How to use Skyscanner to find cheap flights
Skyscanner is one of the most popular flight search engines on this planet. It is one of the first websites in our research on how to find cheap flights. After reading this post, you will know how to use this search engine and how you can identify the cheapest flights available. They combine all flights from Lufthansa, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and pretty much all of them. All it takes is a few, simple tricks.
In this article, we want to go into detail about this travel search engine and how to use it to its fullest potential. Also, we add the pros and cons – after all, nothing is perfect, and we want to share both sides.
What are Skyscanner Flights?
Skyscanner is an online booking website that allows you to easily find cheap flights anywhere in the world. Easily find great hotels to accommodate your gang and hire transport to get around once you are there.
Simply put, Skyscanner is like an online travel agent which searches hundreds of airlines and booking agencies across the world to rank the flights for you. The flights are then listed in the order of Best, Cheapest, and Fastest depending on your preference. Finding flights with Skyscanner is so easy because it stops you from checking out all the competitor’s websites one at a time, instead, seeing all the flights at a glance.
What to Look Out For When Using Skyscanner
Because Skyscanner is a metasearch site, their primary focus is on finding you the cheapest airfare. They search a huge network of third-party Online Booking Agents (OBAs) and refer you to the one with the cheapest price. However, they don’t use the reliability of the booking agents as a factor in their ranking.
The OBA is ranked on Skyscanner using a star system, similar to other dating sites. Users can rate the booking agent and provide feedback on their experience. Before booking any tickets from a Skyscanner referral, you need to verify the booking agent has a good reputation.
You will have heard of many of these booking agents, like Expedia, Travelocity, etc. However, many of them you won’t be familiar with. Viana, Hop2, and JustFly just to name a few. Just because you haven’t heard of an OBA, doesn’t mean it’s not safe to use. But you need to do your homework.
How to use Skyscanner
To use Skyscanner, you can start your search on the open-ended side of things without needing exact dates or locations. This is one of the great things about Skyscanner. However, for the purposes of this exercise, we’ll do a specific search for flights from Dallas (any airport) to Lisbon, Portugal.
STEP 1: Start with the basics
Begin on Skyscanner by entering your desired dates and a destination option in the search bar. As mentioned above, you can select a specific airport, city, or country, or you can use the “Everywhere” option.
In addition to your dates, you’ll also select the desired cabin and the number of tickets. If you’re unsure of the dates, you can choose an entire month or the “Cheapest Month” option. All of these initial options give you a ton of flexibility in searching for the best and/or cheapest flights.
STEP 2: Review and sort your results by preference
From here, you will see all the available flight results. They’ll automatically be sorted initially by “Best”. However, you can choose to sort the results by other factors such as “Cheapest first” or “Fastest first.”
STEP 3: Buying flights through Skyscanner
Once you see a flight that works for you, click “Select” and you will be taken to the checkout page, either on an OTA or the airline’s website, where the specific flight was found. Skyscanner will quickly check to make sure the deal is still available. From there, you can continue booking your cheap flight. Simple as that!
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights
Skyscanner is a popular online platform for finding cheap flights, hotels, and car rentals. Here’s how you can use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals:
1. Go to the Skyscanner website
The Skyscanner website is accessible from any device, including your desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can also download the Skyscanner app to your mobile device.
2. Enter your search criteria
Select the “Flights” tab, and enter your departure and destination cities, dates of travel, and the number of passengers.
3. Choose your search preferences
You can customize your search results by selecting your preferred airline, cabin class, and the number of stops.
4. View the results
Skyscanner will display a list of available flights that match your search criteria. You can sort the results by price, departure time, duration, and other factors.
5. Set up price alerts
If you’re not ready to book yet, you can set up price alerts to receive notifications when the price of your desired flight changes.
6. Book your flight
Once you find the flight that suits your needs and budget, you can click on the “Select” button to be redirected to the booking site or airline website to complete your booking.
Tips for finding the cheapest flights:
1. Be flexible with your travel dates
Flights on weekdays are usually cheaper than those on weekends.
2. Use the “Everywhere” search feature
If you’re not sure where to go, use the “Everywhere” search feature to find the cheapest destinations for your travel dates.
3. Book in advance
Booking your flight well in advance can often save you money.
4. Check for promo codes and discounts
Before booking, check for promo codes and discounts that can lower the price of your flight.
5. Consider budget airlines
Budget airlines may not offer as many amenities as traditional airlines, but they often have lower prices.
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