The practice of reserving air travel through an intermediary agent, rather than directly with the airline, offers travelers a range of choices and potential cost savings. For instance, a traveler might use an online travel agency to compare fares from multiple airlines for a specific route and date, ultimately purchasing the ticket through that agency.
This approach to air travel procurement has become increasingly popular due to the convenience of comparing numerous options in a single place. It can also provide access to exclusive deals and bundled packages, such as combined flight and hotel reservations. Historically, travel agents played this intermediary role, but the rise of the internet has facilitated a substantial shift towards online platforms. This evolution has broadened consumer access to travel deals and simplified the booking process.