Third-party booking websites that offer travelers a one-stop shop for hotel reservations, airline seats, and other services are almost as old as the Internet itself. They save the work of slogging through individual hotel, airline, and other travel sites to find the best offers. But when it comes time to make a reservation, here are 12 reasons why booking direct though a company’s own website might be the better option.
Lower Prices
Despite the ease of comparison shopping and the promise of discounted prices through online travel agents, sometimes booking direct yields the best price. Marriott has a “Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee” to not only match the lowest rate a customer finds within 24 hours but give a 25 percent discount on top of the low price.
Better Selection for Advance Booking
Some third-party booking sites sell whatever leftover airline seats or hotel rooms didn’t move at full price. This can bring some good last-minute deals — but not a lot of choice. For trips planned in advance, direct booking typically offers more options and scheduling flexibility.
More Information
A third-party booking refers to any type of travel reservation made through an external provider rather than directly with an airline, hotel, or car rental agency. This includes online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia and Priceline, as well as traditional travel agents and credit card travel portals like Chase Travel℠ and Amex Travel.
Better Service
Hotel owners aren’t likely to admit it, but many are inclined to give better treatment (and perks) to guests who aren’t funneling profits to a third-party vendor. Often staff can see how a room was booked when a guest is checking in — or asking about an upgrade — and respond accordingly.
Fewer Hidden Fees
Third-party bookings often have stricter change or cancellation rules and may include extra fees. For example, JetBlue charges a $50 service fee per person if you request changes directly with the airline for a ticket booked through a travel agency. To avoid fees, JetBlue recommends contacting the third party that issued the reservation.
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Greater Accountability
Anytime a room or flight is booked, there’s the possibility of something going wrong — reservations can be misplaced, flights canceled, or rooms accidentally given away. Book direct with airlines or hotels, and they’re more likely to diagnose and do what they can to fix the problem. With a middleman involved, it’s easier for all parties to pass the buck. This is an issue that comes up in many 1-star reviews on ConsumerAffairs for Hotels.com.
Easier Refunds
In the event something does go wrong, arranging a refund directly from a hotel or airline is usually easier and faster than trying to claim one through whichever intermediary made the reservation. Because the third party has to pursue a refund through the hotel or airline, the process is likely to get bogged down.
Better Perks
Booking directly with an airline, hotel, or rental car agency is more profitable for the provider because they avoid paying commissions to third parties—and they often pass some of those benefits on to customers. Travelers may find exclusive discounts, loyalty offers, or promotional codes that can only be used on direct bookings.
Hotels, in particular, tend to offer better experiences when you book directly. Even without elite status, you’re generally more likely to receive a better room and less likely to be relocated if the property is oversold. While luxury programs like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts can be an exception, third-party bookings often get less desirable rooms. If a lower price is available through an OTA, many hotels offer price-match guarantees—allowing you to book directly at that cheaper rate, as long as the room type matches exactly.
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Flexibility
Even the best-laid plans sometimes need to change. When it’s necessary to reschedule a reservation, hotels and airlines are more likely to accommodate customers who have made direct bookings. Third-party sites may have an extra fee, more restrictions, and fewer options for rebooking or changing a reservation — as well as legalese in the booking contract that negates any wiggle room.
Room Choice
While hotels set aside blocks of rooms for third-party vendors, they tend to keep the best rooms to sell directly. Guests who book through an outside site may get the standard room they requested, but it might be the stinker next to the constantly-running elevator with a limited view and strange corners.
Reward Points
Typically, airline reservations qualify for miles that count toward elite status whether booked directly or through a third-party provider. As long as you add your loyalty program number to the reservation, you’ll earn miles based on the airline’s fare class rules. If you already hold elite status with that airline, you can still enjoy associated perks—like selecting preferred seats or checking a bag for free.
Unlike airlines, most hotels don’t award loyalty points or status benefits for reservations made through third-party providers. If you’re booking with a travel agent, it’s important to ask whether your stay will qualify for points, nights, or status perks, since package deals often won’t. However, some agents can book through special preferred programs like Hyatt Prive or Hilton Impresario, which do allow you to earn rewards and elite night credits—and you may still be able to add a frequent flyer number to earn airline miles.
Exclusive Deals
Third parties can sometimes offer better deals than booking directly, particularly for last-minute hotel stays, since hotels would rather sell a room at a discount than have it sit empty. However, booking through an OTA often means you’ll end up with a less desirable room, and some smaller discount platforms—like HotelTonight—may be harder to work with if you need to change or cancel your reservation.
More Traveling Hacks From Cheapism
- 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking a Hotel — Don’t let a bargain room turn into a costly stay: from choosing the wrong neighborhood to ignoring resort fees, skipping reviews or forgetting loyalty perks can add up.
- 7 Things You Should Never Buy on a Cruise — On board or in port, avoid hidden money pits like spa treatments, Wi-Fi and excursions that cruise lines mark up dramatically just because you’re stuck on a floating island.
- 10 Things Your Flight Attendant Wants You to Know — Behind every flight is more than beverage service: flight attendants share how being polite, understanding delays and not treating the cabin like a racetrack can make everyone’s journey smoother.
