third party travel meaning

Mistakes People Make When Booking Travel Through Third-Party Websites

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

Expedia. Skyscanner. Booking.com. Trip.com. Priceline. These days there are countless third-party platforms for booking flights, hotels, rental cars and other aspects of the travel experience.

While these websites can make the planning process feel more seamless and convenient, there are some potential drawbacks that are important to understand before you make any reservations.

Below, travel experts share the common mistakes people make when booking trips through a third-party service ― and their advice for avoiding these errors during your travels.

Assuming They Have The Lowest Prices

Travel booking websites can be great for comparing prices across different providers and potentially finding exclusive deals. But you’re often going to see the same costs across platforms ― including the travel vendor’s direct website.

“You should not assume online travel agencies have the lowest prices,” said Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer . “While coupons and other promotions can make it appear that you are saving a lot of money, you should always check directly with the airline or hotel.”

When booking a flight, you should check the prices on the airline websites, as well as results on search engines like Google Flights. As you look for accommodations, compare rates on hotel websites and third-party booking systems.

“In many cases, hotels will guarantee the cheapest rate when booking directly with them. In certain situations, third-party booking sites will hide resort fees until the very last moment or put them in an easy-to-miss spot.”

Losing 24-Hour Cancellation Options

“You should not book airfare with an online travel agency if there is a chance you may take advantage of the federal 24-hour cancellation rule,” Dengler said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has mandated that air carriers allow customers who purchased tickets at least seven days before a flight’s scheduled departure to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without penalty within 24 hours of booking.

“Unfortunately, the flight must be booked directly with the airline,” Dengler noted. “That means third-party booking sites do not have to honor the rule, which means you could be out of luck if you are looking to cancel within 24 hours. If there is any chance you may need to cancel your flight, check with the third-party booking site before you book to see if they honor the 24-hour cancellation rule.”

Not Reading The Fine Print

“Always read the fine print so that you know their return or refund policy,” said Ciara Johnson, a travel blogger at Hey Ciara . “For added protection, book with a travel credit card that has insurance in case something goes wrong. If you’re not booking for a deal, it’s always best to book direct on the company website. It’s likely cheaper to book direct anyhow!”

Ravi Roth , a queer travel expert and host of “ The Gaycation Travel Show ,” echoed this advice. He emphasized being aware of any extra fees or troublesome policies regarding cancellations, itinerary changes and refunds, so you should make sure to read and save your confirmation email with the details.

“I recommend using trusted sites like Orbitz for hotels and Airbnb to book experiences. As for flights, I would try Skyscanner, but while booking, make sure to stick to the major airlines,” Roth noted. “Sometimes folks can find a super cheap flight, but in the fine print, there is a charge for overhead and checked luggage. I cannot stress enough to read the fine print.”

Missing Out On Loyalty Points

If hotel or airline loyalty points and status are important to you, using a third-party booking site might not be the best move.

“Many online travel agencies let you insert your frequent flyer number or hotel rewards number, but that does not mean you will earn status credit and points,” Dengler explained. “Some airlines and hotels will allow you to earn status when booking with online travel agencies, but you should make sure first.”

Trying To Modify Bookings Through The Travel Provider

“Third-party booking sites like Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity are also known as online travel agencies, and they are essentially middlemen between you and the airline or hotel,” Dengler explained. “In other words, your reservation is with them and not the airline or hotel. That means you contact them for customer service instead of the airline or hotel.”

So if access to direct customer service with the travel provider is a big deal to you, avoid these third-party platforms when making your reservations and use them as search engines for comparisons instead.

“While the larger online travel agencies have better customer service than the smaller ones, it is still better to talk to the source directly,” Dengler said. “That is important for both reservation modifications and cancellations. If there is a possibility that there will be severe weather during your trip, I recommend booking directly since there is a real chance you will have to modify or cancel your itinerary.”

Because canceling or making an itinerary change can be a bigger hassle through third-party platforms, make sure to pay close attention when you’re making your reservation.

“Travelers should just ensure to double-check all of their information, such as travel dates, name and contact information when booking via third-parties,” said Casey Brogan, a consumer travel expert at Tripadvisor.

Choosing A Travel Provider That Doesn’t Allow Third-Party Sales

“Be aware that several budget carriers, most notably Ryanair in Europe , technically don’t allow third-party sales of their tickets,” said Marek Bron, a travel blogger at Indie Traveller . “If you book their flights through a third-party anyway, then this is done through a work-around way that’s not supported by Ryanair.”

As a result, making cancellations or changes through the third-party site might be more expensive or challenging than it would have been if you booked directly through the airline. Ensure you can actually get an official confirmation with your chosen air carrier or other travel provider when you book through an external system.

Not Reading The Reviews

Not all third-party booking sites and travel agents are created equal. As such, it’s important to read the reviews of these services before making your reservations through them.

“Check reviews of these third-party sites, such as on TrustPilot, before booking as some of them are to be avoided,” Bron said. He advised paying extra close attention to mentions of customer service, as you might need this to handle changes or cancellations down the road.

“If working with a travel agent, ensure they have the right qualifications and double-check your reservations with the airlines and hotels,” echoed Jessica van Dop DeJesus , a travel media specialist and blogger at The Dining Traveler. “Also, look into travel insurance and check with your credit card to see if they provide any travel insurance services.”

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• Travel Tips

Third-Party Sites Vs. Booking Directly

Published: September 8, 2023

Modified: December 27, 2023

by Heath Sousa

• Hotel Reviews
• Hotels & Accommodation
• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

When planning a trip, one of the key decisions you’ll have to make is how to book your accommodations, flights, and other travel arrangements. In today’s digital age, there are two primary options: using third-party travel booking sites or booking directly with the hotels, airlines, or other service providers.

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important to weigh them carefully to make an informed decision. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of using third-party sites versus booking directly, with a focus on travel tips to help you navigate through the process.

Third-party travel booking sites, such as Expedia, Booking.com, and Kayak, offer an array of options and convenience. They allow you to compare prices, read reviews, and book everything from flights and hotels to car rentals and activities, all in one place. On the other hand, booking directly with the service providers, such as hotels and airlines, gives you more control, personalization, and sometimes even better deals.

In the following sections, we will delve into the pros and cons of each option, comparing factors such as prices, transparency, loyalty programs, ease of use, customer support, and security. By understanding these factors, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to choose the best option that suits your needs and preferences.

Pros and Cons of Third-Party Sites

Using third-party travel booking sites can be a convenient and time-saving option, but it’s essential to be aware of the pros and cons before making a decision.

• Variety and Convenience: Third-party sites offer a wide range of travel options, allowing you to compare prices, amenities, and reviews. You can easily book flights, accommodations, rental cars, and more, all in one place.
• Discounted Packages and Deals: These sites often have exclusive deals and discounted packages, providing an opportunity to save money on your travel expenses.
• User-Friendly Interface: Third-party sites are user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces that make it easy to browse and navigate through various options. You can filter results based on your preferences, such as price range, location, and amenities.
• Customer Reviews: One of the key advantages of third-party sites is the access to customer reviews and ratings. These reviews give you insights into the experiences of other travelers, helping you make informed decisions.
• Hidden Fees and Additional Costs: Third-party sites may sometimes have hidden fees and additional charges that are not immediately visible. These can include booking fees, resort fees, and additional charges for services that may be included when booking directly.
• Lack of Transparency: While third-party sites provide information on prices and amenities, they may not always offer complete transparency, especially when it comes to the terms and conditions or cancellation policies. It’s crucial to read the fine print carefully to avoid any surprises.
• Limited Personalization: With third-party sites, you have less control over customizing your travel arrangements. Certain requests, such as room preferences or special accommodations, may be more challenging to fulfill when booking through a third party.
• Limited Loyalty Benefits: When booking through third-party sites, you may not be eligible for loyalty programs or special benefits offered by hotels, airlines, or other service providers. These can include perks such as room upgrades, priority boarding, or exclusive discounts.

While third-party booking sites offer convenience and a wide range of options, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks. In the next section, we will explore the pros and cons of booking directly with the service providers to help you make a well-informed decision.

Pros and Cons of Booking Directly

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers offers a different set of advantages and considerations compared to using third-party sites. Here are the pros and cons to keep in mind:

• Best Price Guarantee: Many hotels and airlines offer a best price guarantee when booking directly. This means that if you find a lower price for the same accommodations or flights elsewhere, they will match that price or even offer a lower rate.
• Flexible Booking Policies: Booking directly often means more flexibility with cancellation or modification of reservations. Some hotels and airlines may offer more lenient policies, allowing you to make changes or cancel without incurring heavy fees.
• Personalized Service: When you book directly with the service providers, you have the opportunity for more personalized service. You can communicate your specific preferences or requirements directly, increasing the chances of having your needs met.
• Loyalty Programs and Benefits: Booking directly can make you eligible for loyalty programs offered by hotels, airlines, or other service providers. These programs often come with perks like room upgrades, complimentary amenities, and exclusive discounts.
• Limited Options: While third-party sites offer a wide range of choices, booking directly may have more limited options, especially in less popular or remote destinations.
• Time-Consuming: Booking directly with multiple service providers can be time-consuming, as you need to research and make individual bookings for different components of your trip.
• Lack of Price Comparison: Booking directly means you won’t have the opportunity to easily compare prices across different hotels or airlines in one place. This may require more effort on your part to ensure you are getting the best deal.
• Reliance on Customer Support: If any issues arise during or after your booking, you will need to rely on the customer support of the specific service provider. This can vary in quality and responsiveness.

Booking directly with service providers offers more control, personalization, and potential for better deals. However, it’s important to consider the limitations and potential challenges involved. In the following sections, we will dive deeper into the comparison of prices and deals, transparency and control, loyalty programs, ease of use, customer support, and security to help you make an informed decision between third-party sites and booking directly.

Comparison of Prices and Deals

One of the most crucial factors when booking accommodations, flights, or other travel arrangements is the price. Let’s explore how prices and deals compare between third-party sites and booking directly.

Third-Party Sites:

Third-party travel booking sites have built a reputation for offering competitive prices and exclusive deals. They often negotiate discounted rates with hotels and airlines, allowing them to offer lower prices than what you might find when booking directly. Additionally, these sites may bundle accommodations and flights, providing discounted package deals that can save you money.

On these sites, you can easily compare prices across different hotels, airlines, or other service providers. They often have search filters that allow you to set a price range, preferred amenities, and other criteria to find the best deals within your budget.

Booking Directly:

When booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers, you may have access to exclusive deals and promotions that are not available through third-party sites. Some hotels offer direct booking discounts, loyalty member rates, or additional perks for booking directly. They may also have best price guarantees, assuring you that you are getting the lowest available rate.

Booking directly allows you to communicate with the service provider directly and negotiate the best price. If you find a lower rate elsewhere, you can reach out to the hotel or airline to see if they will match or beat that price.

Overall, both third-party sites and booking directly can offer competitive prices and deals. It’s important to compare prices across different platforms and consider any exclusive promotions or discounts before making a decision. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on the destination, time of year, and availability, so it’s always a good idea to do thorough research and compare options to ensure you are getting the best value for your money.

Transparency and Control

When it comes to planning your trip and making reservations, transparency and control play a significant role in ensuring a pleasant experience. Let’s examine how third-party sites and booking directly compare in terms of transparency and control.

Third-party travel booking sites provide a convenient platform for comparing prices and reading customer reviews. You can easily access information about hotel amenities, room types, airline baggage policies, and more. These sites typically offer a user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and find the information you need.

However, it’s important to be cautious about the level of transparency offered by third-party sites. While they provide general information about prices and amenities, there may be additional details that are not readily visible. This can include hidden fees, resort fees, or extra charges for services that may be included when booking directly.

Furthermore, the terms and conditions, cancellation policies, and refund policies may not be as transparent as when booking directly. It’s crucial to read the fine print carefully and understand the terms associated with your booking to avoid any surprises or misunderstandings.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers often provides more transparency and control over your reservations. It allows you to communicate directly with the service provider and address any questions or concerns you may have.

When booking directly, you can have more clarity on the terms and conditions, cancellation policies, and any additional fees that may apply. This gives you a better understanding of the flexibility and options available should you need to make changes to your reservations.

Additionally, booking directly provides an opportunity for personalized communication. You can specify your preferences, such as room type, special requests, or any specific needs, ensuring that your requirements are known and met by the service provider.

However, it’s important to note that not all service providers offer the same level of transparency and control. Some hotel chains or airlines may have stricter policies or less flexibility compared to others. It’s always a good idea to research and read reviews about a specific hotel or airline to get an idea of their reputation in terms of transparency and customer service.

Overall, when it comes to transparency and control, booking directly can provide a clearer understanding of the terms and conditions, while third-party sites offer convenience and a wide range of options. It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons and choose the option that aligns with your preferences and priorities.

Loyalty Programs and Benefits

One enticing aspect of booking accommodations, flights, and other travel arrangements is the potential for loyalty programs and associated benefits. Let’s explore how loyalty programs compare between third-party sites and booking directly.

While third-party travel booking sites offer convenience and a wide range of options, they may not always provide access to loyalty programs offered by hotels, airlines, or other service providers. Some third-party sites have their own loyalty programs, but they may not be directly linked to the service providers’ programs.

This means that if you book through a third-party site, you might miss out on accumulating loyalty points or enjoying the perks and benefits associated with direct bookings. These perks can include room upgrades, priority check-in or boarding, complimentary amenities, and exclusive discounts.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers often allows you to access their loyalty programs and enjoy associated benefits. These loyalty programs are designed to reward repeat customers and offer incentives for booking directly.

With hotel loyalty programs, you can accumulate points for each stay and eventually redeem them for free nights or other rewards. Some programs also offer status tiers, which come with additional benefits such as late check-out, access to executive lounges, or dedicated customer support.

Airlines often have frequent flyer programs that award miles for each flight, which can then be used for upgrades, free flights, or other travel-related rewards. These programs often have alliances with other airlines, allowing you to earn and redeem miles across multiple carriers.

When booking directly, you can ensure that your reservations are linked to your loyalty program, allowing you to accumulate points or miles for your stays or flights. You can also enjoy the associated benefits, such as priority check-in, preferred seating, or access to exclusive lounges.

It’s important to note that not all hotels, airlines, or service providers have the same loyalty programs or benefits. Some may have more extensive programs with greater rewards, while others may have limited offerings. It’s recommended to research and compare the loyalty programs and benefits of different providers to determine which aligns best with your travel preferences and goals.

Overall, booking directly with service providers offers a higher likelihood of accessing loyalty programs and enjoying associated benefits. However, it’s essential to weigh this factor alongside other considerations, such as price, convenience, and the overall quality of the service provided.

Ease of Use and Time Efficiency

When it comes to booking travel arrangements, ease of use and time efficiency are crucial considerations. Let’s compare how third-party sites and booking directly stack up in these aspects.

Third-party travel booking sites excel in terms of convenience and ease of use. These platforms provide a one-stop-shop where you can browse and compare prices for accommodations, flights, car rentals, and more. Their user-friendly interfaces and search filters allow you to quickly narrow down your options based on your preferences, saving you time and effort.

Additionally, many third-party sites offer customer reviews and ratings, giving you valuable insights into the experiences of other travelers. This can help you make informed decisions and choose options that best suit your needs and preferences.

With third-party sites, you can often complete your booking with just a few clicks. The platforms securely store your payment information, eliminating the need to re-enter it for each reservation. This makes the booking process quick and efficient, especially if you are booking multiple components of your trip.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers may require a bit more effort and time compared to using third-party sites. You need to visit individual websites and navigate their booking systems to make your reservations.

However, booking directly offers the advantage of personalized customer service. If you have specific preferences or requirements, such as a particular room type or dietary restrictions, you can communicate directly with the service provider to ensure your needs are met. This direct communication can save you time compared to going through a third-party intermediary.

In terms of time efficiency, booking directly can be advantageous when it comes to modifications or cancellations. Since you are in direct contact with the service provider, it may be easier and faster to make changes to your reservations without having to go through customer support channels.

It’s worth noting that some hotels and airlines have streamlined their direct booking processes to make them more user-friendly and efficient. They strive to provide a seamless experience that rivals the ease of use offered by third-party sites.

Overall, third-party sites excel in terms of convenience and ease of use, while booking directly can offer a more personalized experience. The choice between the two depends on your preferences, the level of customization you desire, and the time you are willing to invest in the booking process.

Customer Support and Assistance

When booking travel arrangements, having reliable customer support and assistance can make a significant difference in your overall experience. Let’s compare the customer support and assistance provided by third-party sites and booking directly with service providers.

Third-party travel booking sites typically offer customer support through various channels, such as phone, email, or live chat. They have dedicated support teams trained to assist you with any questions or issues you may encounter during the booking process or after your reservations are made.

These sites often have customer support available 24/7, ensuring that help is accessible at any time, regardless of your time zone or location. They can assist with inquiries related to reservations, changes, cancellations, or refunds.

Keep in mind that the level of customer support may vary between different third-party sites. Some platforms have established reputations for excellent customer service, while others may have mixed reviews in this area. It’s recommended to do research and read reviews about the customer support of specific third-party sites before making a decision.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers also provides access to customer support. When you have a direct relationship with the service provider, you can reach out to their support team for assistance with any questions or concerns you may have.

Booking directly allows you to communicate your specific requirements, preferences, or special requests directly to the service provider. This direct communication can help ensure that your needs are understood and addressed, leading to a smoother and more personalized experience.

However, it’s essential to note that the quality of customer support can vary among different service providers. Some hotels or airlines may have dedicated customer support teams that provide prompt and efficient assistance, while others may have more limited support resources.

It’s also worth considering that in certain situations, third-party sites may have more leverage and influence with service providers when it comes to resolving issues or addressing concerns. They may have established partnerships or agreements that allow them to advocate on behalf of their customers to ensure a satisfactory resolution.

Overall, both third-party sites and booking directly can offer customer support and assistance. It’s important to research and consider the reputation and reviews of the customer support provided by specific platforms and service providers to ensure that you will receive the assistance you need in case of any issues or inquiries.

Security and Trustworthiness

When it comes to booking travel arrangements, security and trustworthiness are paramount. Let’s compare the security measures and trustworthiness of third-party sites and booking directly with service providers.

Reputable third-party travel booking sites prioritize the security of their users’ personal information and payment details. They implement industry-standard encryption technologies to protect sensitive data during transmission. These sites often display security badges or logos to assure users that their information is being securely processed.

It’s important to be cautious when providing personal or financial information on any website, including third-party booking sites. Always verify that the site has a secure connection (https://) and look for trusted payment gateways, such as PayPal or secure credit card processors.

Additionally, third-party sites may have built-in review systems that allow users to rate and comment on their experiences. Reading reviews can give you insights into the reliability and trustworthiness of both the third-party site and the service providers it partners with.

Booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers can provide added security as you are sharing your personal information and payment details directly with the service provider. Established hotels and airlines often have robust security measures in place to protect customer data.

It’s recommended to book directly through official websites or authorized channels to ensure the security and legitimacy of your bookings. Look for secure connection indicators (https://) and verify the authenticity of the website before providing any personal or financial information.

Service providers may also showcase their security measures, such as encryption technology, secure payment gateways, and data protection policies. You can usually find this information in the privacy policies or terms and conditions sections of their websites.

Trustworthiness can also be assessed through customer reviews, testimonials, and reputation. Researching the service provider, reading reviews, and considering their industry reputation can help ensure that you are dealing with a reputable and trustworthy organization.

Overall, both third-party sites and booking directly with service providers can be secure and trustworthy, provided you take appropriate precautions and verify the authenticity and security protocols of the websites. It’s crucial to stay vigilant, use secure connections, and only provide personal and financial information on trusted platforms.

Choosing between third-party travel booking sites and booking directly with service providers is a personal decision that depends on various factors. Both options have their own set of pros and cons, and it’s important to consider your priorities and preferences when making a decision.

If convenience, variety, and the ability to compare prices are important to you, then third-party sites could be the way to go. These platforms offer a one-stop-shop where you can easily browse and book accommodations, flights, car rentals, and more. They often have user-friendly interfaces and provide access to customer reviews, making it easy to find the best deals and make informed decisions.

If you value transparency, control, and potentially better deals, booking directly with hotels, airlines, or other service providers might be the better option. This allows you to communicate your preferences directly, enjoy the benefits of loyalty programs, and have a more personalized experience. It also provides more clarity on the terms and conditions, cancellation policies, and any additional fees that may apply.

It’s important to consider other factors as well, such as the comparison of prices and deals, transparency and control, loyalty programs and benefits, ease of use and time efficiency, customer support and assistance, and security and trustworthiness. Assessing these factors will help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and priorities.

In the end, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It may even be beneficial to utilize both options based on the specific circumstances of your trip. For example, you might use a third-party site to find the best deals on accommodations and flights, and then book directly with the chosen service providers for added benefits and personalization.

Ultimately, the key is to research, compare, and weigh the pros and cons based on your individual travel requirements. Whichever option you choose, always prioritize the security of your personal information and ensure that you are booking from reputable sources. By doing so, you can set the stage for a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

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The Pros and Many Cons of Third Party Booking Sites

When I first started Next Departure, I heavily relied on affiliate links from third-party booking sites like FlightHub and CheapOair. I would get a tiny cut if anyone chose to use our link when booking their flight. However, after hearing nightmare stories about how poorly they handled canceled flights during the pandemic, it was clear to me, I have to downscale promoting most third-party booking sites. 

What is a third-party booking site?

A third-party booking site or an OTA (online travel agency) is any website where you can book your flight, hotel, cars, and packages that is NOT an airline’s official website. Some of the most common OTAs are Expedia, FlightHub, Priceline, Orbitz, SellOffVacations, iTravel2000, Booking.com, and Hotels.com. Those are the well-known ones in Canada but there’s A LOT more. When searching for the cheapest flights online, there are hundreds of choices when it comes to third-party booking sites.

What is a flight search engine?

Websites like Kayak, Google Flights, Skyscanner & Momondo are flight search engines or aggregators. They search through all the OTAs and airline’s websites and compare prices. It helps a lot to see which sources are showing the best pricing, giving you the option to book with either the airline or an OTA. I use these search engines extensively to find those cheap flights, mistake fares, and unadvertised deals. 

Cancellations or Changes

A lot of the OTAs are known to have very frustrating customer service. If you book with an OTA, you will have to go back to them if you need any changes to your booking (date change, canceled flight, etc…) and not the airline. 

The agents at these third-party agencies often have little power over any decisions; they might not be empowered to do more than provide basic information. And their wait times? Forget it: They’re notoriously long! 

If you booked with an OTA and call the airline for any issues with your booking, the airline might redirect you to the OTA. Then when you contact the OTA, they will place blame on the airline. You may just end up going in circles.

Not to say that airlines have any better customer service, but if there’s an issue, you’ll deal with them and  only  them. 

Mistake Fares

One of the best reasons why it’s better to book directly with the airline is that they are more likely to honor the price of a mistake/error fare. They’re able to issue your e-tickets instantly whereas an OTA can take up to 24 hours of sending you e-tickets, which will lead to cancellations. For example, Ethiad Airlines honoured a crazy mistake fare flight from New York to Johannesburg for only a $250 roundtrip back in 2015. Air Transat also honoured an error fare from Canada to Europe starting at $110 roundtrip. 

Prices & Availability

At times, prices are cheaper with OTAs than they would be if booked on the airline’s website. They can offer special discounts on packaged trips which include both airfare and accommodations together.

Occasionally, you can find flight complexes/combinations using two or more separate airlines on one itinerary that cannot be found on the airline’s website. Booking on OTA gives you the ability to view pricing on all airlines. Often they will show two one-way flights from different airlines (example: Departing with Air Canada, Returning with Westjet) that would, in turn, be priced cheaper than booking a round trip with the same airline. 

But does the lower price outweigh all the risks that come with booking with the OTA? I’d have to save at least $100. 

Perks & Fees

Booking directly with the airline/hotel and an OTA can come with some perks. Hotels.com offers a free night every 10 nights you book with them. Expedia allows you to earn and redeem TDRewards points. Hotels can give you free upgrades and gift cards when you book direct with them. 

The fees are higher when booking with a third party. For example, they might charge you their cancellation/change fee  on top of  the airline’s cancellation/change fee. They also might charge a booking fee (some of the lesser-known OTA’s) that might only show up on the last page of checkout. 

Handling of the COVID pandemic

Poor customer service by both airlines and OTAs is nothing new, but it’s been amplified by the pandemic. Everyone was looking for a refund for their canceled flights and the finger-pointing between the airline and OTAs was now intensified. 

In these uncertain times, the flight you book is not set in stone. Airlines are constantly changing flight schedules based on country reopening/closure and increased demand. Weather, crew shortage and airport capacity restrictions can also lead to more flight delays/cancellations. Just look up any Canadian airlines social media

When booking directly with the airline, you’ll still have to deal with potential flight changes and cancellations however you’ll no longer have to deal with the middle man. Also, most airlines are now offering free changes and cancellations even on their most basic fares. Although if you’re changing to a higher priced flight, you’ll have to pay the difference. If the price is lower, you’ll get a travel credit.

When booking your next flight, make sure you’ve done your research by using a flight search engine and comparing prices. Always compare those prices with what’s showing on the airline’s website. On the flight deals I post, I’ll always do that research for you and provide the best possible options. 

Here are the scenarios:

• I will direct you to a trusted OTA
• I will direct you to the airline & trusted OTA
• I will direct you to the airline

I want to make sure I’m providing you with the best service possible which is why I’m moving away from promoting OTAs. I will always encourage you to book directly with the airline as they are just simply much more reliable and less likely to waste your time when any issue arises.

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Book Now, Pay Later: Everything You Need to Know About Third-Party Travel Financing

If your wanderlust knows no bounds—but your budget does—third-party travel financing might just be the match for you..

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With travel financing, a lack of upfront funds needn’t keep you from that dream vacation.

Happily, a shortage of cash on hand doesn’t have to stir up an incurable case of FOMO these days, thanks to a crop of newish companies that have started offering up third-party travel financing over the past few years, including Uplift , Affirm , and FOMO Travel , among others. Basically, think of it as a sort of layaway plan: You purchase your trip today and then pay for it over a set period of time in installments (though with interest and/or applicable fees). Here’s the 101 on third-party travel financing to help navigate the ins and outs of this burgeoning industry and to figure out if it’s the right fit for you.

What’s the advantage of funding a trip with third-party financing? The big thinking behind the idea is simple: Make travel more affordable and accessible. By giving consumers the option to break up the cost of a purchase over several months or a year, financing offers a way for travelers to comfortably afford a trip that might otherwise be outside of immediate financial reach.

“People may be taking advantage of a holiday to see family, or have a family vacation when the timing is right, even if they haven’t saved in advance. Some of our customers are traveling last minute to visit a sick relative, or to attend an important event like a wedding,” says Rob Soderberry, president of Uplift, an industry leader that expects to do $1 billion in financing this year . “Paying monthly allows our partners’ travel consumers to lock in trips before costs rise and enables them to afford more rewarding travel options for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” he adds.

Compared to booking a trip on a credit card, the interest rates on these financing packages are sometimes more competitive; in fact, FOMO Travel doesn’t charge interest at all (instead, it relies on a flat fee), and Affirm occasionally offers zero percent interest rates. And because you have a fixed time period to pay it off, the debt won’t stick around indefinitely, as can happen with credit card purchases.

Third-party financing companies work with travel providers like United Vacations, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Expedia, so that you can book your trip now, and pay for it later.

Can I travel anywhere and with any airline, hotel, or cruise that I choose? Third-party financing companies work with a variety of travel providers with whom they have sometimes negotiated exclusive arrangements. Travel partners for Uplift, for example, include companies like Southwest Vacations , United Vacations , and Norwegian Cruise Line , while Affirm partners with Expedia , CheapAir.com , and Suiteness , among others; in these cases, the financing can be secured via the travel partner’s website.

However, applicants interested in custom-tailoring their own vacation plans through independent arrangements can also apply for financing directly through the loan provider’s own website (excluding FOMO Travel, which exclusively books travel through its contracted partners). Once approved, the credited loan amount can be used to pay for travel with any airline, cruise line, or hotel that the recipient desires.

How do I apply for a loan? Each financing company differs with its procedures. Uplift’s application process is automated and integrated into its travel partners’ websites (or on its own website), where they collect applicant info to review and render a real-time decision for financing approval. Affirm likewise collects applicants’ data online to make a near-instantaneous underwriting decision. If approved, the shopper can then select his or her preferred repayment term, which generally must be made within three, six, or 12 months (longer terms are available with select merchants).

At FOMO Travel, which works more like store-style layaway than a traditional bank loan since it doesn’t charge interest, there are no credit checks and everybody who applies is approved. CEO and founder Andrew Katzwinkel explains, “There is zero friction or waiting period when activating a payment plan.”

What factors help determine who qualifies? Many providers, like Uplift, use credit history data to ensure the borrower has the ability to repay. Importantly, though, “Checking your rate does not impact your credit score—there is no hard credit pull unless you accept an offer,” says Soderberry.

“We want to ensure we’re only approving someone for what we believe they can comfortably afford and, unfortunately, that means sometimes we have to tell someone no if this isn’t the case,” adds Rustom Birdie, who leads the travel sector at Affirm, which also uses credit history data for loan determinations.

For FOMO Travel, however, the only major factor for qualification is an agreement that the vacation be paid in full at least 30 days prior to departure. “If the package is not paid for in full, we do not issue the travel documents and the client cannot travel,” says Katzwinkel. However, FOMO does allow clients to make fee-free amendments to their travel dates if they aren’t going to be able to make their final payment in time.

You can take a loan to travel anywhere in the world (Jordan, anyone?)—but be mindful of potential pitfalls, like steep interest rates.

What type of interest rate and payment terms are in place for these loans? Depending on the trip type, Uplift, for one, extends financing from $200 to $15,000 with repayment terms of three, six, or 11 months (which can be repaid in the months both before and after the trip), and rates ranging from 9 percent to 35.99 percent. All fees and costs for the loan are included in the upfront annual percentage rate (APR) disclosures and in the quoted interest rate; Uplift does not charge late fees or prepayment fees.

Affirm’s interest rates range from zero to 30 percent, and recipients can choose a repayment term of three, six, of 12 months; with Affirm, travel may also be completed before full repayment is made. “We don’t have hidden or late fees, which differs greatly from the experience other lenders provide, which typically involves origination and/or late fees,” says Birdie.

FOMO’s model is different: It charges a 2.5 percent transaction fee on the total value of the package, to process and manage the layaway payments, which must be paid 30 days in advance of the booked trip. “We do not charge a booking fee or charge interest onto the client,” notes Katzwinkel. However, if the client cancels a trip within 12 weeks of travel, the client will be refunded, though minus the initial deposit.

This sounds like a good idea, but what do I need to keep in mind? “Like any loan, make sure you can take on additional debt. Be clear about the interest rates as they can be as high as 36 percent; while that may not seem like much on a small loan, if your trip is for thousands of dollars that adds up,” says Lauren Saunders, associate director of the National Consumer Law Center.

It’s never a good idea to go into high-interest debt for nonessential trips, cautions Sara Rathner, NerdWallet ’s travel expert. Instead, she advises that you look into obtaining credit cards that offer long zero percent intro APR periods, but only if you can pay your trip off in full before the zero interest period ends.

Lastly, Leslie Tayne, a debt resolution attorney with the New York–based Tayne Law Group, advises forgoing financing altogether by including vacation savings in your monthly budget. Then find the best deals in other ways. “Travel at less-popular times, go to off-the-beaten path destinations, find discounts through reputation organizations, and use reward card points and travel miles; put the travel on your rewards card, but pay it off ASAP.”

No doubt, the rise of third-party travel financing will allow many more people to indulge their adventurous spirit. But, like all financial products, know what you’re getting into first, so that you can be sure it’s the right solution for you.

>> Next: How to Get the Best Last-Minute Travel Deals

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The Pros and Cons of Booking Through Online Travel Agencies

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You’re likely already familiar with online travel agencies, even if you don’t travel often. These companies — such as Priceline , Expedia and Orbitz — act as intermediaries between you and a travel provider.

Booking your travel through an OTA can be a good idea in some circumstances, but you’ll want to be wary of its pitfalls. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of online travel agencies, so you’ll know what to use to book your next vacation.

Pros of booking through online travel agencies

There are certainly advantages booking through online travel agencies, though you’ll find different experiences whether you’re using public OTAs — such as Kayak — or private ones like those offered by your card issuer, such as the Chase's travel portal .

✅ It may be cheaper

When searching for flights online, you may see different prices for the same routes that vary across websites. Although it may be a result of fare type — for example, some search results may not clarify that a fare is basic economy rather than main cabin or economy — other times, the difference comes down to competition for your business.

Online travel services will often offer slightly lower prices on flights in an effort to entice you as a customer. This is true for both hotels and airlines.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for online travel-booking websites

✅ It can earn you more rewards

Have you ever heard of shopping portals ? By logging into a shopping portal, you can earn rewards for purchases made with many online merchants. Some hotel chains, such as Hilton , Marriott and IHG , can be accessed through shopping portals while still booking directly on the hotel website. In this way, you can earn rewards with the hotel directly as well as with the shopping portal.

The same isn’t true for shopping portals and most airline sites. However, many public online travel agencies are accessible through shopping portals, which can then earn you rewards for airfare bookings. By opting to book in this way, you’ll be able to earn points or cash-back rewards through the shopping portal that you’d otherwise miss.

Some card issuers will also reward you heavily when using their online travel services. Clear examples of this can be seen with Capital One and Chase. With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , for example, you’ll get 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel .

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is similar. With this card, you can get 10 Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase's portal.

While these numbers are high, it’s important to remember that there are trade-offs when booking through an OTA rather than directly with a hotel or airline. We’ll get into that a little later.

Online travel agencies offered by your card issuer may not feature the same prices as booking directly; you’ll want to compare these before committing to a purchase.

Some card issuers will go so far as to give your points more value when redeeming through their online travel agencies.

This is true with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . When redeeming points on Chase's travel portal, you’ll get 1.25 cents in value per point rather than 1 cent elsewhere.

» Learn more: How much are your airline miles and hotel points worth this year?

Cons of booking through online travel agencies

There are several downsides when it comes to using online travel services for booking travel. It mainly comes down to the fact that travel providers prefer that you book directly with them — and offer more perks to woo your business.

❌ It can be harder to change a booking

Ever needed to change a flight after it's booked? No matter the reason, attempting to alter or otherwise cancel a flight can be a hassle — especially if you’ve booked through a third party.

Generally speaking, rather than offering you direct assistance, both hotels and airlines will recommend you contact the online travel agency you’ve booked with in order to make any changes.

While you may be able to make changes or get refunds with the travel agency, airlines and hotels can — and will — offer much more flexibility when you’ve booked with them directly. You may also be subject to additional fees charged by the online travel agency, which can erase any savings you’ve received.

❌ You may not receive elite benefits

This is the real kicker for anyone wanting elite status. Although airlines will almost always recognize your elite status and allow you to earn miles even for bookings made through an online travel agency, hotels and rental car companies will not.

This is especially important for hotel chains. Earning elite status with hotels generally relies on elite night credits. Although these can be earned in a variety of ways — including having complimentary status by holding certain credit cards — the main method of acquiring elite night credits is by spending nights in hotels. Rooms booked through an online travel agency do not count toward elite status as elite night credits.

Additionally, you will not receive any of the benefits of your existing elite status if your booking is through a third party. This can mean the loss of perks such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and even free Wi-Fi.

» Learn more: The best airline and hotel rewards loyalty programs this year

❌ It may be more expensive

Did you know that many hotel chains have best price guarantees? Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and IHG all have a guarantee that’ll give you either points or a discount if you find a better rate elsewhere.

These guarantees are generous; Hilton, for example, will match the rate and then discount it by a further 25%.

Although you’ll need to file claims for these guarantees and they face limitations — such as a 24-hour window from when you made the booking — you can save a lot of money on your stay if your request is approved.

Online travel agencies can be hit or miss

There are two sides to every coin and this is no different, as there are several benefits and limitations of online travel services. Depending on your needs and loyalty program status, you’ll want to choose whether to book directly with a travel provider or rely on OTAs to do the job for you.

Booking travel through credit card portals from issuers like Chase and Capital One can earn you big rewards. But if you anticipate altering your travel plans or aim to earn elite status instead, booking directly is the way to go.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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The weirdly common, very expensive travel scam you should avoid

Do not click on that travel website (probably).

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Kathy could have sworn she called Qatar Airways to change her flight last spring. Looking through her call records now, she clearly didn’t. Instead, she wound up talking to a third-party booker called Infinity Travels. She has paid Infinity thousands of dollars she may never get back, even after spending countless hours trying.

Her labyrinth of a saga is hard to keep straight. In November 2022, she realized she would need to fly back home to Canada early from a trip to visit her husband in the Middle East scheduled for the following March. She called to make the switch. Kathy, who asked to withhold her last name to protect her privacy, spent six hours on the phone in the endeavor.

Initially, she says she was told she’d need to spend 1,650 Canadian dollars on a new flight and would get a CA$2,700 credit from the airline — she wanted a refund, not a credit, and was transferred to a supposed supervisor. The next agent told her she needed to pay CA$6,990 for the new flight and that she’d receive a refund of CA$8,080 after she had taken her departing flights. She took the deal, which was confirmed in an email from Infinity. “It was dumb of me,” she says. “But by this time it was 1 am and I was so tired.”

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That refund never came through, and Kathy has been locked in a battle with Infinity for months, which is taking place over WhatsApp and the phone. Infinity claimed the initial agent who offered her the refund was fired for making unauthorized deals. A subsequent agent she spoke to — while on her vacation — told her they would refund CA$4,250, nearly half the original amount promised. That was supposed to come through if she agreed not to dispute the CA$6,990 charge, which she did. That agent seems to have disappeared, too, after allegedly being promoted to a new job.

Kathy isn’t sure how she found that wrong number to make her flight change, but it seems likely she did an internet search and called the number that came up without checking its provenance. “It’s incredibly frustrating,” she says. “For me, the money sucks to lose, but it’s more like how are they getting away with doing this? Because I’m sure there are other people.”

There are. A look at TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau shows others have had similarly confusing experiences with Infinity.

People all over the world get sucked into a variety of travel-related schemes and scams all the time. In this day and age of vacation, sketchy websites and companies and third-party bookers abound.

Third-party booking websites and companies — meaning entities consumers can use to handle reservations without dealing directly with, for example, an airline — are everywhere. Not all of them are bad. Plenty of people use them without issue all the time, including popular ones such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Booking.com. But some of them employ shady and even fraudulent tactics.

These operations seek to get consumers’ money by saying they’ll take care of their travel plans, booking their plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars, or even helping them get their passports faster. They then go on to charge exorbitant fees for executing the transaction or making minor changes and often give consumers the runaround. Sometimes, they never reserve anything at all. Victims of these scams show up at the airport for a flight that doesn’t exist, or appear at a hotel to sleep in a room that was never booked, and their money’s just gone.

Feelings can run high when people travel, whether they’re going to an event or spending time with family and friends or just getting a much-needed and much-anticipated break. “That’s one thing scammers prey on,” said Melanie McGovern, director of public relations and social media for the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, “the emotion of it all.”

Kathy’s emotions got the better of her the night she made that payment to Infinity — endless hours on the phone will do that to you. Since then, she has gotten about CA$325 back from Qatar Airways. After months of wrangling (and after I reached out for comment for this story), Infinity returned CA$1,816 to her. She’s got all of the documentation from the ordeal: emails, text messages, recorded phone calls. It’s just not clear whether any of that matters.

Kathy still has that number she first called saved in her phone as “Qatar Airways Help,” even though that’s not what it is. When you call the number now, the person on the other end of the line simply says, “Reservations.” It’s easy to see how people get tricked.

Qatar Airways said in a statement that Infinity is a travel agent that is entitled to sell its tickets, like many others, but that as an airline, “we do not forward phone calls to travel agents, and we do not accept agents making promises on our behalf.” Infinity said in an email it was “disappointed to hear about the poor experience by this individual” and did not respond to a follow-up email.

One of the primary ways fraudulent third-party companies suck people in is with the promise of a deal. They offer a price that seems too good to be true — because it is — and people’s internet-driven deal-hunting instincts take over.

“The biggest thing we see are the people who are using a third-party website trying to get something a little bit cheaper,” McGovern said. “We know travel can be really, really expensive, and ... people are trying to find an alternative.”

That’s what happened to Sarah, who asked for her last name to be withheld to protect her privacy, when she was trying to snag a flight to Iceland to see the northern lights in late 2022. Most of the flights she found were above her $800 budget, but she found one option for $755 from a website called Travelcation. After booking the trip, she received an email from the company saying the fare she had agreed to was no longer available and had increased to $995.

Sarah noted the email had weird language and grammatical errors, as did the company’s website, upon further inspection. She then googled “Travelcation scams.” “I started reading these horror stories,” she says. She responded to the email saying she didn’t agree to the new price and alerted her bank that any attempted charge would be unauthorized. “My card never ended up getting charged, so I managed to avoid the worst of it,” she says. She took a budget-friendlier trip to Puerto Rico instead.

A spokesperson for Travelcation said in an email that in the travel industry it’s “not uncommon” for prices to fluctuate because of issues such as airline ticket availability, dynamic pricing, taxes, fees, and other charges added during the booking process.

What is uncommon, or at least should be, is for prices to fluctuate after booking.

Reporting for this story, I spoke with multiple experts and individuals about their experiences with scammy websites and travel agencies and combed through complaints to the Better Business Bureau. Many of the strategies these entities employ are quite simple — and effective.

Some websites will figure out how to game search engines like Google . Travelers might think they’re calling Delta or Hilton or Hertz but are actually on the phone with someone else because they just called whatever number came up in search results or on some website without verifying it’s right. The numbers can be completely different from the actual phone number, or they might be one or two off — and 888 instead of 800.

In the same vein, consumers wind up on these websites because they appear in their searches, sometimes because those websites have paid to rank higher. People then book there, not realizing the website is untrustworthy. The site in question then follows up with a call or email saying that the price of the booking has increased to try to squeeze more out of consumers there, or they charge super-high fees for small changes. (Assuming they make the booking at all, which doesn’t always happen.)

Jim still isn’t entirely sure how he wound up in his predicament. He called Delta’s phone number on a voice over internet service (VoIP) to book a flight to San Francisco; in his first interaction, everything seemed fine. He got a confirmation email from a company called Boketo, not Delta, but he didn’t immediately notice. A while later, he realized his middle initial was incorrect on the reservation, so he called to change it. After agreeing to pay $200 and receiving a follow-up email, this time from an outfit called Travel Makers, it dawned on him he had been duped. “That’s when I recognized that I’m an idiot,” he says.

Jim reported the charges as fraud to his credit card company, which he thought would be the end of it. But in the lead-up to his trip, he says the agent he first dealt with began calling him and harassing him, saying she would not issue his tickets unless he restored the $200 payment. In the end, the flights went just fine, although Jim was worried until he successfully boarded his plane. He asked for his last name to be withheld out of fear of more harassment from the agent.

Jim’s phone records show he did indeed call Delta’s real number, which is quite disturbing. A spokesperson for Delta recommended consumers take extra precautions when using VoIP internet calling to make sure their service is secure. “Whenever we become aware of an alleged scam targeting our customers, including in this situation, we immediately conduct an investigation. Using the facts gained from an investigation, when able, we can then address each unique situation as appropriate with the necessary legal means at our disposal,” the spokesperson said.

Boketo did not respond to a request for comment for this story. When I reached out to Travel Makers for comment, someone purporting to be from the company said that it has nothing to do with Boketo and that the situation “seems like a case of misplaced anger.” They defended the extra $200 charge. Their email address was listed as Fly Cheapest Online.

There is no surefire way to scam-proof your life or even your next vacation, but there are measures you can take to try to protect yourself.

The first step is really to slow down, take a deep breath, and pay attention to what you’re doing, said Amy Nofziger, the director of fraud victim support with AARP. It’s not always easy — people’s lives are busy, and we’re often distracted or in a hurry or stressed. But those situations are where we’re likeliest to make mistakes.

Nofziger also said to be wary of offers that are really out of step with the rest of the market. “If you find the best deal on a flight or on a car, I would be really suspect of why it’s the best deal. Go into this with the mindset that I think this is a scam until I’m proven otherwise,” she says. “Even if you think you’re going to get the deal of the century, they’re going to get the deal of the century, not you.”

If the website’s charging you $500 less than everywhere else, question why that might be. Yes, it feels good to beat the system, but there might not be a system to beat. This goes not only for hotels and flights but also, for example, for expedited passport processing, which Nofziger says AARP gets complaints about weekly. Consumers pay some website extra to get their passports faster, only to hand over sensitive personal information in exchange for no quicker service. “There really is no ‘beat the system’ with the State Department,” she says. “I suggest everyone pull their passport out today, look at when it expires, and start the process.”

If you see a website offering what appears to be a good deal, open up another browser and type the name of that site in along with words like “scam,” “fraud,” and “reviews.” You might save yourself a real headache, depending on what you find. “Do your research,” McGovern says.

Experts say it generally is better to book directly with the hotel or airline or whatever you’re trying to accomplish, or at least to start there. And triple-check the number you’re calling. Really. “Travel agents can be reputable ... but you need to be clear that who you’re talking to is who you intended to talk to,” says Summer Hull, director of content at The Points Guy. “If you intended to talk to American Airlines and you’re now talking to a travel agency, that’s a red flag.”

You should also be suspicious if you get a follow-up phone call asking for more information. “Never provide personal information to an inbound call, even to an airline,” Hull says. “They should not be calling you to ask for your confirmation number or your credit card number or your flight plan,” she said. If you’re not sure it’s legitimate, say you’ll call them back.

There can be some recourse in the event you are scammed. You can try to dispute charges as fraud with your credit card company, which is why it’s always best to pay with a credit card (and not with Venmo, crypto, or a prepaid card). You can also report your experiences on websites such as the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and other places, and, if necessary, contact law enforcement. Still, options are limited.

“Most people don’t think they’re ever going to be scammed, but unfortunately, I’ve had this job for 21 years, and I don’t see it going away anytime soon,” Nofziger says.

As for Kathy, she remains stuck in what feels like a doom loop, most of her refund still pending.

We live in a world that’s constantly trying to sucker us and trick us, where we’re always surrounded by scams big and small. It can feel impossible to navigate. Every two weeks, join Emily Stewart to look at all the little ways our economic systems control and manipulate the average person. Welcome to The Big Squeeze .

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Third-Party Sites Vs. Booking Directly

What’s the difference between third-party sites vs. booking directly? A typical travel question most people don’t know the answer to. We’ll discuss the difference between third-party sites vs. booking directly, explain what booking through a third-party site entails and, most importantly, explain the pitfalls of third-party sites.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our  disclosure and privacy policy  for more information.

Types of Third-Party Travel Sites

The market is flooded with third-party travel sites. The easiest way to think about third-party travel sites is to think of them as travel agents acting on a provider’s behalf. Some big ones are Expedia, Hotwire, Booking.com, Travelocity, etc. These sites sell everything from flights and hotels to car rentals and travel insurance on behalf of the actual provider.

A third party is an entity that is involved in some way in an interaction that is primarily between two other entities. 

Most third-party travel sites have ventured into private accommodation rentals, cruises, car rentals, camping, and glamping.

The key is that while they can book an entire vacation for you, which is convenient, none of your reservations are direct, and this is where the problems kick in. 

Let’s say that you have booked a holiday package to Barbados . Expedia issues you your plane tickets and provides you with your hotel information. Something goes wrong. Who do you call? The logical; Expedia, however, you’ll learn very quickly that unless you booked directly with the providers (airline, hotel, and so on), you will end up engaged in a three-ring circle of “It’s not my problem.”

Let’s dive in and talk through the different types of third-party travel sites. Then, we will discuss the potential challenges.

Third-Party Travel Providers

Price comparison sites.

Comparison sites compare the cost of hotels, cars, and flights (and other travel services) in different booking systems that work on the same principle as flight search engines. They do not sell anything; they help you find the best deal across various booking systems. After the search, you are redirected to the 3rd party booking system website and book your travel there.  Kayak and Skyscanner are great examples of comparison sites that most of us use.

I use comparison sites to determine the best pricing and then go directly to the source. For example, if I find that the best flight to England is on Virgin Airlines, I will go to Virgin Airlines directly to book. 99% of the time, the price is equal to or less. And, with hotels, if the price is not less, most of a price match guarantee.

Note: While some people have had sucess using hotel price matches I have not. There are so many hoops to jump through you’ll be lucky to get the hotel to honor a price match.

One-Stop Shops

These are the big players that are household names. Expedia, Hotwire, Booking.com, Travelocity. These sites sell everything from flights, hotels, and cruises to car rentals and travel insurance on behalf of the actual provider. And most of the big carriers can sell you an entire vacation package that includes everything from soup to nuts.

These companies are essentially a broker, the third man operating between you and the companies providing the actual service or amenity.

A common myth is that these providers offer the best prices. Sometimes they do, but not always, and if you book through a third party, you have entered into an agreement with a third party.

Private Accommodation Price Comparison Sites

Renting an apartment or house is becoming more and more common. It’s a very convenient way to travel. Think Airbnb , VBRO, AGODA, RU, and HometoGo as examples.

When you rent a private apartment or house, you can feel at home. You can buy in the supermarket and cook for yourself, which significantly reduces the overall cost of the vacation. This is much more affordable for families with children than staying in a hotel.  It is almost always cheaper to rent an apartment or house for a family with children. 

Sites like Airbnb serve as intermediaries between you and the host. You pay immediately, but the host will receive your money only after you have stayed with them. The price is fixed at the time of booking, and we cannot increase the cost under any circumstances or charge you any undisclosed fees.

Booking.com, best known for hotels, has a fantastic selection of apartments and houses. One of the things that I like most about Booking.com is that you can view hotels, houses, and apartments simultaneously. Just be aware that if you use them to book a hotel, you are then using a third-party site for the hotel reservation vs. booking directly with the hotel.

Travel Agents

A dying concept, but they still exist. When you use a travel agent, even though it’s a third-party agreement, their sole role is to represent you. For example, if your flights are delayed, your travel agent should be the go-to person, and their part is to resolve it.

Cruise Aggregators

As with all travel niches, there are 3rd Party Booking providers, and cruising is no different. The big names are cruise.com, cruisedirect.com, and vacationstogo.com.

The same concept applies here; if you use one of these providers and something goes wrong, you will face challenges working directly with the cruise line. I will tell you that I’ve run into fewer issues with cruise aggregators. I often use vacations to go, and I’ve never had a problem. However, I am acutely aware that the third party I booked with is to provide service. And, I know from years of experience that a cruise line can and will refer you back to where you booked if not directly with them.

Cons of Using A T hird-Party Travel Site

In a nutshell, the issue is “whose problem is it.” If you didn’t book directly with the hotel, airline, or cruise, they have every right to refer you back to where you booked. I had a harrowing experience with Expedia on a package deal to Iceland . To make a long story short, the flight was canceled, and the airline’s response was “call Expedia.” We called Expedia, and hours later, they said, “talk to the airline.” Neither party will accept responsibility and will give you the runaround.

Here are some other cons:

• If you don’t book with the provider directly, you are not eligible to earn reward points .
• It’s almost always cheaper to book directly with the provider. vs. using a third-party provider. You’ll have to make separate reservations, but it is typically more affordable.
• Modifying a reservation with a third-party provider is a challenge. It can be done, but it will cost you.
• When you buy a vacation package that includes flights and hotels, the flights are often connection flights or flights at inconvenient times. 
• It won’t be easy to upgrade anything because you did not book directly.

Pros Using A T hird-Party Travel Site

• They make bundling very easy. With a few clicks, you can have flights, hotels, car rentals,s and travel insurance.
• Some people love that it’s “one” reservation and fewer companies to deal with (in theory).
• Sometimes you can score a deal that is too good to miss and is worth losing loyalty points and taking the chance of clunky travel.
• You can earn loyalty points from third-party providers.

What is third-party booking?

Third-party booking means researching and making reservations on an internet travel site such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, Hotels.com, etc. A third party is an entity that is involved in some way in an interaction that is primarily between two other entities.   

Is booking com a third party?

Yes, Booking com is, in fact, a third-party travel provider.

Why do hotels use third-party websites?

The reason is that online booking sources have become so important that they can no longer be ignored. Hotels that do not acquire business through third-party websites are scarce. Third-party websites generate 40–50% of the monthly revenue for many chain hotels.

What is a third-party travel agent?

Online travel agents are third-party websites that sell travel-related services provided by their partners, such as hotels, hostels, airlines, car rental companies, event organizers, and more.

Closing Thoughts

Third-party sites have a purpose, and we all use them at some point. However, booking directly is always the way to go if you can. Using a third-party site vs. booking directly is not the way to go unless you have found the deal of the century. 

How about you? What horror stories do you have to share on experiences with third-party travel sites?

Looking for more Travel Hacks? Start here:

• 20 Best Ways to Earn Lots of Credit Card Rewards Points
• Airline Passenger Rights – The 12 Steps to Handle Flight Cancellations
• Disney World Resorts on A Dime
• Eight Travel Hacks That Are Bull
• Get Your Guide or Viator – Which One Is Best?
• Gifts For Travelers – Fifty Fabulous Ones Under $50!
• Multi-City Flights – A Travel Hack You Need to Know!
• Wizz Air Review – Europe’s Worst Airline You Should Avoid

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Ryan is a passionate blogger and writer who likes sharing his thoughts. Now he works as a content editor and internet researcher. You can check his website . He likes to travel and explore new countries .

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Nikki Webster is a travel writer who covers how to travel while grinding a day job without breaking the bank. Nikki is always in search of off-the-beaten-track experiences and unique stays. She is particularly fond of Florida and writes extensively about the state. She flies around 60,000 miles annually and has visited 74 countries, 50 states, and six continents. You can read all about her travels at www.britonthemove.com or follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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Hi I booked through (booking.com) and I’ve chosen partner offers which is booking facilitated by partner company. But the big problem is I made mistake with the date I booked and I was trying to solve it with booking.com but I didn’t get any help because the booking is with partner. On pant and booking.com have nothing to do !!! So bad that I can’t reach the partner company to solve my problem.

Hi Hanan, So sorry to hear you experienced this:( I’ve never had an issue with Booking.com; I use them all the time for hotels. But I’ve experienced this many times with flights and now only book them directly. If you paid by CC, call your CC company and dispute the charge…. this should resolve it. Hope it works out – Nikki Also, by law, you do have 24 hours with all reservations to amend them.

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of third party in English

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• cooperative
• establishment
• organization
• semi-public
• sub-organization
• subcommission

third-party adjective [before noun] ( THIRD PERSON/ORGANIZATION )

• These programs are created by third-party software developers and allow you to customize your phone .
• We do not provide support for third-party applications that may be running on your PC.
• We are totally independent , so we can issue impartial third-party advice .
• In cases like this we usually ask a third-party reviewer to resolve the dispute .
• disinterest
• disinterested
• disinterestedly
• disinterestedness
• impartiality
• impartially
• non-aligned
• non-alignment
• non-intervention
• unprejudiced

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

third-party adjective [before noun] ( IN POLITICS )

• anti-Bolshevik
• anti-Bolshevism
• anti-capitalism
• left-winger
• sectarianism
• segregationist
• the awkward gang idiom

third party | American Dictionary

Third party noun [c] ( political group ), third party noun [c] ( person ), third party | business english, examples of third party, translations of third party.

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third-party

Definition of third-party

 (Entry 1 of 2)

third party

Definition of third party  (Entry 2 of 2)

Examples of third-party in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'third-party.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Dictionary Entries Near third-party

third-order reaction

Cite this Entry

“Third-party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third-party. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

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Kids definition of third party, legal definition, legal definition of third party.

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3rd Party Definition: Everything You Need to Know

A 3rd party definition can be any person or legal entity that is not directly involved in the execution of a legal agreement, but may be indirectly involved in a number of different ways. 3 min read updated on February 01, 2023

A 3rd party definition can be any person or legal entity that is not directly involved in the execution of a legal agreement, but may be indirectly involved in a number of different ways.

Who Is a Third Party?

A third party can be an individual or legal entity that is not directly involved in the execution of a legal agreement. However, they can be indirectly involved in a number of ways. In a nutshell, a third party is usually a person or firm that is hired from the outside to provide advice from an outsider's perspective when business leaders are having a hard time deciding how to handle certain situations. 

When you're facing difficulties making these important decisions, it can be helpful to bring in assistance in the form of a third party. In some cases, a company may choose to bring in a third party contractor to complete some work, due to the fact that they're working on a temporary basis. This removes the burden of paying benefits to the contracted workers from the company's shoulders.

In simple terms, a third party is involved, in one way or another, in an interaction that primarily happens between two other legal entities. Generally speaking, a contract will commonly involve two parties:

• The first party
• The second party

However, when another person or entity is brought into the picture, to consult or provide some sort of service in support of the contract, the involved parties now include the following:

• The third party

The third party acts in some way to further the contract but is not directly involved in the contract itself . For example, say a software company creates a mobile app, the contract in this scenario is between the software company and the people that use the app. If you're viewing things from the company's point of view, they are the first party and the user is considered the second party. However, if you switch roles and view things as the end user, you become the first party and the company becomes the second party.

In this scenario, a marketing company that has been contracted to advertise the app may be considered a third party.

Third Party Rights

Third party rights were originally introduced in 1999 in an effort to protect the third party's interests when they become involved in a contract. The Rights of the Third Party Act offers protection for third party members who are not directly involved in the contract terms. 

This act also provides third parties with the right to enforce contracts even if they're not directly involved in the contract's execution due to the fact that they are considered to be indirectly involved in the contract. The act outlines the specific circumstances under which third parties have the right to enforce contracts that they may be directly or indirectly involved in. It also determines the scenarios in which contracts can be dissolved or withdrawn.

Also detailed in the Rights of the Third Party Act are the defensive rights that are available to the other two parties involved in the contract in the event that a third party chooses to contest the contract in question. The rights that a third party can claim can be broken down into distinct categories related to:  

• The conditions under which the rights will vest  
• Variations of the third party's rights  
• Defenses against these rights, if any  
• Exceptions to these rights

The Rights of the Third Party Act also provides certain conditions that allow a third party to contest an existing contract. If the third party is named as an intended beneficiary within the terms of the contract, they have immediate access to their rights to contest the contract. For the third party to be considered an intended beneficiary, however, they must meet two specific requirements:

• They must be able to show that their direct involvement as a beneficiary will have a direct impact on the involved parties.
• They must be able to demonstrate that the contract's performance will have a major impact on services or financial assets that the beneficiary may receive.

If you need help with 3rd party definition, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.

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• Third Party Beneficiary
• Nonperformance and Breach of Contract: What You Need to Know
• Third Party Beneficiary Contract Example
• Contract Rights
• Contracting Party Definition
• Exclusive Rights Contract
• Incidental Beneficiary Example
• Third Party Contracts
• Rights of Parties to a Contract
• Third Party Beneficiary Clause

Definition of 'third party'

• third party

third party in British English

Third party in american english, third party in insurance, examples of 'third party' in a sentence third party, cobuild collocations third party, trends of third party.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

In other languages third party

• American English : third party / θɜrd ˈpɑrti /
• Brazilian Portuguese : terceiro
• Chinese : 第三方
• European Spanish : tercero
• French : tiers
• German : Dritte
• Italian : terzi
• Japanese : 第三者
• Korean : 제삼자
• European Portuguese : terceiro
• Latin American Spanish : tercero

Browse alphabetically third party

• third molar
• Third Order
• third party liability
• third party procedure
• third party, fire and theft
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'T'

Related terms of third party

• third-party app
• third-party vendor
• third-party developer
• third-party insurance
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What counts as travel on the Amex Green card?

The American Express® Green Card is one of our top cards for travel purchases and is featured in our best Amex credit cards .

New cardholders can now get a welcome bonus of 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after they spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card in the first six months of cardmembership.

The Amex Green earns 3 points per dollar on travel, transit and dining at restaurants. For all other purchases, you'll earn one point. Terms Apply.

But exactly which purchases count as "travel" and earn 3 points per dollar? Here's what you need to know.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Here are the travel purchases that will earn bonus points, according to the Amex Green Card's terms:

• Car rentals.
• Campgrounds.
• Third-party travel websites (i.e., Orbtiz, Expedia, Priceline).
• Travel booked through amextravel.com .
• Vacation rentals (with exceptions—see below).

What doesn't count as travel on the Amex Green?

Amex's terms clearly specify that timeshare purchases will not count as travel.

Additionally, whether or not something counts as travel depends on how the merchant code when you make your purchase. According to Amex's terms:

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. A purchase will not qualify for additional points if the merchant's code is not eligible.

This won't be an issue for most purchases, but it could be, depending on where you make the transaction. For instance, if you purchased a tour ticket from a convenience store, it likely wouldn't code as travel and would not earn any bonus points.

Another common area of confusion when it comes to determining travel purchases is home-sharing and vacation rental sites such as Airbnb , Homeaway and VRBO . These will usually code as travel and earn bonus points, but some TPG staffers and readers have reported inconsistent experiences with these purchases.

Related: American Express Green card review

Bottom line

The Amex Green Card has impressive bonus earning on travel, transit and dining purchases . But before you put a big travel purchase on this card, ensure it falls under Amex's travel category and know that vacation rentals are hit-or-miss. Fortunately, the travel category is broadly defined for the Amex Green card — great news for earning the most points possible.

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson and Chris Dong.

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FIT vs Escorted Travel: Which is Right for Your Clients?

Written by: Michelle on March 20, 2019

Two travelers can visit the same destination and have vastly different experiences depending on their travel styles and preferences. For instance, determining whether a FIT trip or an escorted tour means taking the time to qualify your clients , and figure out what they value about traveling. Do they want to have more activities included in the package, or is having a flexible schedule more important?

Read on to learn about the difference between FIT trips and escorted travel, and how to determine which is right for your clients.

FIT is an abbreviation that refers to either “foreign independent tour” or “free independent traveler.” The key to both versions is the word independent. This means that the traveler or small group of travelers (less than 10 people) will be taking a trip that does not follow an itinerary preset by a travel supplier and will not have a set tour guide or leader. Their travel agent creates an itinerary of their flights, hotels, and transportation as requested, but the agent is the one who designs this trip, not the travel supplier.

For example, imagine a couple tells you they want to visit London. They ask you to book the flights, hotel, and provide them with information on the London Underground system. They want the freedom to decide each day where to go and what to see in the city. They may opt to take a tour of Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London, but they do not want to have their schedule for these activities set by the travel supplier. This type of self-determined trip is a FIT experience.

FIT travel provides travelers with the benefit of flexibility and customization that they may not experience on an escorted tour. However, it can be harder for clients to budget for a FIT trip since it will not include meals, in-destination transportation, or sightseeing costs. Creating a custom itinerary usually means more time planning on the travel agent’s part. However, many agents enjoy planning FIT trips because they can work closely with clients to craft a tailor-made trip specifically for them. In some cases, travel agents can add excursions, sightseeing tours, and in-destination transportation if their clients request it.

Escorted tours provide a more structured and inclusive option. These vacations are expertly designed, led by travel experts, and usually have preset dates and itineraries to choose from. These packages usually include the hotel, bus or rail transportation, some meals, and admission costs to the activities scheduled. Flights may also be included or available as an add-on option. In destination, your clients will join the larger group of their escorted tour, which will vary in size depending upon the supplier and the destination.

For example, imagine another couple tells you they want to visit London. They ask you to book the flights and hotel. They want to see all of the major highlights of the city, like Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. They would also like to travel to Stonehedge and a castle if possible, but they don’t want to rent a car. They feel a tour guide would add value to their experiences at these locations and plan to use one. They want to spend their evenings seeing shows in London’s West End or enjoying a relaxing meal. To give them the best chance to see and do everything on their list, you should suggest an escorted tour.

Escorted tours appeal to clients who want to see the best of a destination. The exclusive connections that tour operators have allow escorted tour groups to bypass long entrance lines and partake in experiences that are not available to the public. In many cases, these tours are fast-paced, allowing clients to see more and save time. Most tours keep evenings open and some even have free days to allow travelers to experience the destination at their leisure.

Clients may worry that an escorted tour is more expensive than a FIT trip, but in reality, a traveler on an escorted tour is a cost-effective way to travel. Because the price of escorted tours includes transportation, admission, and usually some meals, escorted tours allow travelers to anticipate the total cost of their trip before they even leave.

Others may argue that escorted tours are only for retirees. Escorted tours cater to everyone, from millennial travelers and families to wellness travelers and foodies. For example, the Globus family of brands offers the Legacy of the Incas tour through Peru, which explore archaeological sites and traditional South American meals. The important thing to remember for agents is to match your clients to the right travel supplier and tour option to ensure they have an excellent escorted tour experience.

Are you interested in matching clients to their ideal vacation? KHM Travel Group is a host travel agency that provides independent travel agents with the tools and resources to start and grow their own travel business. To find out more, fill out the form to the right or call us at 1-888-611-1220.

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BREAKING NEWS

Body of 5th missing worker found more than a month after Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say

House passes bill to expand definition of antisemitism amid growing campus protests over gaza war.

Farnoush Amiri

Associated Press

Pro-Palestinian protesters camp out in tents at Columbia University on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in New York. With the death toll mounting in the war in Gaza, protesters nationwide are demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus. (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON – The House passed legislation Wednesday that would establish a broader definition of antisemitism for the Department of Education to enforce anti-discrimination laws, the latest response from lawmakers to a nationwide student protest movement over the Israel-Hamas war.

The proposal, which passed 320-91 with some bipartisan support, would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal anti-discrimination law that bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics or national origin. It now goes to the Senate where its fate is uncertain.

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Action on the bill was just the latest reverberation in Congress from the protest movement that has swept university campuses. Republicans in Congress have denounced the protests and demanded action to stop them, thrusting university officials into the center of the charged political debate over Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza. More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war was launched in October, after Hamas staged a deadly terrorist attack against Israeli civilians.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the bill would broaden the legal definition of antisemitism to include the “targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity." Critics say the move would have a chilling effect on free speech throughout college campuses.

“Speech that is critical of Israel alone does not constitute unlawful discrimination,” Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said during a hearing Tuesday. "By encompassing purely political speech about Israel into Title VI’s ambit, the bill sweeps too broadly.”

Advocates of the proposal say it would provide a much-needed, consistent framework for the Department of Education to police and investigate the rising cases of discrimination and harassment targeted toward Jewish students.

“It is long past time that Congress act to protect Jewish Americans from the scourge of antisemitism on campuses around the country,” Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., said Tuesday.

The expanded definition of antisemitism was first adopted in 2016 by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental group that includes the United States and European Union states, and has been embraced by the State Department under the past three presidential administrations, including Joe Biden's

Previous bipartisan efforts to codify it into law have failed. But the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas militants in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza have reignited efforts to target incidents of antisemitism on college campuses.

Separately, Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that several House committees will be tasked with a wide probe that ultimately threatens to withhold federal research grants and other government support for universities, placing another pressure point on campus administrators who are struggling to manage pro-Palestinian encampments, allegations of discrimination against Jewish students and questions of how they are integrating free speech and campus safety.

The House investigation follows several high-profile hearings that helped precipitate the resignations of presidents at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. And House Republicans promised more scrutiny, saying they were calling on the administrators of Yale, UCLA and the University of Michigan to testify next month.

The House Oversight Committee took it one step further Wednesday, sending a small delegation of Republican members to an encampment at nearby George Washington University in the District of Columbia. GOP lawmakers spent the short visit criticizing the protests and Mayor Muriel Bowser’s refusal to send in the Metropolitan Police Department to disperse the demonstrators.

Bowser on Monday confirmed that the city and the district’s police department had declined the university’s request to intervene. “We did not have any violence to interrupt on the GW campus,” Bowser said, adding that police chief Pamela Smith made the ultimate decision. “This is Washington, D.C., and we are, by design, a place where people come to address the government and their grievances with the government.”

It all comes at a time when college campuses and the federal government are struggling to define exactly where political speech crosses into antisemitism. Dozens of U.S. universities and schools face civil rights investigations by the Education Department over allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Among the questions campus leaders have struggled to answer is whether phrases like “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” should be considered under the definition of antisemitism.

The proposed definition faced strong opposition from several Democratic lawmakers, Jewish organizations as well as free speech advocates.

In a letter sent to lawmakers Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union urged members to vote against the legislation, saying federal law already prohibits antisemitic discrimination and harassment.

“H.R. 6090 is therefore not needed to protect against antisemitic discrimination; instead, it would likely chill free speech of students on college campuses by incorrectly equating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism,” the letter stated.

Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the centrist pro-Israel group J Street, said his organization opposes the bipartisan proposal because he sees it as an “unserious” effort led by Republicans “to continually force votes that divide the Democratic caucus on an issue that shouldn’t be turned into a political football.”

Associated Press writers Ashraf Khalil, Collin Binkley and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Arizona House Votes to Repeal 1864 Abortion Law

The almost-complete ban on abortions in the state could go into effect as soon as June 8 if the State Legislature does not repeal it, the state’s attorney general said.

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By Jack Healy ,  Elizabeth Dias and Kellen Browning

Jack Healy reported from Phoenix, Elizabeth Dias from New York and Kellen Browning from San Francisco.

Arizona took a major step on Wednesday toward scrapping an 1864 law banning abortion, when three Republican lawmakers in the state House of Representatives broke ranks with their party and voted with Democrats to repeal the ban.

Republicans have narrow majorities in both chambers of Arizona’s Legislature, and had blocked earlier repeal efforts in the two weeks since the Arizona Supreme Court ignited a political firestorm by reviving the Civil War-era law.

But on Wednesday, despite last-minute delay tactics and emotional speeches from conservatives who equated abortion with murder and slavery, Republican lawmakers from districts in the Phoenix area and a rural farming county joined with Democrats to pass the repeal bill, 32 to 28.

The State Senate could take up a vote on repeal next week. With two Republican senators already supporting repeal, Democrats say they believe they will prevail. Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat and a vocal supporter of abortion rights, has been urging lawmakers to repeal the 1864 law and is expected to sign a repeal if it reaches her desk.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, a Democrat, who introduced the one-sentence bill to repeal the 1864 law, said on the floor of the House after the vote on Wednesday. “The eyes of the world have been on Arizona. A repeal keeps us from going backward.”

Democrats and abortion-rights groups celebrated the vote as an important move toward undoing what they called a draconian intrusion into women’s rights. The 1864 law outlaws abortions from the moment of conception except to save the mother’s life, and it makes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

“This is a major win for reproductive freedom,” Angela Florez, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, said in a statement.

Some Republicans — including former President Donald J. Trump, who has taken credit for overturning Roe v. Wade — have urged the Legislature to scrap the 1864 law quickly, to try to head off a possible election-year backlash. But conservative politicians in Arizona and abortion opponents who filled the House gallery on Wednesday angrily denounced the repeal vote.

As the members prepared to vote, some anti-abortion activists stood silently with their hands raised. Some quietly prayed. Others walked out before the votes were tallied.

“I don’t know what just happened here,” said House Speaker Ben Toma, a Republican. “I’m done.”

The bill passed with support from every Democrat in the chamber, as well as from three Republican representatives — Matt Gress, Tim Dunn and Justin Wilmeth. Moments after the vote, Mr. Toma removed Mr. Gress from his seat on the House’s appropriations committee. He declined to say whether the move was punishment for Mr. Gress’s support of the repeal.

“I’m disgusted, I’m disappointed,” said state Representative Alexander Kolodin, a Republican who tried to thwart the repeal vote on Wednesday by introducing a measure that would allow private citizens to sue abortion providers who violated Arizona’s laws.

After the repeal passed on Wednesday, Cathi Herrod, the president of the Center for Arizona Policy and one of Arizona’s most prominent opponents of abortion, wrote on X: “Tears today for the lives of unborn children whose lives will be lost and their mothers harmed by today’s Arizona House.”

They stood in contrast to a handful of top Republicans, including Mr. Trump, who face competitive November elections and who sought to distance themselves from what appeared to be a politically unpopular law.

In a celebratory statement, Yolanda Bejarano, the chairwoman of the Arizona Democratic Party, called out each of the Republicans who supported the repeal, saying they “are rightfully scared that Arizonans will vote them out in November."

“MAGA Republicans have spent the last week lying about their stance on abortion because they know that when abortion is on the ballot, Democrats win, every time,” Ms. Bejarano said.

Political analysts said Republicans who voted to go around their leaders risked alienating their own voters in conservative districts, as well as jeopardizing their other priorities as the Legislature starts working to pass Arizona’s annual budget.

Though the State Supreme Court revived the 1864 law on April 9, it would not go back into effect before June 8, according to Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat.

The fight over the ban has consumed Arizona politics since the court decided that it could be enforced even though Arizona passed a law two years ago that allowed abortions through 15 weeks.

The court put its ruling temporarily on hold, meaning that abortions have been allowed to continue under the 15-week rules.

Abortion providers, who face two to five years in prison if convicted under the 1864 law, said they were likely to stop performing all abortions once it takes effect. But there is growing tension and disagreement over when, exactly, that might be.

Ms. Mayes has said that she would not prosecute anyone under the 1864 law. She has also said that her office was exploring other legal challenges that could delay its implementation beyond June 8.

On Tuesday night, Ms. Mayes asked the State Supreme Court to reconsider its decision reviving the 1864 ban on the grounds that abortions were permitted under the 2022 law.

In contrast, the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian group that argued in court to uphold the ban, said it believed county prosecutors could start enforcing the law this week.

Because the legislature is meeting only once a week, lawmakers and abortion providers worry that their window to get a repeal enacted is closing rapidly.

“There is a lot of concern,” said State Senator Eva Burch, a Democrat and nurse practitioner who gave a speech last month describing how she had to get an abortion to terminate a nonviable pregnancy. “It’s a scary time to be a pregnant person in Arizona.”

For anti-abortion activists, the prospect of repeal is another sign that they are losing ground, as opposition to extreme restrictions grows. Arizona is a state where their movement has deep roots, and where they have clung to the hope that allies in the Legislature would withstand pressure to change the 1864 law.

After the House vote on Wednesday, they rallied around a message that they would persevere, even though the prospects for stopping a repeal have dwindled.

Debi Vandenboom, a director at Arizona Women of Action, said she was “deeply saddened but not surprised” by the House’s vote to advance the repeal.

“It is always unfortunate when politicians who claim to be pro-life are willing to betray women and children when it seems politically expedient to do so,” she said. “The battle is far from over. I, and others like me, are in it for the long haul. In Arizona we have the opportunity and responsibility to get this right.”

Greg Scott, vice president of policy at the Center for Arizona Policy, called the day “tragic” for Arizona. “The law that has been on the books for the entire history of the state is one of the most life-protective laws in the country,” he said. “While we mourn today, we aren’t pausing for a moment in our advocacy for unborn children.”

But their options are limited, now that some Republican lawmakers have sided with the Democrats.

For their part, abortion rights supporters are working to capitalize on their growing energy and momentum, and hope to pass a referendum in November to guarantee abortion rights in the State Constitution.

The advance of the repeal bill is “one step towards possible improvement,” said Tricia Sauer, an organizer with Indivisible who was in the House gallery for the vote on Wednesday. “But what we’re really focused on is continuing to collect signatures for the only real option for restoring reproductive freedoms.”

Jack Healy is a Phoenix-based national correspondent who focuses on the fast-changing politics and climate of the Southwest. He has worked in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s journalism school. More about Jack Healy

Elizabeth Dias is The Times’s national religion correspondent, covering faith, politics and culture. More about Elizabeth Dias

Kellen Browning is a Times reporter covering the 2024 election, with a focus on the swing states of Nevada and Arizona. More about Kellen Browning

Rabbit R1 Explained: What This Tiny AI Gadget Actually Does

Your questions about the Rabbit R1 answered.

The Rabbit R1 is a handheld device that you primarily interact with through voice commands. 

As I've been using the Rabbit R1 over the past week, I've gotten the same questions multiple times: What is that thing, and what does it do? And each time, I struggled to find a concise answer.

That's because the Rabbit R1 isn't your typical tech product. It's not a phone, but it's meant to accomplish some of the same things as your phone -- only faster and more naturally. It's still far from living up to that promise, which you can read more about in my review . The device is expected to evolve and improve over time, but I don't recommend buying one right now. 

The Rabbit R1 doesn't run on a conventional operating system with apps. Instead, the software is powered by AI that's been trained to use apps and services on your behalf. Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Lyu likens it to handing your phone to a friend to order takeout for you.

Here's a breakdown of what to know about the Rabbit R1.

Read more: Apple's AI Plans for the iPhone: What to Expect From iOS 18 and More

How much does the Rabbit R1 cost?

The Rabbit R1 costs $199 and doesn't require a subscription. But you'll also need a data plan for the Rabbit R1 if you want to use it on the go, unless you tether it to your phone's mobile hotspot. Some of the services you'll likely want to connect to the R1, like Spotify and Midjourney, require a subscription. 

What comes in the box?

Other than the device itself, you'll get a clear protective travel case that can double as a kickstand for the Rabbit R1. It kind of resembles a cassette tape case, which is fitting given the Rabbit R1's retro design. The device doesn't come with a charging cable, but you can use any USB-C cable to power it up. 

The back of the Rabbit R1

What can the Rabbit R1 do?

Right now, the Rabbit R1 can answer questions, call an Uber, order DoorDash, play music on Spotify, translate speech, generate images on Midjourney, identify nearby objects with its camera and record voice memos. Your phone can already do these things, but Rabbit is positioning the R1 as a way to accomplish these tasks faster and more efficiently. (Although again, I haven't found that to be true  in my experience  so far). 

Instead of opening an app and swiping to make your selections, you primarily interact with the Rabbit R1 by holding down the side button and speaking into it like a walkie-talkie. But there's also a scroll wheel for those few instances in which you may need to navigate a menu on screen, such as your Spotify queue, settings options or making food selections on DoorDash. You access the settings menu by shaking the R1 twice. 

The Rabbit R1 can answer questions about objects it sees in the real world. 

So far, I've found the R1 to be most useful for scanning objects and points of interest in my environment and asking questions. However, it sometimes had trouble recognizing certain landmarks, like the New York Stock Exchange. I also couldn't get Uber to work properly, but the company just issued an update that may help with this. 

Rabbit is also planning to update the R1 with more features over time. During the company's launch keynote on April 23, founder and CEO Jesse Lyu said features like travel planning, reminders, calendar and contact support and more are planned for summer 2024. Smart home functionality, shopping features and teach mode, which lets you teach the R1 how to accomplish a specific task within an app or service, are also in development. The company also plans to add video messaging, third-party payments and navigation to the Rabbit R1. 

Which third-party services does the Rabbit R1 support?

According to Rabbit's online portal, known as the Rabbithole, the R1 currently supports Uber, Spotify, Midjourney and Doordash. When setting up your R1, you can connect your accounts for these services to the device. 

Support for Amazon Music and Apple Music is in development, and Yelp functionality should be coming in summer 2024, according to the company's keynote. The company also plans to add support for Airbnb, Lyft, 1Password, OpenTable, Ticketmaster and Uber Eats.

The Rabbit R1 can use Doordash on your behalf. 

Does that mean Rabbit knows my logins and passwords?

The company says it doesn't store login credentials for connected apps and services, and instead uses the service's own authentication systems for linking your accounts. So if you connect your Uber account to the Rabbithole, for example, it'll use Uber's authentication system, Rabbit says. When I went through the setup process, linking my accounts to the Rabbithole sort of felt like logging into Uber or Doordash through a web browser. 

Can you use the Rabbit R1 as a phone?

The Rabbit R1 technically isn't a phone, but you can put a SIM card in it. However, there isn't any support for calling or texting at this time. 

The Rabbit R1 can answer questions, play music on Spotify, use its camera to answer questions about what it sees and more. 

How can I see the questions I've asked Rabbit?

The journal section of the Rabbithole web portal shows any visual searches you've conducted using the R1's camera and voice memos you've recorded. You can delete these from the website at any time. 

But the Rabbithole doesn't currently store voice queries, and there isn't a way to save answers for later reference. A Rabbit spokesperson said the company plans to add this functionality through an update in the near future.

What's the Rabbit R1's battery life like?

The Rabbit R1 initially had very poor battery life that barely made it through half the day. It would even drain passively when not in use. But the company issued an update on April 30 to address this. Battery life seems to have significantly improved, with the R1's battery remaining at 83% by 5:34 p.m. on a very light day of use. 

Wait, I thought I saw something about the Rabbit R1 just being an Android app?

You can press and hold the Rabbit R1's side button and speak into it like a walkie-talkie. 

The answer is a little complicated. Android Authority says it installed the Rabbit R1's launcher Android Package (APK) file, which is the file that includes all the resources and elements an Android app needs in order to be properly installed on a device, on a Google Pixel 6A. The outlet posted a video of what appears to be the Rabbit OS operating system running on a phone and answering a question, with the volume up key serving as the push-to-talk button on the R1.

But the report also mentioned that other functionality, such as Spotify integration, likely wouldn't work since it requires specific system-level permissions that weren't able to be granted on a phone.

In response, Rabbit Inc. said on X that it's "aware that there are some unofficial Rabbit OS app/website emulators out there." It also said the service wouldn't work properly using a "local bootleg APK" since it wouldn't be able to access the "proper OS and cloud endpoints," adding that "Rabbit OS is customized for R1 and we do not support third-party clients."

You can read Rabbit's full response below:

we are aware there are some unofficial rabbit OS app/website emulators out there. we understand the passion that people have to get a taste of our AI and LAM instead of waiting for their r1 to arrive. that being said, to clear any misunderstanding and set the record straight,… — rabbit inc. (@rabbit_hmi) May 1, 2024

We'll update this story with more information about the R1 as the device receives more updates in the future. 

The Rabbit R1 AI Assistant Looks Downright Retro in Orange

Editors' note: CNET used an AI engine to help create several dozen stories, which are labeled accordingly. The note you're reading is attached to articles that deal substantively with the topic of AI but are created entirely by our expert editors and writers. For more, see our  AI policy .

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Politics latest: 'Major moment' in SNP leadership race - as serviceman 'turned away' from polling station

Former SNP leader John Swinney is "heading for a coronation" after Kate Forbes, widely tipped to go up against him in the party's latest leadership contest, announced she would not run. Meanwhile, England and Wales are holding local elections that may be defining for Rishi Sunak.

Thursday 2 May 2024 15:07, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• John Swinney to run for SNP leader  | But Kate Forbes will not
• Connor Gillies: Major moment as Swinney heads for coronation
• Polls open in England and Wales I How to watch Sky News coverage
• Elections taking place across 107 local authorities in England
• Mayoral contests are also taking place, including in London
• Twenty-five London Assembly seats are up for grabs
• A by-election is taking place in Blackpool South
• Voters across England and Wales will elect 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs)
• Live reporting by Charlotte Chelsom-Pill

Protesters in Peckham, south London, have blocked a coach due to take asylum seekers who have been housed in a local hotel to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.

Police have warned the demonstrators will be arrested if they do not leave the scene.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has addressed the incident on social media, saying: "Housing migrants in hotels costs the British taxpayer millions of pounds every day. 

"We will not allow this small group of students, posing for social media, to deter us from doing what is right for the British public."

Our correspondent Sadiya Chowdhury is at the scene, and says protesters have been chanting in solidarity with migrants and voicing opposition to the police.

It is something of a tradition to show pictures of dogs at polling stations on an election day. 

Donkeys, not so much - until now. 

Please enjoy this glum looking donkey waiting in a parking bay at a village hall polling station in the New Forest. 

And in case you are wondering why dogs (and now donkeys) are such a feature of our election coverage today, it's (partly) down to reporting restrictions. 

On polling day, you won't see any coverage about politics or policy concerning the parties involved.

Instead, you will see coverage of people voting, politicians casting their ballots and yes …  lots of dogs at polling stations.

Downing Street has said it will "look into" voter ID rules after a serviceman was turned away from a polling station. 

The serviceman was unable to use his veterans ID card, introduced at the start of the year, to vote. 

Responding on X, veterans' affairs minister Johnny Mercer said: "The legislation on acceptable forms of ID came out before the veterans ID cards started coming out in January this year. 

"I will do all I can to change it before the next one."

The prime minister's spokesperson reiterated that this form of ID was introduced "very, very recently". 

"I think it's something that we will want to look into," the spokesperson said.

"There's already a very wide range of acceptable documents -  including a free voter authority certificate -  which is accepted at all polling stations so anyone who is eligible to vote can continue to do so."

However, the spokesperson said Downing Street had no concerns about voter ID more generally, adding: "We don't want to see anyone turned away from polling stations, we want everyone to be able to vote.

"Experience from the last local elections was that 99.75% of people were able to cast their vote successfully."

We have compiled a list of what counts as voter ID below:

John Swinney is "heading for a coronation" as the next leader of the SNP after the decision by Kate Forbes not to run, says our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies .

Ms Forbes was the main rival to Humza Yousaf in the last contest, amassing almost half of the vote.

With her choosing not to go up against former leader Mr Swinney, it's "incredibly unlikely any other candidate will throw their hat in the ring".

Connor describes it as a "major moment", coming after backroom discussions throughout today at Holyrood.

As of last night, he says Ms Forbes hadn't decided what to do - but she appears to have been swayed by Mr Swinney's speech this morning.

"Sources close to her were concerned there would be disappointment at her not throwing her hat in the ring," he says.

"But she says she is rallying behind a John Swinney premiership."

If anyone did want to run against him, they would have until midday next Monday to enter the race.

But Connor says the race is now all but over already.

Kate Forbes has announced she will not join the race to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and first minister. 

There had been speculation the former Scottish finance secretary would join John Swinney, who threw his hat in the ring earlier today.

In a statement, Ms Forbes said: "Ultimately, I have concluded that the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join with John Swinney and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish government.

"It is now clear from this morning's statement that in John Swinney we have someone who not only understands that need for reform, but has now committed to delivering it.

"I look forward to playing my role in making that happen."

Posting on X, Ms Forbes added that she had spoken to Mr Swinney directly to "discuss the future of our party and our country". 

"What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country," she said.

Confirming he was standing for first minister and SNP leader earlier today, Mr Swinney said. he wanted to "unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence".

He also said he would like to see Ms Forbes "play a significant part" in his team should he be appointed.

The leadership race comes after Mr Yousaf announced he was standing down as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister earlier this week.

As we just reported, a statement from Kate Forbes on the race to succeed Humza Yousaf as Scotland's first minister is expected shortly.

She lost out to Mr Yousaf in last year's SNP leadership contest and has already told Sky News she is considering entering the race again in the wake of Mr Yousaf's resignation.

The former finance secretary faced backlash during her campaign last year after admitting she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland when it was made legal a decade ago.

The Free Church of Scotland member also told Sky News that having children out of marriage was "wrong" and something she would "seek to avoid".

However, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch stressed that "in a free society you can do what you want".

Ms Forbes had argued that "continuity won't cut it".

After losing to Mr Yousaf by 48% to 52%, she said: "If we are to continue to win elections, we need to continue to listen and maintain trust."

Ms Forbes turned down the role of rural affairs minister, which at the time was seen as a demotion.

Although her views on social issues remain unpopular with some of her MSP colleagues, she was one of the few SNP ministers who did not delete her WhatsApp messages during the COVID pandemic.

Ms Forbes would face resistance from the Scottish Greens, who have previously ruled out working with her.

SNP colleague Fergus Ewing is backing Ms Forbes, saying she is "head and shoulders" above any other potential candidate.

Kate Forbes has been widely tipped to run for the SNP leadership once again after Humza Yousaf's resignation - and we'll hear from her shortly.

Our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies reports a statement is "imminent in the next 30 minutes".

It follows John Swinney, a former SNP leader, announcing he's running for the top job this morning.

We'll bring you Ms Forbes's statement when we get it.

By Jenness Mitchell , Scotland reporter

John Swinney has announced his bid to take over from Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister.

The Perthshire North MSP has spent a year on the backbenches after he stepped down as deputy first minister when Nicola Sturgeon resigned in 2023. 

Announcing his intention to run for first minister during a visit to Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh on Thursday, he said: "I want to build on the work of the SNP government to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland that will ensure opportunities for all of our citizens.

"I want to unite the SNP and unite Scotland for independence."

Mr Swinney accepted that the SNP is "not as cohesive as it needs to be" to achieve its goal of Indyref2.

He said: "That has to change. I could have stood back and hoped others would sort things out, but I care too much about the future of Scotland and the Scottish National Party to walk on by."

The search is currently on to find a new leader for the SNP and Scotland following Mr Yousaf's resignation on Monday. 

Former finance secretary Kate Forbes is expected to give a statement later on Thursday.

Read more here:

It might well end up being Humza Yousaf's last First Minister's Questions, but opposition leader Douglas Ross isn't going easy on him.

The Scottish Tory used his questions to attack the SNP's record, including that of the party's former leader John Swinney, who this morning announced his bid to get the top job once again.

Mr Yousaf bit back, criticising the opposition party and Mr Ross's time in Boris Johnson's cabinet.

That prompted Mr Ross to flaunt a letter sent to him by Mr Yousaf last week when it became apparent that his government was in trouble, with the Tories and Labour filing motions of no confidence after the first minister booted out the Scottish Greens.

"He's talking a big game now," said Mr Ross.

"Has he forgotten it was just last Friday he wrote this humiliating letter to me begging the Conservatives and our colleagues here to save his skin?!

"How quickly things change in the world of Humza Yousaf."

Outgoing SNP leader Humza Yousaf is holding what could be his final First Minister's Questions this lunchtime.

Mr Yousaf resigned earlier this week after kicking the Scottish Greens out of government, which led to a motion of no confidence in him.

He arrived at the Scottish Parliament to spar with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and other MSPs.

'I'm proud of my record'

Mr Yousaf - whose potential replacement John Swinney launched his leadership bid this morning - said he was "proud" of the SNP government's record despite not getting "everything right".

"I'm very proud of the fact I became the first person of colour to become first minister, the very first Muslim leader of a Western nation, the youngest first minister to ever serve in 25 years of devolution," he said.

Mr Yousaf has only been first minister for 13 months, but has served in the government for more than 12 years.

He also defended Mr Swinney and another potential leadership contender Kate Forbes from Mr Ross's barbs, describing them as "both more popular" that the Conservative leader.

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Opinion  Opinion 2024-002: Permissibility for Massachusetts chartered banks to participate in reciprocal deposit programs

April 25, 2024

Brad Papalardo, Esq.

Massachusetts Bankers Association

One Washington Mall, 8 th Floor

Boston, MA 02208

Dear Attorney Papalardo:

This letter is in response to your correspondence on behalf of the Massachusetts Bankers Association (“Association”) received by the Division of Banks (“Division”) on February 26, 2024, in which you request an opinion relative to the authority of Massachusetts chartered banks to transfer or redeposit funds received in their institutions to other FDIC insured depository institutions as part of reciprocal deposit programs.

Reciprocal deposits are deposits that a bank receives through a deposit network in exchange for placing an equal dollar amount of deposits at other bank(s) in the network. Reciprocal deposit programs are operated by third parties for participating banks (those in the network) and function to allow a customer of a participating network bank to have her deposits in excess of the $250,000 FDIC insurance cap remain fully insured by the FDIC. The FDIC has long recognized the permissibility of reciprocal deposits and reciprocal deposit programs for purposes of maximizing deposit insurance, and most recently, addressed reciprocal deposits in Section 202 of The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act passed by Congress in 2018. [1] Section 202 amended the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to exclude reciprocal deposits of an insured depository institution from the definition of brokered deposits under certain circumstances. 12 USC 1831f(i). The FDIC subsequently amended its regulations based on Section 202. 12 CFR 337.6. [2]

In addition, although Massachusetts law does not directly address reciprocal deposits, the broad authority granted by M.G.L. c. 167D and principles of contract law support the conclusion that participation in reciprocal deposit programs is permissible for Massachusetts banks. As noted in your correspondence, Chapter 167D of the General Laws grants expansive authority to Massachusetts chartered banks with respect to deposit taking activity. Specifically, section 2 provides:

     Every bank in its banking department shall, subject to any limitations imposed by this chapter, have the following powers and whatever further incidental powers may fairly be implied from those expressly conferred and are reasonably necessary to enable it to exercise fully those powers according to common banking customs and usages:

     (A) to receive deposits as authorized by this chapter; and

     (B) to receive on deposit, storage or otherwise, money, government securities, stocks, bonds, coin, jewelry, plate, valuable papers and documents, evidences of debt and other property of any kind, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the depositor and the bank and to collect and disburse, at the request of the depositor, the interest or income or principal of said property upon terms to be prescribed by such bank.

Section 2 not only contains comprehensive language regarding the specific range of permissible deposits and authority, but also expressly provides that banks shall have whatever further incidental powers that may be fairly implied and are reasonably necessary to permit the bank to fully execute those deposit taking powers. This particular language evidences an intent that the deposit taking authority of Massachusetts banks be interpreted broadly, particularly where the deposit taking activity would serve to maximize federal deposit insurance as permitted by the FDIC. Furthermore, consistent with the expansive authority set forth in M.G.L. c. 167D, § 2, the Division has long recognized that the relationship created by a deposit agreement between a bank and its customer is a contractual one, governed by the specific terms of the agreement. In considering the authority of a bank to sell a certificate of deposit to another institution, the Division articulated this position, noting that “… any deposit agreement between a bank and a depositor is a contractual relationship under Massachusetts law and is governed by the terms of the contract” and further noted that “both deposits and loans are often transferred between banking institutions.” See Opinion 03-033. Pursuant to this broad grant of authority, and in light of the express recognition of reciprocal deposit programs by the FDIC, the Division is persuaded that participation in reciprocal deposit programs is permissible for Massachusetts banks.

Accordingly, based upon the foregoing, it is the position of the Division that Massachusetts banks are authorized to receive and transfer reciprocal deposits to other depository institutions pursuant to reciprocal deposit programs for the purpose of maximizing and providing full FDIC insurance coverage to a customer’s funds, as described in your correspondence. The Division would remind any institutions seeking to participate in reciprocal deposit programs that they must ensure such activity is conducted in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and consistent with principles of safety and soundness, including the management of risk associated with third-party relationships.

The conclusions reached in this letter are based solely on the facts presented.  Fact patterns which vary from that presented may result in a different position statement by the Division.

Barbara Keefe

Deputy Commissioner of Banks  and General Counsel

[1] See FDIC Advisory Opinion No. 03-03 (July 29, 2003); see also Study on Core Deposits and Brokered Deposits, FDIC, July 8, 2011, available at Format for the Core and Brokered Deposits Study (fdic.gov) .

[2] The FDIC’s regulation defines “reciprocal deposits” as “deposits received by an agent institution through a deposit placement network with the same maturity (if any) and in the same aggregate amount as covered deposits placed by the agent institution in other network member banks.” 12 CFR 337.6(e)(2)(v). It further specifies that, subject to the identified limitations and requirements, reciprocal deposits do not constitute brokered deposits, stating in relevant part:

( 1 ) Limited exception. Reciprocal deposits of an agent institution shall not be considered to be funds obtained, directly or indirectly, by or through a deposit broker to the extent that the total amount of such reciprocal deposits does not exceed the lesser of:

( i ) $5,000,000,000; or

( ii ) An amount equal to 20 percent of the total liabilities of the agent institution.

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