Are There Any Good Flight Search Tools?

I get asked this question a lot. While the answer is not that simple, I wanted to share what I consider to be the single most applicable piece of travel advice for you, and it centers around booking flights online.

This is because when most people search for flights, they don’t go to the airlines website, but instead are prompted to use third party flight searchers, known as OTA’s. Online Travel Agencies might seem like the best place to get a bargain, and some online blogs will even reccomend them to you as the smart move. But in my experience, OTAs do more harm than good,especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. From unreliable tickets to nightmare customer service, using third-party bookers can make travel worse, especially when something goes wrong.

I previously talked about Global Distribution Systems.

But the summary is:

When you book directly with an airline, your ticket is usually issued instantly. The airline owns the inventory, so there's little risk of selling something they don't have.

OTAs, especially the smaller ones, operate differently. They don’t hold any inventory. When you book, they charge your card, then check with the airline to see if the ticket is actually available. That verification can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours.

Despite being middlemen, most OTAs don’t mark up prices. In fact, the reason why people use OTAs is the deals you get when using them. Their business model might look good at a glance, but when you look closer, it’s not the best idea to use.

Here are the problems with using OTAs.

Lackluster Customer Service: Many OTAs skimp on support to cut costs. Smaller agencies often have minimally staffed call centers and may even charge hefty fees for changes or cancellations. This lean customer service is part of how they offer slightly cheaper fares, but it means that when you need help, you might not get it.

No Advocate in a Crisis: When major disruptions happen (big schedule changes, airline strikes, pandemics), direct bookers get priority. OTA customers, by contrast, often find themselves waiting on hold with the agency (which in turn has to coordinate with the airline). During the COVID-19 outbreak, for example, many OTAs struggled to handle the flood of cancellations and refunds, leaving customers abandoned..

Limited Flexibility (24-Hour Rule and More): U.S. law requires that airlines allow you to cancel a flight within 24 hours of purchase (if booked at least 7 days before departure) for a full refund. But this federal 24-hour cancellation rule only applies to airlines, not necessarily to tickets booked through third-party sellers. Some large OTAs voluntarily offer a 24-hour free cancellation, but many smaller ones make all sales final. When you pay the inflated cancellation fee, the OTAs make money. And depending on the size of the OTA, they might not offer 24 hour cancellation, but may be eligible to get it, profiting 100% from you.

Potential for Hidden Fees and Gotchas: This is the way OTAs make a majority of their money. Smaller agencies might not clearly disclose baggage fees or seat selection costs, or they might slip in “service fees” that arent visible on your search. Customers have reported being charged up to $225 for services they never wanted, or finding out later about added fees for changes.

There’s a big difference between these platforms. Some are just search engines, others are travel agencies, and your experience can depend entirely on who you end up booking with.
Here’s my breakdown of some of these platforms.

Type: Metasearch

Why I use it: It doesn’t sell you anything — just shows you flights and sends you directly to the airline. That’s a very good thing.

Support: Doesn’t apply, because Google never touches your booking.

Flexibility: Top-tier if you book directly with the airline, which you always should.

Pricing: Transparent. No bait-and-switch. No mystery OTAs.

My Take: If I’m planning a trip, I always start with Google Flights. The calendar view, filters, and speed are unmatched. You’re not dealing with any shady third parties. It doesn’t try to upsell you or push coupons

Type: OTA with “virtual interlining” (i.e., making up flight combos that don’t actually cooperate).

Reliability: Fragile at best. Separate tickets, tight connections, and you’re on your own if anything goes wrong.

Support: Infamously bad unless you pay more. I’ve seen horror stories.

Flexibility: Close to zero. Good luck changing anything.

Pricing: Looks cheap. But once you factor in the risks and hidden costs (like check-in fees, missed connections), it’s often not a good deal.

My Take: I avoid Kiwi. It’s the kind of site that might save you $40 and then strand you overnight in Istanbul when your Ryanair flight’s delayed and your next airline doesn’t recognize your ticket. Unless you’re an experienced traveler who thrives on chaos and carries a backpack, a prayer, and travel insurance, just skip it.

Type: Metasearch engines — they don’t sell flights, just show you options.

Reliability: Solid tools, but the results can include sketchy OTAs with outdated prices.

Support: Doesn’t exist. You’ll be dealing with whoever you book with.

Flexibility: Depends entirely on the OTA or airline you choose.

Pricing: They do find great deals, especially Momondo. But beware the too-cheap options from unknown agencies.

My Take: I like using these to find flights I wouldn’t have thought of. But would I click through and book with some no-name site they show me? (some of which sell their flights illegally - but thats for another time)? No. (its also been proven that many of the sites they work with are selling fares illigally, but thats a whole different article). Anyways, I take what I find there, then go book it on the airline’s website. Trust me, it’s worth it for the peace of mind alone.

Type: Large OTAs that issue tickets directly.

Reliability: Generally trustworthy

Support: Decent during normal times, but don’t expect miracles in a crisis.

Flexibility: Policies are decent, but always a step slower than booking directly.

Pricing: Competitive, sometimes offers bundle discounts (flight + hotel). Doesn’t always show ultra-low-cost carriers.

My Take: If I have to use an OTA, I’ll go with someone like Priceline. They’re not amazing, but they’re at least legitimate. The downside? If your flight gets canceled or rescheduled, you can’t just call the airline, you’re stuck in customer service limbo. And during peak chaos (like snowstorms or COVID), they can be just as unhelpful as the smaller guys. Every airline also prompts you with, “If you booked this ticket through a travel agent or other 3rd party, reach out to them directly,” which is where the problems begin. One month, my parents booked a hotel through Expedia, and upon checking in were told their room wasn't paid for. I mean, how unprofessional is that? Not to mention how much they were scared about being double-charged.

There are some clear-cut scenarios when deciding between booking directly with an airline or through an OTA.

If the price is identical, there’s no reason to use an OTA. On the flip side, if an OTA is offering a fare that’s $500+ cheaper than the airline, then you’d be hard-pressed to justify not taking that deal. But just know what you're in for.

Most situations fall somewhere in between. That’s where it becomes a judgment call.

Here are a few questions to help you weigh the risk:

How likely are you to change your plans? If there’s even a 10% chance you might cancel or modify your trip, the extra flexibility of booking directly might be worth paying more upfront.

Are the savings meaningful? If the difference is $5, skip the OTA and book direct. If it’s $50, $100, or more, then it’s a personal call — how much is peace of mind worth to you?

Is this a mistake fare? Airlines are less likely to honor error fares booked through OTAs. If it looks like a glitch deal, you might want to raise your “worth it” threshold. Maybe $50 in savings is enough in a normal case, but for a mistake fare, maybe you hold out for $100 or more.

When it comes to booking flights, avoiding third-party intermediaresis the safest bet. OTAs and fare aggregators might promise convenience or savings, but as we’ve seen, those can come at the cost of reliability, support, and sanity. I mean I rarely ever hear anyone compliment them.

For most travelers, the best approach is: use tools like Google Flights or other search engines to find great deals, but whenever possible, book directly with the airline. That way, if something goes wrong, you have the airline on your side and no one in between.