Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

When I search for fare sales here at Points With a Crew, I use a lot of resources. Google Flights, SkyScanner, Momondo, ITA Matrix, Flyertalk, and more; there are lots of options to help you find great deals. Those sites are mostly “travel aggregators”, with links to booking sites. That’s where online travel agencies (OTAs) come in.

OTAs are websites that provide booking services for travel providers such as airlines, hotels, cruises, etc. Online travel agencies receive commissions for selling airline tickets; it’s their primary business model (along with advertising). Many times they offer fares tens or hundreds of dollars below the airlines’ advertised prices. Since they buy in bulk or at contracted prices, they can still make money with discounted fares.

online travel agencies

A typical Kayak OTA comparison

But they also add a layer of communication and, potentially, confusion for customers when something goes wrong. If a flight is delayed or cancelled, is it the airline’s responsibility to assist you, or the OTA? Did the OTA provide a ticket locator an airline can use to find your ticket? All airfares sold more than 7-days before departure can be cancelled within 24 hours of initial purchase, by US regulation, but will an OTA ignore that and keep your money if you try to cancel?

a group of people in a room

If your flight is cancelled, will your OTA help you?

The largest OTAs in America sell billions of dollars in airfares and hotel stays, with relatively few issues. However, most are really part of just two major corporate conglomerates. The first, Booking Holdings, is the largest collection of travel online travel agencies in world. Its primary airfare OTAs are:

The second major conglomerate of online travel agencies is Expedia Group. Aside from operating Chase’s travel portal, they own:

a screenshot of a flight schedule

Orbitz options should look familiar to Points with a Crew readers

Which Online Travel Agencies Do You Use?

Because of good pricing options and stacking rewards, I book virtually all of my flights through these OTAs. However there are literally dozens if not hundreds of others. What other online travel agencies do you trust? Some well-known ones, such as CheapoAir, Vayama, or Trip.com? More obscure sites?

online travel agencies

Which of these OTAs would you trust to save money on this TAP fare?

That’s my question to you. In order to help me make this site more helpful for you, and more informative to your fellow PwaC readers, what online travel agencies do you trust to book airfares? Answer below in the comments and I can potentially add great deals exclusive to certain sites when I come across them.


This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as thepointsguy.com. This may impact how and where links appear on this site. Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers and that compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners and I do not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers and other offers and benefits listed on this page. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Other links on this page may also pay me a commission - as always, thanks for your support if you use them

User Generated Content Disclosure: Points With a Crew encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.

BoardingArea