Booking.com, based in Amsterdam, is one of the world's leading online travel firms. It is a division of Booking Holdings. The company's mobile app was the most downloaded travel agency category in 2022. Booking.com provided lodging reservation services for roughly 2.7 million properties, including 400,000 hotels, motels, and resorts and 2.3 million houses and apartments in over 220 countries and 40 languages as of December 31, 2022. It also provides flights in 54 markets and tours and activities in over 1,200 places.

You usually think of hotels when you think of the website Booking.com. However, Booking.com provides much more. It can help you find hotels, flights, rental cars, airport taxis, and reserve activities. You can limit your search results, as with other prominent OTAs, by using numerous criteria. Booking.com provides a calendar view to help you identify more affordable vacation dates. One thing to keep in mind is that flight information is restricted. Booking.com does not correctly show luggage fees or ticket type details, such as whether an airline ticket may be readily canceled or reimbursed.

Pros:

• Calendar view shows pricing by date
• Easily filter by best, cheapest, and fastest flights
• Responsive customer support is available 24/7.

Website: booking.com

Expedia is one of the oldest online travel agencies, having been founded in 1996. Expedia.com is part of the Expedia Group, which includes other online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Orbitz, Travelocity, Trivago, and a few travel booking platforms. As a result, the prices and features found on various websites are frequently similar. Expedia can help you find flights, hotels, auto rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. Expedia has numerous features that make it a top pick for travelers because it has been in the travel search industry for so long, yet it falls behind other, fresher search sites in several ways.

At the checkout, you may easily compare the differences between basic economy, premium economy, and other cabin classes. You can easily examine the benefits and costs of upgrading to determine if it is worthwhile for you. Before you check out, Expedia clearly states the cancellation information for each ticket. Expedia considers characteristics such as travel time, amenities, and aircraft type, and assigns a flight score to each flight to give you an indication of the overall quality of a flight. Expedia rewards recurring clients with a points program. By combining flights, lodging, and auto rentals, you can reduce the overall cost of your trip. Expedia's special credit card program, in partnership with Citi, allows frequent travelers to maximize their spending.

Pros:

• Offers a flexible dates search filter
• The calendar view shows pricing by date
• Displays extra fees, like checked baggage fees
• Displays aircraft details
• Shows ticket flexibility details

Website: expedia.com

Priceline is likely familiar to anyone who has booked airline tickets, a hotel room, or a rental vehicle online in the last two decades. Priceline is an online travel agency (OTA) that has been connecting customers to low-cost flights, vehicle rentals, and lodging since 1998. It is now owned by Booking Holdings, a Connecticut-based parent business that also owns Kayak and Booking.com. Priceline rose to prominence in part because of its "Name Your Own Pricing" option, which allowed users with flexible plans to achieve deeper savings through opaque booking.

Priceline offers upgrade options and associated prices at checkout once you select your flights, including the price difference between the basic economy and the main economy. Before you complete your booking, Priceline fully informs the pricing class and cancellation conditions for your chosen flights. Priceline offers much lower-cost flights through an opaque booking option known as Priceline Fast Deals. Unfortunately, until you purchase, you won't know which airline you'll be flying with or your specific departure and arrival timings.

If you find a lower price for your exact flight itinerary (same airline, flight numbers, dates, airports, number of ticketed passengers, cabin, and fare class) on Priceline within 24 hours of booking, the Best Price Guarantee program will refund you 100% of the difference for regular tickets and 200% for Express Deals.

Pros:

• Offers cheaper “Express Deals”
• Has a calendar view to see pricing by date
• Displays extra fees, like checked baggage fees
• Displays aircraft details
• Outlines whether a ticket can be canceled or changed

Website: priceline.com

Skyscanner, like Google Flights and Momondo, is not an OTA (online travel agency), therefore you don't book directly through the site; the site searches hundreds of airlines to discover the best tickets at the lowest prices, which you then book through the airline or an OTA. Skyscanner makes it simple to see when there are better, less expensive flight options to and from your destination. Users can check fares for the cheapest month from their chosen departure to their destination by using their "cheapest month" search option. This is especially beneficial if you know the location but not the dates. Skyscanner, unlike other search engines, allows you to search for flights from a single country rather than a specific city or airport.

If you don't care about where you go and just want to go anywhere, Skyscanner makes it simple to search within your budget. If your destination is flexible, their search "Everywhere" button is a very useful tool. Skyscanner, unlike other search engines, excels in finding low-cost last-minute flights. Skyscanner frequently finds the best airline deals because it examines smaller OTAs that other search engines overlook. If you have specific dates and a destination in mind, you may set up an alert to receive email notifications of price changes on that route. Skyscanner's app is one of the best in its class. It features a clear appearance and is straightforward to use, plus you'll get price notifications right to your phone.

Pros:

• Calendar and chart views show pricing by date
• Allows “everywhere” as a destination to find cheap destinations
• Displays fare details, including baggage, seat selection, and boarding details
• Shows ratings for booking websites to make it easier to decide where to book

Website: skyscanner.com

Travelocity is a website that sells flights, hotels, auto rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. It was one of the first players in the internet booking game, having been founded in 1996. If you've used other online travel agencies (OTAs), you'll note that Travelocity looks a lot like Orbitz, Trivago, and Expedia.com. This is because all of these companies, including Travelocity, are owned by the Expedia Group. This is also why they all offer identical deals and benefits. Travelocity will display you the cost of upgrading your flight from the basic economy during the booking process. It is simple to assess the benefits vs the expense of an improvement and determine whether it is worthwhile.

Travelocity tells you the extra fees related to your booking class and details the cancellation policy for your flight throughout the booking process and at check out. Travelocity displays a flight score beside the flight search results. These ratings take into account the flight length, amenities, and aircraft type. If you're going to book a hotel or rent a car anyhow, bundling them with your flights can help you save money. Because Travelocity is a subsidiary of Expedia Group, a huge corporation with decades of experience selling flights and vacation packages, they are more trustworthy than some of the newer or smaller online travel agencies.

Pros:

• Offers a flexible dates search filter
• The calendar view shows pricing by date
• Displays extra fees, like checked baggage fees
• Displays aircraft details
• Shows ticket flexibility rules

Website: travelocity.com

CheapOair is the second-largest seller of airline tickets in the United States, according to the Travel Weekly Power List. That has to be for a cause. They examine costs from a variety of airlines, but they also mix itineraries from multiple airlines, increasing your chances of obtaining a good ticket fare. Go to CheapOair's website and enter your departure and destination information. Then, enter an expected date and press the 'Search Now' button. You must search for a certain day, therefore you may need to experiment with multiple dates to get the lowest one.

They do, however, provide an excellent alternative. They offer free phone help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can contact a travel agent professional who will hunt for the ideal schedule for you. One important reason to call is that they may be able to offer you a special "phone only" bargain. These are fares that can only be advertised over the phone, not on their website. To narrow down flight results, you can use a variety of search filters. CheapOair also provides fare notifications, which tell you when fares for your trip reduce. You can also use their Price Match Guarantee if you find a lower price for the same flight and itinerary within 24 hours of making your reservation.

Pros:

• Includes fare alerts to notify you when fares drop
• Offers a price match guarantee
• The calendar view shows pricing by date
• Display baggage details
• Displays aircraft details

Website: cheapoair.com

Orbitz is a flight search engine as well as an online travel agency (OTA) that finds and sells flights. With so much competition, Orbitz retains a dedicated customer base with its rewards program and all-in-one offering of flights, hotels, and auto rentals. Orbitz, like Expedia.com, Trivago, and Travelocity, is a subsidiary of the Expedia Group, a travel technology business that has been a major player in airline search since 1996. Consider Expedia Group to be the head of an octopus, with the search and online travel agency websites serving as its arms. This is why you'll often see identical prices across all of these companies, and they're frequently linked to one another.

Orbitz offers a few elements that make it stand out for consumers wanting to discover affordable tickets. At the checkout, Orbitz displays the prices of upgrading rates, like moving from a basic economy to a premium economy. It's simple to swap between cabin classes and weigh the benefits and drawbacks in terms of cost. The cancellation policy for each flight is explicitly stated by Orbitz. Members of the rewards program receive exclusive hotel prices and earn money on booking flights and rooms that can be applied to future hotel purchases. To save money on your whole trip, use Orbitz to book your accommodations and rental car. With a low-cost airline and baggage, you should know exactly what you're getting for your money. You can search for affordable airlines or budget airlines with baggage. Orbitz provides flight scores that consider the length of the journey, amenities, and aircraft type.

Pros:

• Earn 1% rewards on flight purchases through Orbitz Rewards
• Has a calendar view to see pricing by date
• Offers a price assurance policy
• Displays extra fees, like checked baggage fees
• Displays aircraft details
• Outlines whether a ticket can be canceled or changed

Website: orbitz.com

Hopper has an easy-to-use design and provides a quick way to compare costs and locate the best discounts. Hopper is a game-changing program that helps you to save money on flights and hotel reservations. This means you can predict whether or not prices will fall, indicating the best time to book your flight. You can rest assured that you're getting the greatest possible value on your Hopper flights or Hopper accommodations. So, how does Hopper function? Hopper regularly analyzes airline prices across the world and forecasts future fares using existing data. When you search for a flight on Hopper, a "Price Forecast" displays when the price is expected to grow or reduce.

In this manner, you may book your flight at the optimal moment and save more money than if you booked it straight. And because Hopper makes it so simple to book flights, hotel deals, and rental cars, you can spend less time looking for offers and more time arranging your dream holiday. Hopper is definitely worth considering if you're seeking the lowest flights or the flexibility to change your plans at the last minute. The Hopper app is North America's most downloaded travel app. It has received over 30 million downloads to date. The Hopper app is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for both iOS and Android smartphones.

Pros:

• You can search one-way and round-trip journeys
• Displays fare details, including baggage, seat selection, and boarding details
• Outlines whether a ticket can be canceled or changed
• Rates flights and labels the cheapest, fastest, and best quality flight options
• Offers flight alert tools

Website: hopper.com

Hotwire, a third-party travel booking site, is well-known for providing huge discounts on expenses such as flights and hotels to budget travelers. Nevertheless, with so many competing offers from different firms, you'll want to know if you're receiving the best deal for your vacation. Booking flights on Hotwire is simple. On the homepage, you'll notice a box where you can begin your search. Toggle between round-trip and one-way search results by clicking the "Flights" tab. Then enter your basic flight information, and click "Find a flight" when you're ready. From here, you may view available departing flights in descending price order. Hotwire also offers Hot Rate flights, which are similar to Priceline's surprise deals. With Hot Rate Battles, the price is displayed right away. But the specific timing, number of stops, and airline are not disclosed until you purchase your ticket.

Flight rates fluctuate regardless of where you book your flight, whether directly through the airlines or Hotwire. Hotwire provides a Low Price Promise; however, it is only valid for 24 hours from the moment you book your trip. Track fares on Hotwire, competing travel booking sites, and directly through your airline for the next 24 hours after booking to help maximize your savings on your next trip. Hotwire will refund the difference if you locate an identical fare at a lower price.

Pros:

• Has a low-price guarantee
• Offers a flexible dates search filter
• The calendar view shows pricing by date
• Displays extra fees, like checked baggage fees
• Displays aircraft details
• Shows ticket flexibility rules

Website: hotwire.com

Skiplagged is a robust flight search engine that specializes in discovering low-cost city flights. Purchasing a hidden city fare, also known as point-beyond ticketing or skip-lagging, is when you purchase a ticket to a location that is further than where you actually intend to go. Your ticket indicates one destination, but the place you intend to visit is a layover location along the way. You arrange a ticket from A to C with a layover at B, intending to stay in B.

Skiplagged discovers fares that may be less expensive if you end your travel in the layover city. Getting affordable airfare when you don't have a certain destination in mind. Skiplagged's homepage gives you forthcoming sample fares, and it provides an option to search flights to "Anywhere". Skiplagged allows you to filter by regular or secret city, take-off and landing time, stops, and carriers. You can sign up for alerts when low-cost flights become available. When you're ready to book, Skiplagged gives you the option of booking two separate one-way flights, which you'll always have to do until the leg of the schedule you want to skip is on the way back.

Pros:

• Displays fare details, including baggage, seat selection, and boarding details
• Displays a line graph with nearby dates to see price trends
• Shows ticket flexibility rules
• Offers a price tracking tool

Website: skiplagged.com