vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Coger" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take", and "tomar un vuelo" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to take a flight". Learn more about the difference between "coger" and "tomar un vuelo" below.
coger(
koh
-
hehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to grab 
Cogió la pelota que salió fuera de la cancha.He grabbed the ball that went off the field.
c. to get 
¿Puedes coger el teléfono que está sonando en la sala?Can you get the telephone that is ringing in the living room?
d. to pick up 
Por favor, coge al niño, el suelo está sucio.Please, pick up the baby, the floor is dirty.
2. (to select)
a. to pick 
De todos los trozos, cogió el más grande.From all the pieces, she picked the biggest one.
a. to catch 
Vas a coger un resfriado si no te abrigas bien.You'll catch a cold if you don't wrap up well.
a. to get into 
Cogieron la costumbre de venir a visitarnos todos los días.They got into the habit of visiting us every day.
9. (to gather)
a. to pick 
¿Dónde cogiste esas flores silvestres tan bonitas? - Son del jardín.Where did you pick such lovely wildflowers? - They're from the garden.
10. (vulgar) (to have sex) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
11. (to be located)
12. (vulgar) (to have sex) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to take 
Coge por la calle Rojas. Hay menos semáforos.Take Rojas Street. There are fewer stoplights.
cogerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
14. (to grab)
15. (to hold)
a. to hold on to 
Cógete fuerte de la cuerda en el descenso. Hold on to the rope tightly during your descent.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.). 
16. (to get stuck)
tomar un vuelo(  
toh
-
mahr
oon
bweh
-
loh
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (general)
a. to take a flight 
Tomamos un vuelo de Buenos Aires a Lima, y de ahí a Los Ángeles.We took a flight from Buenos Aires to Lima, and from there to Los Angeles.