Skyscanner
Best flight metasearch — covers OTAs, airlines, and obscure routes.
What Skyscanner is
Skyscanner is a flight metasearch engine that compares fares across airlines, online travel agencies, and booking sites in one search, then sends you to the provider to book. Travelers rely on it to find cheap flights, including indirect and obscure routings, and to scan flexible dates and whole regions for the best deals.
What it does for travelers
- ✓Compares fares from airlines and many online travel agencies at once
- ✓Flexible 'Everywhere' search and whole-month views to find the cheapest dates
- ✓Price alerts that notify you when a route's fare changes
- ✓Also searches hotels and car hire alongside flights
- ✓Surfaces unusual or multi-stop routings that single-airline sites miss
Good to know
- Skyscanner finds and compares fares but you usually book on the airline or agency site it redirects you to
- It needs an internet connection to search live prices; it is not an offline tool
- Basic searches work without an account, though signing in lets you save searches and set alerts
- Quoted prices can change or sell out by the time you reach the booking site, so move quickly on good fares
Tips from the road
- Use 'Everywhere' as the destination to find the cheapest places to fly when your dates are flexible
- Set price alerts on routes you are watching so you can book when fares dip
- Always verify the final price, baggage rules, and the agency's reputation on the booking site before paying
- Check whether a cheap multi-stop result is a self-transfer, where you are responsible if a connection is missed
When to reach for it
Reach for Skyscanner when you want the broadest comparison of flight options and prices, especially for flexible dates, open-ended destinations, or hard-to-find routings.
Skyscanner — frequently asked
Do I book my flight in the Skyscanner app?
Usually you book on the airline or travel-agency site that Skyscanner redirects you to. It is a comparison tool rather than the final seller for most fares.
Why did the price change when I clicked through?
Live airfare can change or sell out between the search and the booking page. It is worth booking promptly and confirming the final price before paying.
What is the 'Everywhere' search?
It lets you set the destination to anywhere and see the cheapest places to fly from your airport, which is handy for flexible, deal-driven trips.