When booking a flight online in the USA, travelers often face a common choice: should they book through an online travel agent or purchase their ticket directly from an airline? Both options can help you find flights, compare schedules, and plan a trip, but they may differ in customer support, booking flexibility, and how changes are handled.

A nonstop flight can save time, reduce travel stress, and make a trip easier to manage, while a connecting flight may offer more scheduling flexibility or a better overall fare.