Flight search engines like Skyscanner, Kayak, Expedia or Google Flights are among the fastest ways to find cheap flights.

Instead of checking dozens of airline websites, just type in your route and within seconds you'll see deals from a variety of carriers and ticket sellers.

At the same time, many questions arise around these services. Is it safe to buy airline tickets through Skyscanner? Why are prices sometimes different than on the airline's website? And why do we sometimes link to these search engines?

In this article I explain how flight search engines work, when it's worth using them and what to look out for when buying flights.

How flight search engines work

One thing is important to know: Skyscanner, Kayak, Google Flights and others don't sell airline tickets directly.

It works like a meta-search engine that compares prices from multiple sources:

• airline websites
• online travel agencies (OTAs)
• global booking engines

When you choose a specific flight, you will usually be redirected to a page where the actual purchase takes place. This can be:

• the airline's website directly
• an online ticket reseller

So the search engine compares prices, but the actual purchase takes place elsewhere.

When are flight search engines most useful

The real power of search engines comes into play when you don' t yet have an exact itinerary.

For example:

• you are looking for the cheapest dates
• you're considering multiple destinations
• you want to find out where the best flight departure is from
• you don't care which airline you fly with and you want to compare prices

Features like the monthly price calendar or the "anywhere" flight search can show you options in seconds that you wouldn't have thought of in a traditional search.

This is how a large proportion of cheap flight tickets are created, and which later appear in travel tips.

Why Skyscanner tickets are sometimes cheaper

Sometimes it happens that the same flight costs less via a search engine than on the airline's website. There are several reasons.

Different flight combinations

Search engines sometimes show combinations that the airline itself does not offer. For example:

• two one-way flights instead of a return
• a combination of different airlines (beware, this can sometimes actually be a non-guaranteed connection!)
• departure from another airport in the area

Dynamic ticket prices

Ticket prices change very frequently depending on the availability of seats on the plane. Price differences between systems are therefore not uncommon.

Price subsidies

Many large OTAs directly subsidise the prices offered by airlines.

So they offer the passenger a lower price than what they will actually buy the ticket for on the airline and rely on you to buy other services through them, such as insurance, car hire and more.

Special prices for big sellers

Some large online agencies sell large volumes of tickets and may have different pricing terms with airlines.

Compare flight prices - Skyscanner.com

Is it safe to buy airline tickets through Skyscanner?

Yes. Using Skyscanner itself is safe. As long as you know what you're doing.

It's good to remember that the final purchase usually takes place elsewhere - either with the airline or an online ticket reseller.

So the overall experience depends largely on where you actually buy the ticket - which retailer you click through to from Skyscanner.

You can always (or almost always) click through directly from Skyscanner to the safest option - the airline's website.

When to buy a ticket directly from the airline

Buying direct from an airline can be more convenient and safer, especially in the following situations:

• the difference in price is small
• you are flying with a connection
• it is a more expensive ticket
• you want a simpler solution for changes or refunds

Communication for flight changes is usually easier because you deal directly with the carrier.

When it may make sense to buy through a reseller

Online retailers can be particularly advantageous when:

• they offer a significantly lower price
• it's a simple flight with no change of planes
• you don't need flexible ticket changes
• you expect that communication for any changes to the ticket may be longer and more difficult

Why do I use Skyscanner etc.?

Personally, I'm more careful when buying tickets and usually buy directly from the airline's website or through resellers I've trusted for a long time.

I still use Skyscanner (less often Kayak) daily.

The reason is simple - in addition to comparing different sellers for one particular flight, Skyscanner compares multiple different flights.

One airline's website won't allow me to do that.

So typically, I compare Skyscanner prices and then choose an airline directly from the vendors to complete the flight purchase.

Compare flights on different airlines - Skyscanner.com

How to search for cheap flights on Skyscanner (my process)

Flight search engines are most effective when you know how to use them. When searching for flights, I usually follow a few steps.

1. Enter your route and approximate dates

First, I enter the departure airport, destination and approximate date of travel.

2. Open the price calendar

The price calendar will show which days are cheapest for departure or return. The differences between days can be significant.

3. Check alternative airports

Sometimes it's worth checking other airports in the area - prices can vary considerably.

4. Compare different retailers

A search engine will usually offer several options for where to buy your ticket. It is worth comparing not only the price but also the conditions.

If possible, I click through from Skyscanner directly to the airline's website.

The most common mistakes when buying tickets via search engines

Flight search engines are a great tool, but people often make several of the same mistakes when buying through them. It pays to think about them before you pay for your ticket.

1️⃣ Select only by lowest price

The cheapest offer is not always the best choice. Some offers come from lesser-known sellers who may have worse customer support or more complicated ticket change solutions.

It is therefore a good idea to check who is selling the ticket and what their rating is before you buy. While this won't tell you 100% how good the seller is, it can at least give you some idea.

2️⃣ Ignoring fare conditions

Cheap airfare can have various restrictions. For example, it often doesn't include checked baggage or allow you to change flights.
It is always a good idea to check exactly what is included in the ticket price before you buy.

3️⃣ Not checking the price with the airline

Once you've found a ticket in a search engine, it's worth going back to the airline's website (if it doesn't appear directly in the list of sellers) and checking the same flight there.
In some cases, the price may be the same or even slightly lower.

Why we sometimes refer to Skyscanner

On our website, you may occasionally come across links to flight search engines - in destination guides and in promotional deals.

Why?

1️⃣ It's a tool we use ourselves.

When searching for flights, Skyscanner is one of the tools we use most often.

2️⃣ Some links are affiliate

Some links on our website are affiliate links. If you go through them and buy a ticket, the service may pay us a small commission.

It doesn 't increase the price for you, but it helps fund the running of the site.

However, affiliate links do not affect our recommendations. We recommend services that we use ourselves or find useful.

The most common myths about flight search engines

There are a lot of half-truths surrounding the purchase of flights through search engines like Skyscanner. Some of them have been repeated for years, but the reality tends to be a little different.

1️⃣ Myth: Search engines price flights by cookies

Reality: Flight prices are usually not set by search engines, but by the airlines themselves.

Airfares change dynamically based on several factors - for example, the number of seats sold, current demand or the upcoming departure date. If you see a higher price on a repeat search, it often means that some of the cheaper fares have been sold in the meantime.

2️⃣ Myth: The cheapest tickets are always through agencies.

Reality: Sometimes they are, but often the price is very similar to the airline's website.

Online retailers may have special prices or combine different flights to make them cheaper. But in many cases you will find the same price directly from the airline, which can be more convenient when changing flights, for example.

3️⃣ Myth: Skyscanner sells airline tickets

Reality: Skyscanner is primarily a search engine, not a retailer.

Its main job is to compare airfares from different sources. The actual purchase usually takes place after you have been redirected to the airline's website or the ticket seller's website.

Summary of

Flight search engines like Skyscanner, Kayak or Google Flights are very useful tools for finding cheap flights. They allow you to quickly compare hundreds of options and find routes you might not otherwise find.

At the same time, it's good to know that they usually only compare prices and the actual purchase is done elsewhere.

If you know how these services work, they can make your flight search much easier and help you find better deals.