There are several ways to reserve a flight, one of which is to use an "OTA (Online Travel Agency)." This platform acts as a middleman between the consumers and the airlines and manages the flight reservation process. An often-asked question of the users related to the usage of this tool is whether third-party bookings are secure. Generally speaking, you can find this tool trustworthy for flight reservations, and there are extremely rare chances of getting scammed by these agencies.

What advantages do you get from OTA flight bookings?

• Affordable Flights: Some travel agencies may provide pocket-friendly flight options to earn you as a trustworthy customer and dominate the market more. So, booking your flight through a third-party agent is more likely to provide easy access to reduced flight fares, making your flight travel much more affordable.
• Discounts and Offers: Getting discounts and deals on ticket purchases through an OTA is much easier than booking your flight directly through the airline. These offers may allow you to access particular services for your flight journey, get reduced ticket prices, or flexibility in payment method.
• Efficient Management: The most significant advantage of OTA flight reservations is that you do not have to book the flights yourself, saving you time and energy. The entire booking process will be handled and completed by the concerned agency, and you no longer have to worry about your seats.

Are there any downsides to booking a flight with OTA?

• Delayed Reservations: The most concerning downside of OTA reservations is that they do not confirm your flight tickets immediately after the booking process. Due to the delay, you are unsure whether your seat with the concerned airline is confirmed and cannot conveniently plan your trip. However, ticket confirmations can take, at most, a few hours.
• Lesser Customer Support: If you directly book your flight with the airlines, you can get assistance for your problems even if you have any questions related to your flight travel. However, you do not get similar support from online travel agents because they are less involved in interacting with the customers.
• Higher Modification Fee: Generally, requesting a flight change is costlier for third-party bookings than bookings directly through the airlines. So, if you need to make any changes to your reservations before departure, those will be quite expensive. Contact the concerned agency for further accurate information. 
• Rigid Guidelines: Airlines offer various allowances to their passengers depending on their policies and rules. However, if you reserve your flight through a travel agency, you no longer fall under their guidelines and schemes. This limits several allowances, such as not being eligible for the 24-hour policy, extra baggage eligibility, etc. 

Conclusion: Consumers have varied doubts regarding the OTA and do not find them trustworthy enough for flight reservations. Once you have gone through the above-stated sections, you will have all the essential knowledge about third-party flight reservations, including its downsides and benefits. After reviewing these sections, you will be easily able to come to a conclusion and decide whether online travel agencies are preferred for flight bookings.