flights recently rolled out a price guarantee feature on select flights departing from the U.S. If you book a flight with the price guarantee badge and the price drops, you’ll get a refund of the difference (with a maximum of $500 per calendar year) from Google Flights via Google Pay. However, you can only receive up to 3 price guaranteed refunds at any one time.

Pros and Cons of Google Flights

• Price graph shows you the pricing trends for your route and allows you to see what days might be cheaper to fly
• Price tracking will send you an email when your flight’s price increases or decreases
• Automatic price guarantee on select flights
• Since this search engine is so powerful with lots of options, it could get complicated for a novice traveler

Hot Tip: You can earn frequent flyer miles on flights booked through an OTA, but you might not earn miles toward elite status.

CheapOair is an OTA that offers its own credit card. Before applying for the card, we recommend considering a better travel rewards credit card  for more lucrative and flexible travel rewards.

This site might not be as cheap as you would think. That’s because it can charge expensive “agency fees.” For most flights, the fees can be up to $35; however, once you read the fine print, you’ll see they can actually be as high as $200 per ticket!

In addition, CheapOair charges a fee to change or cancel any ticket, including within 24 hours, which is free on many other sites.

Pros and Cons of CheapOair

• Price Match Promise: CheapOair will refund the difference in price if you find a lower price on the same itinerary on a major OTA within 24 hours of booking
• CheapOair charges hefty booking fees in addition to fees to cancel or change your flight
• Price Match Promise is very limited; the guarantee is only good for identical flights on Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, and Travelocity

Bottom Line: CheapOair might not be cheap after all. It advertises low base fares, but it charges booking fees, which usually result in a higher price than the airline’s website. For more information, check out our guide to CheapOair .

Hopper is an app that tries to predict the right time to buy a flight. It claims that using its app can save you up to 40% on flights. The simple interface and color-coded map show you the cheapest and most expensive times to fly to your chosen destination.

You can also set up alerts to watch the prices for your specific dates or watch a whole month if you have flexible travel plans.

Pros and Cons of Hopper

• Easy to use
• Choose to watch prices for a specific trip or choose to watch prices over a whole month
• No ability to search on a desktop
• Few filtering options

Hot Tip: There are many credit cards with travel insurance and extra protections like trip interruption and cancellation protection and baggage delay coverage . We suggest looking at Chase credit cards or Amex credit cards for great insurance coverage.

We searched for a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to New York City (JFK) across different travel booking websites to compare pricing head-to-head. Below is the cheapest ticket each website offered.

In this search, we weren’t taking anything other than price into consideration. When you are actually booking a flight, there will most likely be more factors that go into your decision of which flight to book.

In this example, Google Flights, Hopper, and Priceline tied for the cheapest flight cost with Expedia, Hotwire, Orbitz, and Travelocity coming in just $3 more expensive. CheapOair was by far the most expensive option.

There is no one-stop shop to find the lowest prices on a flight every time. Most OTAs are in the same ballpark when it comes to price.

If you’ve got some flexibility, many of these sites can help you find the lowest-priced travel dates and destinations.

If you prefer a more traditional booking, start out with a travel search engine like Kayak or Google Flights to search all of the other sites. That will give you a good idea of the best website to use to save the most money on your next flight.

Are you a student? Don’t miss our guide to the best websites for cheap, discount student flights .

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best website to use to book the cheapest flights.

There is no single website that has the cheapest flights all of the time. Most of the travel search engines and online travel agencies all have similar pricing, however you can find some really nice deals when looking at opaque (hidden) bookings or vacation packages.

What is an opaque booking?

An opaque booking hides many of the flight details, including arrival and departure times and the operating airline, until your booking is complete. Many sites including Hotwire, Orbitz, and Travelocity offer these types of bookings.

Will I earn frequent flyer miles when I book through an online travel agency?

Generally, yes, you will still be able to earn frequent flyer miles on flights booked through an online travel agency. However, miles earned to qualify for elite status may be not be awarded unless you book directly through the airline’s website.

What are the best websites to buy cheap flights to Europe?

Your best bet would be to start with a travel search engine like Kayak or Google Flights. You will be able to see prices from many different websites in one place and you can track flight prices to help determine the best time to purchase tickets. Be sure to check out our guide to the best websites to book European vacation packages if you want to bundle your flight with a hotel and/or rental car.

Is it cheaper to book directly on the airline's website?

Often, an airline will offer the lowest prices through its own website. However, you can often save money booking through an online travel agency (OTA) that has the ability to combine flights from more than 1 airline into a single itinerary.

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The 14 Best Hotel Booking Sites

Megan Johnson

Megan is a Senior Editor, SEO for SmarterTravel Media.

Megan started with SmarterTravel Media’s Airfarewatchdog way back in 2008, moved over to FamilyVacationCritic, and finally SmarterTravel in 2021. Originally from Massachusetts, she has lived in Nova Scotia, London, and New York City. She has spent nearly every summer (or at least part of it) on Prince Edward Island. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two young children, and their dog, Indiana Bones (Indy).

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As with the best flight booking sites , there’s no shortage of resources available when you need to book a cheap hotel room. From metasearch engines (aggregator) that send you to company sites, to bookable OTAs (online travel agencies), to corporate hotel sites, the options for the best hotel booking sites can be overwhelming. But when doing your search, deciding which hotel booking sites to compare should depend on how often they offer the best hotel deals, and how you prefer to view and filter search results.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

The Best Hotel Booking Sites for Comparing Prices

For most travel planning, the best overall strategy is to compare prices from multiple sources including the hotel’s own website, as it will sometimes offer deals not shared with third-party sites, or offer the same rates as third-party sites minus pesky booking fees. Hotels sites will also offer package deals—bundled amenity inclusions and the like—that aren’t shared with third-party sites.

Bottom line: Whether you search with a hotel site on this list or a preferred hotel search engine of your own, always check the hotel’s actual website as well, or call its reservations line, to make sure you really are getting the best hotel deal. Don’t forget to check the cancellation policy as the best hotel booking site is one that has a flexible policy in case your plans change.

If you’re trying to figure out how best to search for cheap hotels: First, scan this quick list of the best hotel search sites, in no particular order. Then, scroll down to read in-depth summaries of each or click to jump to a particular site.

Booking.com

Bookingbuddy, hotelscombined.

• Expedia (which owns Travelocity and Orbitz )

Tripadvisor

Mr. & mrs. smith.

No list of the best hotel booking sites is exhaustive, but these 15 represent a combination of great crowd favorites mixed with some newer, similarly performing hotel search options that you might not know about.

All of them fared well in tests: Prices for the same dates and destinations were fairly consistent from site to site, but the volatility of results may vary based on your destination, how far in advance you’re looking for the best hotel deals, and the time of year you visit (i.e., high season vs. low).

With that in mind, here are the best hotel booking sites to compare prices with for your next trip, plus the best feature of each one.

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• Insofar as keeping your options open goes, Booking.com returns the most eclectic search results by far, with a healthy mix of hotels, motels, b&bs, apartments, and hostels. But whether this is a good or bad thing depends entirely on your preferences. If you’re not a fan of hostels, for example, hotel search results like this mean that you have to filter them out, creating an extra step that other hotel booking sites don’t require. That said, Booking.com offers something for everyone. 
• Its handy hotel search engine displays the total cost up front (except taxes) which is helpful when comparing cheap hotel rates; being able to see the total hotel cost up front helps you quickly determine which hotels actually fit into your budget.
• Its filtering options are extensive, from price, cancellation policy, sustainability, specific neighborhood for that city, fun things to do nearby, amenities, room accessibility and much, much more. With this filter feature, you will be able to find exactly the kind of accommodations you want. 

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• Like its flight search, Kayak ‘s hotel search offers a clean, easy-to-use interface with many available filters.
• Shows other hotel booking sites’ rates so you can compare them all in one place. But the first hotel price result is often higher than better rates farther down the list, unless you specifically filter by price. Kayak’s hotel search results are automatically sorted by the vague factor of what’s “Recommended,” which is true of many hotel booking sites. Often, higher rates populate first while scrolling results, and sometimes that lead price is much higher than other comparable hotel options. Be sure to change sorting to price, so you can find the best deal. 
• It’s search calendar is color coded to show you cheap, average, and high prices, which comes in handy if price is your number one priority when booking a hotel. 
• If you are someone who likes to book by ratings, each hotel page on Kayak has the rating in a large box just underneath the hotel pictures. It’s easy to find, and may help you to make your decision quickly. 

• Priceline has one of the more visually appealing design layouts of the major hotel search engines, and is definitely among the easiest hotel sites to navigate. None of these hotel search sites is dramatically different from the others in terms of rates or price comparison, so usability can go a long way toward improving the experience of searching for the best hotel prices.
• Unsurprisingly, Priceline’s prices are on par with the other online travel agencies (OTAs), and its results are largely focused on downtowns and tourist-friendly areas. A big draw of Priceline is their “Express Deal” option: a flash deal that hides the name of the hotel until after you book. While somewhat gimmicky, this hotel search option can offer significant savings.
• The handy map that is featured on each hotel page, which will show you other hotels in the area and the prices. This is particularly useful if you want to stay in the city center, by a specific landmark, or are visiting friends or family and want to be nearby where they live. 

Editor’s note: BookingBuddy is owned by SmarterTravel Media, SmarterTravel.com’s parent company.

• Compare multiple hotel booking sites with one click to find the cheapest hotel stays on BookingBuddy . This site lets you quickly compare prices of as many other search sites (like VRBO or Trivago) as you want, without having to do a bunch of different searches. Simply select which hotel/vacation rental search sites you want to compare, and BookingBuddy opens up a new tab with your selected hotel stay dates and destination already filled in.
• You can sign up for an alert for when prices drop. If you are in no rush to book, you just may find a super deal if you sign up for an alert! 
• Like other sites on this list, BookingBuddy pulls in and displays the best deals from various booking sites and OTAs on their own search results page. However, BookingBuddy also lets travelers directly compare entire search result pages across multiple sites, allowing them to toggle between the pages from a lefthand navigation menu.

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• Hotels.com helps you find the best hotel deals via tons of filters that let you narrow down your search. Its initial results tend to show a healthy balance of lower- and upper-end hotels, mostly in or around city centers. That’s what most travelers want in a hotel search engine: a robust, easily refined list of well-located options. Prices were on par with other OTAs.
• Like many cheap hotel websites these days, Hotels.com includes lots of non-hotel properties too, including condo hotels, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts.
• Hotels.com allows you to sort by the usual things: price, star rating, featured, and also has a way to sort by what is closest to certain locations in the city: landmarks, train stations and airports. 

• HotelsCombined is a meta search tool that searches a wide range of sources to find the best hotel deals, including OTAs, as well as the hotels’ own sites. 
• You can also toggle between nightly base price, nightly price plus taxes/fees, or total stay plus taxes/fees. There is no option to display the total price of the stay without taxes/fees.
• Easily see if your travel dates are during peak travel times with their color coded calendar showing you if your dates have “Cheaper, Average,” or “Higher” prices. 

Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz

• Short of the color scheme and fonts, you’d be hard pressed to find much difference between these three legacy hotel booking sites. Expedia , Travelocity , and Orbitz are all owned by Expedia Inc., and all three use the same layout, with a few minor tweaks. Interestingly, the hotel search results do vary slightly. 
• The top hotel result for each test search was the same across all three of these hotel booking sites, but the order of the list of hotels below it varied. Prices, of course, were the same, since they’re all powered by Expedia. These perfectly fine hotel search engines are not all that different from Hotels.com .
• They’ve got plenty of options, prices that are usually good but not always great (as with any hotel booking site), and useful hotel search filters. That might be faint praise for discount hotel sites, but there’s something to be said for consistency, right? 
• Keep an eye on these hotel sites’ deals and limited-time offers, which is when any of these three hotel search engines are more likely to substantially beat their competition.
• With these sites, you can easily add a flight or car rentals to your accommodation booking, making for easy one-stop-shopping. 

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• Agoda began as a hotel booking site with a focus on Asia, and that focus remains apparent on the home page, where properties in Malaysia, Thailand, and other Eastern destinations get prominent real estate. But now that Agoda has come to the U.S., it delivers a hotel search experience that matches some of the best hotel sites on this list. 
• There are even instances when Agoda had better hotel deals than its competition, including one hotel search result in which the total booking cost was more than $200 less than the same hotel on Priceline (with a coupon code). Don’t expect that sort of result every time, but it shows that Agoda, like all the rest of these hotel booking sites, is well worth checking for the best hotel deals.

• Like HotelsCombined, Tripadvisor ‘s hotel search displays some of the very best hotel deals from a range of sites. The tool is built right into Tripadvisor’s general search function, letting you browse the site’s vast library of reviews, then begin your hotel booking seamlessly. The initial list of hotel search results is sorted by “best value” and shows the source of the given price, so that you know where (off Tripadvisor) your hotel booking is going to happen. 
• Tripadvisor searches most of the major hotel booking sites, as well as some lesser-known ones; when applicable, it also includes the hotel’s own website. You can also book directly with Tripadvisor.
• Sort your search by traveler ranking, so you can see the hotels travelers just like you prefer. Guest reviews often include pictures of hotel rooms taken by the guests themselves, not clouded over by staging, so you can see what the rooms actually look like before you book. 

• Another aggregate hotel booking site, Trivago did surface that low price coupon found on Agoda. However, it did not lead with that price, choosing instead to prominently display a higher price from Booking.com in large, green text. Odd. The lower-priced Agoda deal was listed second in the hotel search results, displayed in small gray text along with several others. In fact, Trivago found multiple hotel deals lower than that Booking.com price, but none received top billing for some reason. This happened in several other cases too, where the lead price ended up higher than best hotel prices that Trivago could find.
•  The good thing about conducting a hotel search on Trivago is that Trivago searches several lesser-known hotel booking sites, including Agoda, in addition to the usual suspects like Expedia, Priceline, and Booking.com . But travelers should take a close look at Trivago’s hotel search results to make sure that Trivago isn’t hiding a better deal farther down the list.

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• Google’s hotel search engine works by simply entering “hotels in (insert city here)” right on Google.com . (You can also go straight to the Google Hotels page .) This feature is integrated into Google Maps, which makes it very different from any of the other hotel booking sites listed above. On Google, hotel locations are marked by prices on a map, rather than by name or any other identifying characteristic. 
• From there, Google’s hotel search tool is fairly price-forward, which is what metasearch should be. Clicking on a price displays the hotel’s name, features, and booking options. Overall, it’s no surprise that Google offers a powerful, no-frills hotel search engine for travelers who don’t want all the hard-sell aspects of cheap hotel sites and more commercial hotel search engines. (And yes, Google did surface that low-with-coupon hotel deal from Agoda.)

• One of the best hotel booking sites for last minute deals and “Hot Rates,” which hide the hotel name in order to give you a better rate (similar to Priceline’s Express Deals), Hotwire is a great option if you don’t mind a limited-details final booking; and you probably don’t if it’s short notice. 
• Hotwire’s Hot Rates descriptions feature so many details about the property, as well as a pretty narrow location radius, that you can sometimes figure out the hotel you’ll be booked in, although it’s still somewhat of a gamble. Hotwire is also partnered with reliable global hotel brands like Kimpton and Hyatt, so you can be more confident that you won’t end up with a ramshackle property.
• The savings vary depending on the destination, but Hot Rates are consistently much more competitive than the standard Hotwire rates, which aren’t always the best price compared to other hotel booking sites. The main qualm that most customers have with Hotwire is their “24/7 support,” which apparently can be pretty unhelpful despite always being available to you.

• Formerly a social media-only deals site, TravelPony has since expanded to help anyone in need of a deal on a hotel. 
• Great for domestic and international hotels, there are loads of filtering options to ensure you are getting exactly the type of place you are looking for. You can filter by type of establishment, (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, resorts, and even farms), facilities, districts, room options (free cancellation, free WiFi etc..), so even if there is only one option out there that meets all of your wants and desires, they’ll find it! There are some lesser-known booking sites that TravelPony links to, so make sure you do your research before finalizing!

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• Their price match feature goes above and beyond the usual. If you find a lower price elsewhere, they will not only match it, but you will also receive a $50 voucher. 
• You must become a member to book through Mr. & Mrs. Smith, however, entry-level membership is free. Members receive “Smith Extras” upon arrival to their hotel—anything from a bottle of champagne to a spa service! 
• Hotels must be invited to join this website, as they are carefully vetted by “undercover tastemakers” before being added to the site. 

Which Hotel Booking Site Is Best for Me?  

Consider what type of trip you are taking. If you are open to the type of place you want to stay at, then consider a site with more diverse options. If you are torn between a hotel or vacation rental, BookingBuddy is the site for you, as it will search for both to help you make your decision. If you rely heavily on peer reviews, then go with TripAdvisor . Check our best features of each site above to decide which site is best for you to make your hotel reservation. For 

What is the Difference Between an Online Travel Agency (OTA) and Metasearch Engine? 

An OTA allows you to book directly through them, and does not send you outside of their site to make your booking. a Metasearch Engine (also known as an aggregator) searches multiple sites including OTA’s, and will send you to a site outside of the aggregator to finalize your booking. 

Is It Cheaper to Book Directly with a Hotel or With a Hotel Booking Site?

It might be cheaper to book directly with a hotel, but this option really only makes sense if you already have a hotel you love and you want to book. Otherwise, the fastest, cheapest way to book a hotel is going to be by using one of the hotel booking websites. You will waste a lot of time calling hotels to see if you can get a better deal, and who has time for that these days?! 

When Should I Book My Hotel?

This really depends on your flexibility. If all you want is the best deal, and you aren’t picky about where the hotel is, waiting until the last minute (one to two days before you travel) could probably get you the best deal on your hotel. But, you might not want to risk that—I know I wouldn’t when planning a vacation! If you are booking for travel during peak times, book early so you don’t end up far away from where all of the action is, as hotels can book up quickly, especially during school vacation times. 

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Bottom Line

What is the best hotel booking website.

These days, we are inundated with choices, including the number of accommodation booking websites there are out there. These sites should all make your booking easier, but some will make it even easier. Our clear winner is HotelsCombined.com . It’s easy to read, you can choose from hotels and rentals, and its ability to search hotel sites gives it the edge over other sites. We’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention SmarterTravel Hotels as a runner-up—their prices were some of the cheapest we found. Booking.com is another solid runner-up, as they appear to have the other sites beat as far as the volume of hotels goes. 

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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The 10 Best (and Worst) Airfare Search Sites for 2024

Frommer’s regularly pits the best airfare search engines, aggregators, and booking sites against each other in a battle royale to see which can find the lowest price on more than two dozen identical searches for flights. 

This year’s results bring new discoveries. We are excited to announce that none of our new top three—the best of the best—is a household name. We are equally excited to discover that if you’re specifically looking for a last-minute deal on airfare, a fourth website, one that’s not even in our top three, is the best choice. And two former airfare search sites fell out of our Top 10 entirely: This year, both Booking.com and FlightNetwork failed to take off. As for the rest of our Top 10, each one has its pluses and minuses, which we’re about to reveal in our reviews below.

On this year’s list, two sites that previously languished in the bottom half of the reviews have upped their games and zoomed into the top ranks—and one former low performer improved so much that it nabbed the top slot.

We have winnowed down a wide field to the 10 best airfare sites for 2024. Here they are.

We tested 15 sites on 32 itineraries, trying both last-minute flights (leaving in a week) and APEX fares (booked three months out). We covered major gateways (NYC to LAX, LAX to Hong Kong, NYC to Paris) and secondary ones (Philly to Tampa, Chicago to Rome, Miami to Rio). We threw in a curve ball (Dallas to Dubai) and included a flight with no North American legs (London to Barcelona) to see how well each handled Europe‘s wilderness of low-cost carriers.

We also ignored low fares that would be miserable to fly due to excessively drawn-out layovers, too many stops, or flying long detours just to change planes. Basically, we rejected any itinerary that increased total travel time by more than half. Airlines may think those are viable plans, but we don’t.

We then used a rigorous, weighted scoring system that rewarded three points to any airfare search site that found the best fares, two points for second-best, and so on. We also penalized fares with negative points if the price proved to be higher than the average result from all competitors. Fares within 1% of one another were considered equal.

• An aggregator is only as good as the OTAs it canvasses. There are booking engines that sell tickets directly (Hotwire, Kiwi, CheapOAir, etc.). And then there are aggregators, which are sites that do not book tickets but instead search dozens of other booking engines, airfare sites, and OTAs (online travel agencies) and compile the results in one place; travelers then click through to their selection to make the actual purchase on the third-party site that’s actually selling it.

Some of the booking sites that aggregators show you are safer than others. All quality aggregators will remove unreliable ticket sellers from their searches, but problems can slip through. As you should do when you are referred to any unfamiliar company, always do a quick Better Business Bureau check for an unfamiliar airfare seller and search for complaints and red flags. 

Also, some OTAs are prone to dangling lead prices a few bucks below what they will actually offer once you click through, and some misleadingly categorize “direct” flights—which do actually stop, but don't require you to change planes— as “nonstop.” Because prices can change from moment to moment, even the most honorable aggregator may lead you to a site where you can’t find the airfare you were originally quoted. When that happened to us frequently in our review tests, we let you know.

Aggregator Google may be the Titan of online search, but it fumbles when it comes to airfares. 

Google does have some things going for it. It is unbelievably fast, refreshing results even as you key in destinations or change filters. It displays average prices on a popup calendar when you’re choosing dates so you can see at a glance the cheapest days to fly. It also lets you peruse a price grid and price graph on the results page. 

Google’s flight search features a fabulous “Explore” feature that allows you to select major city pairs and find the lowest fare for your dates (plus price trends for the month surrounding it), or just see at a glance how much it roughly costs to fly from your designated airport to dozens of destinations. It is also one of only three sites, including our #1, to feature a filter to include fees for checked and cabin bags in the prices. 

So why is the mighty Google at the back of the pack?

Its price results were all over the place. It found the best fare a grand total of one time, flying from Miami to Rio—but four of our top five sites matched it. Then it tanked on rooting out the absolutely lowest fares for two major routes: NYC to Paris and LA to Hong Kong. Its results for pricier direct flights on those itineraries were just average. 

Google frequently found the exact same flight as many other sites did, but at prices just a little bit higher—often just 5% to 15%, but in some cases bafflingly higher, like the last-minute Dallas-Dubai jaunt on Emirates; Google wanted $673 more than our price champion for that flight, and around $250 more than several other sites found.

After quietly doing away with its Hot Rates (deeply discounted opaque airfares), Hotwire fell out of our ranking after 2017. Now it’s back, but with a huge caveat: Never use Hotwire for last-minute fare. 

Hotwire performed, by far, the worst of any site we tested at last-minute prices, chalking up the highest airfare a whopping six times. The two better-than-average rates it did find were balanced out by a pair of worse-than-average ones on other itineraries. 

Hotwire made up some ground by being flatly average when it came to booking farther in advance. It never found the cheapest overall fare, but it often nabbed lower or even the lowest rates on direct flights.

Beyond that, it failed pretty hard, and we think we know why. Hotwire was the only site that missed big chances to bring no-frills carriers into the mix. On New York–to-Paris, it found a decent $745 fare on Scandinavian, albeit with a stopover—but everyone else found a direct Flybee flight for even less ($666–$687). The best Hotwire could muster for a direct flight: $987 on Norse.

More egregiously, because Hotwire only searches one airport at a time by default, it missed lots of cheaper no-frills flights that were available at nearby alternate airports. Because of that blind spot, Hotwire insisted on a British Airways fare for our London-Barcelona hop that actually cost around four times more than booking a combo of no-frills RyanAir, easyJet, and Vueling from other airports in London—a tactic every other site knew enough to include in results. Hotwire pulled the same face-plant on last-minute fares on the same route; the Air France tickets it offered us cost twice as much as the low-cost carriers in that scenario.

Another mark against Hotwire is its poor set of filters. Along with other problems, it offered no way to indicate a maximum total flight time or layover duration you’d be willing to deal with. That’s pretty much a standard sidebar slider everywhere else. We did like the way its showcases, above the results, how much it would cost to fly on three days to either side of your chosen date.

By the way: If you’re wondering why Expedia (and its corporate siblings, Orbitz and Travelocity) is not on this list, it is because those results are all right here in Hotwire. Expedia now just uses the Hotwire engine for its airfare functions, so if you search Expedia now, you’ve searched Hotwire.

This year,  Hopper , the travel app with an intuitive and colorful interface, tumbled five places from #3. 

When it came to finding cheap airfares, Hopper was a mixed bag. It did well enough on advance-purchase APEX fares, scoring slightly better prices than average about a third of the time. But that decent performance was counterbalanced by a dismal performance in the last-minute category. Hopper got whatever is the opposite of a silver medal, second only to Hotwire in putting up the worst prices the most often. Oddly, the only place where it fared better than average was on our curveball Dallas-to-Dubai itinerary. 

In terms of utility, Hopper still gives its users advice about the best dates to book based on price trends, but that feature used to offer far, far more insight on every flight—it once had bar graphs and historical prices, baggage fees and seat pitches, and the cost of various amenities. Those are all gone, although on the final booking page, Hopper will at least link you to the airline’s own page on baggage regulations and costs (except when that link is broken). 

Some features remain. The calendar for selecting dates is color coded to show the cheapest travel days for two months, so you can easily spot where a bit of flexibility might save you money. In addition to a paltry half-dozen sort-by filters (price, flight duration, number of stops, etc.), Hopper can limit the results to its self-defined categories of Basic (cheapest), Standard (economy fares, but with at least free carry-ons and seat selection), Enhanced (more legroom, priority boarding, free snacks, etc.), plus Premium and Luxury for folks who probably don't need this roundup of the best places to book airfares online. One nice touch: Hopper includes a novel option to limit results to flights with no change fee.

Speaking of fees, Hopper sure does like to pressure you to pay a lot of them for its own add-on services, like freezing a fare for up to 21 days for a sliding scale cost, plus flight protection and cancel-for-any-reason insurances—each of which Hopper, annoyingly, makes you decline on two screens in a row before you can proceed. (On that note, for security’s sake, we always recommend you buy travel insurance from a third party, never from the provider who sells you the trip, in case that provider becomes unreachable.)

We’re not sure what happened to the Czech booking site Kiwi.com to make it tumble from #2 to #7 in less than two years, but the numbers don’t lie. Most of its fares were just a little above or below average, though it did find the cheapest last-minute flights from Miami to Rio and Chicago to Rome. 

What tanked its score was twofold. It performed poorly on advance-purchase direct flights (out of eight itineraries, it scored under average three times and worst of all another three). Kiwi did come up with the cheapest overall fares on NYC to Paris and L.A. to Hong Hong with connecting flights—but then so did most of the sites that outranked it.

Kiwi does have some features to recommend it. It caters to travelers who can be flexible. The default departure date is "anytime," allowing you to see which days are cheapest, and once you do choose a date, pop-up calendars show indicative prices for every day over two months. The results page has a fare grid for three days to either side of your chosen dates, and a trends bar graph showing what prices are likely for a dozen days out (and you can scroll even earlier or later). It’ll even throw in train and bus options, if available, which on our list is unique to Kiwi. It also has the second-best set of filters in the game, rivaled only by our #1. 

But there’s a hitch. We must point out that Kiwi does catch some bad reviews for lackluster customer service when something goes wrong. Frommer’s has received complaints about Kiwi from readers, and few rivals would be jealous of its status with the Better Business Bureau, which fields complaints about its Miami office. Bearing that in mind, some travelers may feel more comfortable using Kiwi to find ideal itineraries but then buy them elsewhere. 

The last time we ran our tests, Priceline lost the precarious grip it had kept on the #10 spot for years and fell off the list entirely. During its time in the wilderness, Priceline evidently cleaned up some of its worst practices. It has vastly improved its filters, provided daily price comparisons on the popup date-picker calendars, and no longer turns up its nose at low-cost carriers. That, plus its solid, if not breathtaking, price performance, has placed Priceline back in good graces and firmly in the middle of the pack.

Overall, last-minute fares were Priceline’s biggest weakness, underperforming even our #7 contender, Kiwi, on that score. It was the advance fares that lifted Priceline to #6. It even pulled off a few nice moves. Priceline alone realized you could shave $40 off a CHI-ROM flight in exchange for a short layover in Istanbul. It was also one of only two tested sites to figure out you could save 35% on a last-minute trip from NYC to L.A. as long as you were willing to endure a brief layover. 

Priceline of course also still offers its original, quirky travel hack: The “Express Deals.” These are opaque fares in which you get to pick your airports and travel dates, but not learn precise flight times, airlines, or stopovers until you pay. Before purchasing, you’ll only know whether it’s a morning, mid-day, or evening takeoff and that there will be “0–1” plane changes. If you are willing to put up with that degree of uncertainty, you can save up to 40%, though the discount is typically more around the 10% mark.

Aggregator Tripadvisor  holds its position in fifth place, proving that while it may no longer be just a platform to vent about travel mishaps, but its airfare results are holding steady. 

Tripadvisor offers the clever cost-saving option to include nearby airports—you never know when Newark-to-Fort Lauderdale will cost half a LaGuardia-to-Miami ticket—and its great set of filters includes one that lets you limit the booking sites it checks to only the names you trust.

What’s holding it back at #5—aside from being annoyingly slow—is that whenever it found the cheapest tickets, or even a better-than-average airfare, so did our top three sites. And those higher-ranked sites pulled off this feat even more often. Tripadvisor also turned in a resoundingly meh performance on last-minute airfares, with overwhelmingly average results nearly across the board. 

The highest ranked OTA on our list, CheapOAir reigns supreme when it comes to last-minute airfares. How good are the airfares it sells? A few rivals managed to find the best price one or two times, but CheapOAir did so an impressive six times. 

However, alongside those six wins, CheapOAir posted three prices that were worse than average (but not the worst). You could say it’s all or nothing with these folks—even more so when it came to advance-purchase fares, where CheapoAir’s performance was all over the place. Put it this way: If we ignored its stellar performance in the last-minute category and scored things based only on buying tickets a few months out, CheapOAir would rank 7th, not 4th. 

A few other quibbles: CheapOAir won the booby prize for Most Annoying Popups—pestering us to "Speak to a travel expert" or pick "Air-hotel package or flights only?" to a vexing degree. It was also the slowest of our bunch, and sometimes pretty glitchy. 

On the plus side, the popup date-picker calendars automatically populate with airfare prices for every day, so you can see at a glance which day is cheapest to fly. CheapOAir also had a handy cheat sheet chart at the top of results showing the costs, both non-stop and cheapest, for the best half-dozen airlines. The filters were also pretty good, including options to show alternate dates and nearby airports (both can be great cost-saving techniques).

Always give CheapOAir a look if you are planning to fly in the immediate future—but then also run the numbers at our top three, just in case.

This decade-old upstart quickly outgrew its travel hacker roots to find a comfortable roost on our ranking among the top three—even when we left out the problematic "Hidden city" fares that were once its calling card. 

Hidden city fares—which you can easily exclude by unticking the box next to the word "SKIPLAGGING"—are tedious to explain but boil down to this: They can sometimes cost less, but you don't get to check any luggage. Most crucially, hidden city fares are against airline rules and can result in unpleasant, pricey consequences or even lawsuits if you're caught. But Skiplagged gives you the option to exclude this controversial type of airfare, which we did for our tests. 

Ironically, the site that named itself for a technique that games multi-leg journeys turned out to be strong on direct flights. Our top three sites were pretty much neck-and-neck when it came to pricing (all excellent at the long game, average on last-minute airfares), so it comes down to their other features.

Skiplagged's delightfully simple graphic interface lets you compare, at a glance, the lengths of trips, including layover durations. When you enter a departure airport or city, the arrival is defaulted to "Anywhere;" if you leave it that way, you get a page of photos with prices for a bunch of tempting getaways all across North America (sadly, though, nowhere else).

Skiplagged’s popup calendars show how much the flight costs on each day over two months, so you can easily see how tinkering with the departure or return can save you money. (On the two sites that placed higher in our review ranking, this feature only indicates price ranges, not precise fares).

We do have a few criticisms. Some of Skiplagged’s seemingly low fares from questionable OTAs were actually higher than the competition once you click over and discover service fees and the like. Skiplagged also lacks robust filters, doesn't disclose baggage fees, and rounds down all the prices—that last complaint is minor since we're only talking about a few cents, but just feels sneaky.

Skyscanner remains one of the best performers on price and essentially tied with #3, Skiplagged, in securing the lowest fares on advance purchase tickets. Skyscanner was consistently average on last-minute bookings—but we give it a shout-out for it nailing the cheapest price by far on a quick getaway from Philly to Tampa, even if it was on Spirit. Something else it shares with Skiplagged: mediocre filters.

This time, Skyscanner earned the edge for a few reasons. You can choose "Explore everywhere" as your destination to get a nice grid of destinations and the cheapest cost to get there. Unlike the similar feature at Skiplagged, which is constrained to North America, if you keep scrolling down on Skyscanner, you will get destinations on other continents as well.

This was also one of the first aggregators to include low-cost airlines, and it continues to innovate by including a star rating for all third-party booking sites (and how many users rated it), which helps with vetting unfamiliar OTAs.

Skyscanner offers the option to include nearby airports and to search for destinations in an entire country rather than just a city. While the initial popup calendars for travel dates do not show, as do some others, the precise prices to fly on alternate days, they do indicate each day’s relative cost category via a color code. Then, once you get to the results page, the tiny "Show whole month" link at the top will provide a page with two months’ worth of estimated prices.

Click here for Frommers' Top 10 Ranking of the Best Hotel Booking Sites

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The Guide to Chase’s Travel Portal

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Table of Contents

Who can use Chase's travel portal?

How to use chase's travel portal, other things you can do in chase's portal, chase travel contact options, chase's travel portal can be lucrative.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are among the most useful rewards you can earn. When it comes time to redeem them, you will be directed to Chase's travel portal. This is where you can book flights, hotels and rental cars with points, redeem them for merchandise and gift cards, or transfer points to other programs.

Should you redeem points to pay for a trip instead of using cash or transfer them to a loyalty program partner to get better value? You'll need to do a little homework to find the right answer as each situation is different.

Chase points are the currency you earn when using cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® . They are superior in many ways to other point currencies because  you earn more than one penny in value  per point with these two cards. For example, when redeeming through Chase's travel portal, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will net you 1.5 cents in value per point and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will net you 1.25 cents in value per point. When you transfer to a partner, your per-point-value may be even greater.

With the travel portal, you can redeem points to pay for an entire trip or you can use a mix of points and cash to cover a travel booking. You can also pay all in cash, earning 5 to 10 points per $1 spent, depending on the card you have. Using points for travel is the most valuable way to extract value from Chase Ultimate Rewards® for most people.

It's an efficient website, but some irritants snag even savvy travelers. Let's dig into Chase's travel portal's good and bad. You'll find that it is mostly good, if not great.

Chase cards vary in earning and redemption benefits so you will want to pay attention to which one you use, especially if you have more than one card. The most valuable cards earn Ultimate Rewards® points, but some Chase cards, like the United℠ Explorer Card , earn miles or points in that co-branded program (in this example, United MileagePlus miles ).

Let’s review the cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®, with the most rewarding cards first. Keep in mind that if you have more than one of these cards, you can move points between Chase Ultimate Rewards® accounts to redeem them from an account that delivers more cents per point in value.

These cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® and provide access to Chase's travel portal:

Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card .

Chase Freedom Unlimited® .

Chase Freedom Flex℠ .

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card .

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card .

Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card.

There is an important perk to remember if you have multiple cards. Since the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card offers 1.5 cents in value per point and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offer 1.25 cents in value, it is best to redeem points from these accounts rather than any other Chase card. c

If you have one of those two premium cards and another Chase card (like Chase Freedom Unlimited® , for example), you can move your Ultimate Rewards® points from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® account to a premium card’s account (like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card).

This strategy allows you to unlock half a cent more in value in seconds. It’s one of the best benefits of Ultimate Rewards® when you have a premium card and one of its no-fee cards.

Want to earn a bunch of points quickly to make a redemption? The sign-up bonuses on these cards can rake in extra points if you meet the terms and conditions.

on Chase's website

• 5 points per $1 on travel booked through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

• 2 points per $1 on other travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

Point value in Chase's travel portal: 1.25 cents apiece.

• 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on air travel purchased through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining not booked with Chase.

Point value in Chase's travel portal: 1.5 cents apiece.

• In the first year, 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 4.5% cash back on drugstores and restaurants, and 3% on all other purchases on up to $20,000 in spending.

• After that, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Point value in Chase's travel portal: 1 cent apiece.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Here’s a primer on what you can and cannot do with Ultimate Rewards® points.

Log in to your account, then navigate to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® tab on the right of the screen. If you have more than one card that earns this currency, you can see each balance and select the account from which you want to redeem points.

Once you select the card, you’ll be taken to a homepage that shows the points you have earned and how you can redeem them. We recommend sticking to travel redemptions rather than using points for merchandise as the value diminishes significantly with the latter.

Select the "Travel" tab at the top of the screen. From here, you can decide whether to transfer points to a partner or redeem them as cash for a trip.

One of the best perks of using this travel portal to make a points redemption is that you still earn frequent flyer miles on most airline tickets since these are booked as a revenue ticket (not as an award redemption like when using airline miles to book a flight).

How to book award flights in Chase's travel portal

This is one of the more popular features of using points, but keep in mind that Expedia operates Chase's portal on the back end. It doesn't feature all airlines, which can frustrate travelers searching for a flight. Even if you find a flight on an airline's website or third-party booking site, it doesn't mean it will be available at Chase.

Enter the relevant details in the search bar to find a flight. Results can be filtered by stops, airline or price. Another benefit of this portal is that you aren't subject to award seat availability in the same way you might be when redeeming miles through an airline's program.

If there is a seat that could be bought with cash, you can usually redeem points for it. Plain and simple.

Compare how many miles you would need if booking directly with the airline with what Chase is charging.

If it would cost fewer points to book directly with the airline, you’ll want to use miles instead. For example, Delta co-branded American Express cardholders can often redeem their miles like cash on Delta’s website (at 1 cent per mile’s value). That’s just average, but if it is cheaper than what Chase is charging, consider that the better option. But don’t forget that airlines will add on taxes and fees when redeeming miles . Airfare booked with Chase Ultimate Rewards® points don't have additional costs tacked on — these are already bundled into the fare.

Another important note is that some low-cost airlines like Allegiant don't appear in search results. If you want to travel on a budget airline, then you'll need to visit those websites to compare fares.

You can pay in cash, points or a combination. Chase will display particular details about your fare, like whether assigned seats or checked bags are included. This may not take into account any elite status perks you hold.

How to book hotels in Chase's travel portal

You can also redeem points for hotel stays using Ultimate Rewards® points. This is great news, especially when staying at hotels where you may not have  elite status  or don't care about elite perks or points earned.

Keep in mind that when making a reservation outside a hotel’s official reservation channels, you won’t earn points in its program or be able to take advantage of elite status benefits. So if you have status with a hotel chain, this isn't the best value unless you are willing to forgo those benefits.

Making a reservation is straightforward. Enter the city and travel dates to see a list of hotels available for redemption. Then, you can redeem points or pay in cash for your trip.

Like with flights, compare the cost of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points with the number of points a hotel’s program is charging. A particular favorite is World of Hyatt, which still uses an award chart and, as a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards®, can often deliver more favorable deals when using Hyatt’s points rather than Chase points.

For example, it would cost about 9,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to redeem a night at Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport. But, if you transfer points to World of Hyatt, you would need 5,000 points for the same night’s stay.

One of the booking tabs also leads to the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection . This subset of high-end hotels delivers bonus perks like free breakfast, a $100 hotel credit and room upgrades, depending on the property and other things.

You can book directly through Chase or redeem points and be eligible. It’s nice to have elite status-style perks at a hotel where you may not have status or that doesn't have a loyalty program.

How to book car rentals in Chase's travel portal

This is a great place to reserve rental cars using points, and Chase rental car insurance benefits apply when using the card and paying with points. But, for that to be the case, you will want to pay for part of the rental in cash so the insurance benefits are activated. To do that, pay with a combination of cash and points, and decline the rental company's insurance first.

How to book activities in Chase's travel portal

Activities available for booking through Chase's travel portal include tours and experiences at home or when traveling and airport transfers. Price comparison plays a role here, too, since many hotel brands have their own platforms like Marriott Bonvoy Moments or FIND Experiences from World of Hyatt. These allow you to redeem points for experiences.

Check which program is cheaper before redeeming Chase points if you find similar options in either program.

How to book cruises in Chase's travel portal

Since cruise bookings can be more complex, you will need to call Chase Ultimate Rewards® at 855-234-2542 to make a reservation. There are many ways to earn multiple points when booking a cruise that may be better than using Chase, but when redeeming points for a cruise , there can be a lot of value.

Using Chase's portal to make a travel reservation is also strategic, as depending on your card, you can earn a healthy stash of points this way. Just be sure to compare the benefits you can earn with the opportunity cost of booking elsewhere.

Benefits of booking travel in Chase's portal

Let’s say you have a premium card like Chase Sapphire Reserve® . It earns 5x points per $1 when booking flights through the portal. The sweet spot is when using this card for hotel stays and rental cars booked via the portal for 10x points per dollar spent. Consider what’s in your wallet, and decide which card will net the most points.

Another benefit is that you will earn miles from flights booked through the portal, even when redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points since these are viewed as a revenue ticket.

Remember, you will want to compare if it is cheaper to redeem airline miles directly through a carrier’s redemption program or if you can use fewer points by redeeming Chase points via the portal.

Sometimes it might make more sense to transfer points from Chase to an airline partner when redeeming a flight (or a hotel program when making a hotel stay). Be as vigilant with price comparison when redeeming miles and points as you would when using cash.

Does Chase's travel portal price match?

No. You cannot submit a lower fare elsewhere for a price guarantee here since this isn't a publicly available site. It is only available to those who have a Chase card.

What else you need to know

When booking through this reservation site, keep in mind that most airlines and hotels cannot assist directly with a reservation. They see this as a third-party booking through Expedia and will direct you to Chase's agents.

Many travelers report the experience can be frustrating when travel disruptions or cancellations occur. Agents are friendly but can sometimes be limited in their abilities, often reading prompts on their screens in international call centers.

It can be a hazard booking a reservation with a third party, but the trade-off in redeeming points is worth it for some travelers.

If you do need to contact a Chase portal agent for support on a reservation made through the site, whether flight, hotel, car rental or activity, you've got one option: a good, old-fashioned telephone call.

For support on flights, hotels, car rentals and activities — especially changes or cancellations — Chase lists one number: 866-331-0773.

Chase also lists different contact numbers based on the card you hold, so you may want to give one of these a try:

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : 855-234-2542.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : 866-331-0773.

All other cards: 866-951-6592.

If you compare prices and consider the opportunity cost of using the portal instead of booking elsewhere, you can almost always come out ahead.

You can save money, earn bonus points and travel better with transferable loyalty points like Chase Ultimate Rewards®. They have the flexibility and versatility necessary to deliver excellent value on travel (rather than being locked into one airline or hotel loyalty program). With the right card (or suite of cards), you’ll be able to accumulate points and benefits.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1%-5% Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.

$200 Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

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Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections .

One of the final rules announced Wednesday requires airlines to show the full price of travel before passengers pay for their tickets. The other will force airlines to provide prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

"Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them - without having to ask," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement announcing the new rules.

Taking on junk fees is popular. But can it win Biden more voters?

Surprise junk fees have become a large and growing source of revenue for airlines in recent years, according to the DOT.

"Today's announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed — not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches," Buttigieg said.

The airline industry is unlikely to welcome the new rules. At a hearing on the proposed fee rule in March 2023, an industry lobbying group representing American, Delta and United said it would be too difficult for airlines to disclose their charges more clearly.

"The amount of unwanted and unneeded information forced upon passengers" by the new policy would only cause "confusion and frustration," warned Doug Mullen, the deputy general counsel at Airlines for America . "Very few, if any, need or want this information, and especially when they are initially trying to understand schedule and fare options."

But the DOT insists its new rule will give consumers the information they need to better understand the true costs of air travel.

Transportation Department cracks down on airline 'junk fees'

"I believe this is to the benefit of the sector as a whole," Buttigieg said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition , because passengers will have "more confidence in the aviation sector."

The new rules require airlines to disclose all baggage, change, and cancellation fees, and to share that information with third-party booking sites and travel agents.

The regulation also prohibits bait-and-switch tactics, the DOT says, that disguise the true cost of flights by advertising a low base fare that does not include all mandatory fees.

"This is really about making sure that we create a better experience for passengers, and a stronger aviation sector in the United States," Buttigieg said in the NPR interview.

Airlines required to refund passengers for canceled, delayed flights

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the new rules Wednesday.

Good news for airline travelers: the Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced it is rolling out new rules that will require airlines to automatically give cash refunds to passengers for canceled and significantly delayed flights.

"This is a big day for America's flying public," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at a Wednesday morning news conference. Buttigieg said the new rules -- which require prompt refunds -- are the biggest expansion of passenger rights in the department's history.

Airlines can no longer decide how long a delay must be before a refund is issued. Under the new DOT rules, the delays covered would be more than three hours for domestic flights and more than six hours for international flights, the agency said.

MORE: Amid Boeing safety probe, clock ticks on effort to disclose details of 2021 DOJ deal over 737 Max crashes

This includes tickets purchased directly from airlines, travel agents and third-party sites such as Expedia and Travelocity.

The DOT rules lay out that passengers will be "entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered."

DOT will also require airlines to give cash refunds if your bags are lost and not delivered within 12 hours.

The refunds must be issued within seven days, according to the new DOT rules, and must be in cash unless the passenger chooses another form of compensation. Airlines can no longer issue refunds in forms of vouchers or credits when consumers are entitled to receive cash.

Airlines will have six months to comply with the new rules.

"Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them -- without headaches or haggling," Buttigieg said in a statement.

The DOT said it is also working on rules related to family seating fees, enhancing rights for wheelchair-traveling passengers for safe and dignified travel and mandating compensation and amenities if flights are delayed or canceled by airlines.

Buttigieg said the DOT is also protecting airline passengers from being surprised by hidden fees -- a move he estimates will have Americans billions of dollars every year.

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The DOT rules include that passengers will receive refunds for extra services paid for and not provided, such as Wi-Fi, seat selection or inflight entertainment.

The rules come after the agency handed Southwest Airlines a record $140 million fine for its operational meltdown during the 2022 holiday travel season.

MORE: New whistleblower claims put Boeing's quality control under more scrutiny

Buttigieg said Southwest's fine sets a "new standard" for airlines and passenger rights.

"To be clear, we want the airline sector to thrive. It is why we put so much into helping them survive the pandemic and honestly it's why we're being so rigorous on passenger protection," he said.

Buttigieg reiterated that refund requirements are already the standard for airlines, but the new DOT rules hold the airlines to account and makes sure passengers get the "refunds that are owed to them."

"Airlines are not enthusiastic about us holding them to a higher standard," Buttigieg said, adding that he "knows they will be able to adapt to this."

Airlines for America, the trade association for the country's leading passenger and cargo airlines, told ABC News in a statement that its members "offer a range of options -- including fully refundable fares." Is said consumers are "given the choice of refundable ticket options with terms and conditions that best fit their needs at first search results."

The group said the 11 largest U.S. airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds from 2020 through 2023 nearly $11 billion in refunds just last year.

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Politics latest: Headache for Sunak as Tory MPs threaten rebellion over leasehold reform

Tory MPs are threatening to rebel over the government's new housing proposals. Meanwhile, the Scottish government is facing a vote of no confidence this afternoon - and it's PMQs at 12pm.

Wednesday 1 May 2024 09:18, UK

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• Tory MPs threaten to rebel against government over leasehold reform
• Failed asylum seeker volunteering to go to Rwanda shows claims it is unsafe are 'untrue', Badenoch says
• PMQs at noon - watch and follow live here
• Scottish government to face Holyrood vote of no confidence today
• Contest for new first minister explained  | Why Yousaf resigned
• London mayor 'failing' to tackle knife crime, Badenoch says - but stats suggest area with Tory mayor has bigger problem
• Local elections: Everything you need to know about this week's votes
• Live reporting by Charlotte Chelsom-Pill

Scrapping national insurance payments would be a "ticking time bomb," shadow education secretary  Bridget Phillipson  tells Sky News. 

In the budget in March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt indicated plans to scrap national insurance contributions - a move Labour branded "reckless".

Although he later admitted to Sky News it "won't happen any time soon".

Ms Phillipson says it would open up a "£46 billion black hole".

"In the last budget the Tories opened up a £46 billion black hole where they said they intended to abolish National Insurance," Ms Phillipson says.

" More than 50 days on, we've had nothing from the government about how they're going to fund it, how they're going to pay for it, how all of that will work.

"It is just not good enough for ministers to set out this kind of bombshell with no plan, no detail around any of it."

Shadow education secretary  Bridget Phillipson tells Sky News the government has been "slow to act" on knife crime - following an attack that left a 14-year-old dead yesterday.

"The government have been slow to act where it comes to cracking down on knife crime," she says.

"We've been pushing for further legislation, for further measures to stop young people ... having access to knives and to take action on violent crime overall. 

"That, sadly, isn't what we've seen happen."

She describes yesterday's attack in Hainault as a "terrible and tragic incident" which has "shocked the whole community".

Earlier this morning, business secretary Kemi Badenoch told Sky News London's mayor Sadiq Khan is "failing" to tackle knife crime ( see post at 7.47am ).

Responding to the comments, Ms Phillipson says knife crime is a "nationwide issue", adding that now is not the time to "make political points".

"I think we need to focus on making sure the police have got the support that they need and that where there are lessons that we need to learn, if those are identified, then we take action on it," she says.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch tells Sky News she is "pleased we've finally seen one person going to Rwanda".

Her comments come after the first failed asylum seeker was sent from the UK to Rwanda on Monday under a voluntary scheme. 

This "shows the point about Rwanda not being safe to be untrue because people are volunteering to go", Ms Badenoch claims.

The scheme is for those who have gone through the asylum process and had permission rejected, rather than for migrants who have illegally entered Britain by crossing the Channel on small boats.

It is separate to the powers set out in the controversial Safety of Rwanda Act, which became law last week. 

Ms Badenoch says after "so many obstacles" put in the way of that legislation, "the scheme is working". 

She cites comments made by the Irish government as evidence the Safety of Rwanda Act is working as a deterrent. 

"The scheme is working, as we've seen with the comments from the Irish government as well," she says. 

"This is something that we need to do in order to help police our borders."

You can read more on the Ireland-UK asylum seeker row here:

Business Secretary (and equalities minister) Kemi Badenoch is calling on people to give examples of organisations issuing "incorrect guidance" on single-sex spaces. 

She tells Sky News the aim is to tackle "confusion" on the matter.

"What I have noticed as equalities minister is that across the board there is a lot of confusion about when single-sex spaces are protected," she says. 

Rather than the government carrying out a "huge investigation that will cost lots of money", she is asking people to send examples if they think the guidance in their institution is wrong.

Asked whether that could invite transphobic responses, she replies: "No, not at all. And it shouldn't be."

"All we're saying is that if you think the guidance in your institution is wrong, let us know... and then we can help provide clarity."

Ms Badenoch's "call for input" comes a day after the health secretary announced plans to update the NHS Constitution to "ensure that biological sex is respected".

Read more on that here...

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch tells Sky News the London mayor is failing to tackle knife crime - following an attack that left a 14-year-old dead yesterday.

She was responding to a question about how high a priority tackling knife crime is for the government - with official data showing it increased across England and Wales in 2022-23.

She replies it's a "very high priority", but says policing powers are devolved to the London mayor.

"Sadiq Khan is failing," she says, adding that he is "not taking this issue seriously enough".

"I think we really do need to put the spotlight on what the mayor of London is doing on knife crime, on policing the streets, on public order, " she says.

"He has the biggest police force. He has the one that has the most resources. He should be using them to keep people safe."

ONS data shows that in 2022-23, the West Midlands, led by Tory mayor Andy Street,  recorded the highest rate of 178 offences per 100,000 population .

Bin collections, potholes, local schools and town centres: Ruth Davidson and Jess Phillips were right in our Electoral Dysfunction podcast last week when they talked about these issues being the political meat of local elections when it comes to what voters want to talk about on the doorstep.

But it's true too that this set of local elections is hugely significant as the final big ballot test we're going to get before a general election.

Some 28 million people across England and Wales have the option of casting a vote - be it for councillors, mayors, London Assembly members or police and crime commissioners - and Labour is using this polling day as a dry run for a general election, testing their arguments, focusing their spending and attention in local battlegrounds where they need to win for general election victory.

And while much of the attention in the run-up to polling day has been on whether the results will trigger a full-blown leadership crisis for the Tories, what's perhaps more relevant to you the voters is what these elections tell us about the prospect of a majority Labour government.

Read more here:

By Daniel Dunford , senior data journalist

There might not be a general election just yet, but there are important votes that will define how the areas around us are run for the next four years. 

See what's happening where you are here:

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned – days after he cut the SNP's powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens.

It followed a bitter row over the SNP's climbdown on climate targets as he said the agreement between the parties had "served its purpose".

As a result, his former Green allies teamed up with the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats to get behind two no-confidence motions, one in himself as leader of Scotland and another regarding the entire Scottish government.

Now attention turns to another SNP leadership contest and what the divisions in Scottish politics could mean for the future of the independence campaign.  

On the Sky News Daily , Matt Barbet speaks to Paul Hutcheon, political editor of the Daily Record, and Shona Craven, from The National, about how the SNP can move on after Mr Yousaf's resignation.

Plus, Connor Gillies , our Scotland correspondent , explains how the leadership election will unfold.  

With Humza Yousaf stepping down as Scotland's first minister and SNP leader, Scotland reporter Jenness Mitchell takes a look at some of the potential candidates that could throw their hat into the ring to take the top job.

Nominations have now opened in the SNP leadership contest to find a replacement for First Minister Humza Yousaf after he announced he was stepping down.

Senior figures have backed former deputy first minister John Swinney for the top job, while a smaller number of the party's parliamentarians have backed former finance secretary Kate Forbes.

Mr Yousaf has said he will stay on to allow a successor to be chosen.

How does the contest work?

The SNP's national secretary announced nominations had opened Monday at 11.59pm.

They will close next Monday.

Prospective candidates will need to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches in order to qualify for the contest.

What happens next?

Whoever wins the contest will then need to be able to win enough votes in Holyrood to be elected first minister.

The SNP needs just two votes to secure an overall majority.

The most likely backers for the SNP would be the Greens, given both parties are pro-independence.

However, the Greens announced last week they would not support the first minister in a confidence vote after Mr Yousaf scrapped the powersharing agreement between the party and the SNP, which eventually led to his political downfall.

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