Which is the best all-round airfare site?

Search on Google Flights. Cross-check with Kayak. Buy from the airline. That is the whole method, and it takes about five minutes.

The method

One. Google Flights, with the date grid open. Establish what the trip costs and which days are cheap.

Two. Kayak, Skyscanner or Momondo on the dates you settled on, to catch agencies and carriers Google missed.

Three. Buy from the airline unless an agency is cheaper by an amount you would notice.

Why buying direct is worth a small premium

When a flight is cancelled, the airline can rebook you at the gate if it sold you the ticket. If an agency sold it, the airline will often tell you to call the agency, and the agency will tell you it is waiting on the airline. This is not a rare edge case, it is what happens on a bad weather day.

Refunds under US and EU rules are owed to you either way. The question is how many phone calls it takes.

When an agency is the right answer

Complicated multi-airline itineraries are the exception. If your trip has several stops on different carriers, an agency or a specialist can build and ticket combinations you cannot assemble yourself, and that is worth paying for.

Common questions

What is the best flight booking site overall?

Google Flights to search and the airline's own website to buy. Agencies are worth it mainly for complex multi-stop trips.

Is it safe to book flights through an online travel agency?

Yes, but it adds a company between you and the airline. That costs you time when a flight is cancelled, so keep the saving in proportion.