Skyscanner is a popular online travel search engine that allows users to compare prices on flights, hotels, and rental cars. Many travelers assume that booking directly through an airline’s website will result in the lowest prices, but this is not always the case. In fact, Skyscanner is often cheaper than the airline website. In this article, we will dive deep into the reasons why Skyscanner is cheaper than the airline website.
Price Comparison
One of the primary reasons why Skyscanner is cheaper than the airline website is its ability to compare prices across multiple airlines. Skyscanner searches hundreds of travel websites and airlines to find the best deals on flights. This means that Skyscanner can often find lower prices than the airline’s website, which only shows prices for their own flights.
By searching multiple airlines and travel websites, Skyscanner is able to find the cheapest available fare for a particular route. This is particularly useful for travelers who are flexible with their travel dates and can adjust their plans to take advantage of lower prices.
Moreover, Skyscanner has a feature called “Everywhere” that allows users to search for flights based on their budget, without specifying their destination. This can be a great tool for travelers who are open to exploring new places and want to find the best available deal.
Dynamic Pricing
Another reason why Skyscanner is often cheaper than the airline website is dynamic pricing. Airlines use dynamic pricing to adjust ticket prices based on demand, availability, and other factors. This means that ticket prices can fluctuate rapidly, even within a few hours.
Skyscanner’s search algorithm takes advantage of these fluctuations to find the lowest available fares. Skyscanner continuously searches for the best deals and updates its prices in real-time, which means that users can often find lower prices on Skyscanner than on the airline website.
In addition, Skyscanner has a feature called “Price Alerts” that notifies users when the price of a flight drops. This can be a helpful tool for travelers who are planning their trips in advance and want to find the best available deal.
Discounts and Promotions
Skyscanner also offers discounts and promotions that may not be available on the airline’s website. Skyscanner partners with airlines, hotels, and rental car companies to offer exclusive discounts and deals to its users. These discounts can often be significant and can result in lower prices than the airline’s website.
In addition, Skyscanner offers its own promotions and deals, such as last-minute flight deals, which can result in even lower prices. These promotions are often time-limited and can change rapidly, so it is important to check Skyscanner frequently to take advantage of them.
Hidden Fees
Finally, Skyscanner can be cheaper than the airline’s website because it is transparent about fees. Airlines often hide fees and charges in the ticket price, which means that the final price can be significantly higher than the advertised price.
Skyscanner, on the other hand, is transparent about fees and charges. When users search for flights on Skyscanner, the search results include all fees and charges, such as baggage fees and taxes. This means that users can compare the total cost of a flight on Skyscanner, rather than just the advertised price on the airline’s website.
Moreover, Skyscanner has a feature called “Booking Details” that shows users the breakdown of fees and charges for each flight. This can be particularly useful for travelers who want to compare prices and book flights quickly and easily.
Real-Life Examples
There are several instances where Skyscanner has been significantly cheaper than the airline website for the same flight. For example, in 2021, a traveler was looking to book a round-trip flight from New York to London. The airline’s website was showing a price of $1,200 for the flight, while Skyscanner was showing a price of $800. This was a significant price difference of $400, or 33% less than the airline’s website. The traveler was able to book the flight through Skyscanner and save a significant amount of money.
Another example occurred in 2019, during the holiday season when many airlines were offering discounts and promotions to encourage travel. A traveler was looking to book a one-way flight from Los Angeles to New York. The airline’s website was showing a price of $450 for the flight, while Skyscanner was showing a price of $250. This was a significant price difference of $200, or 44% less than the airline’s website. The traveler was able to book the flight through Skyscanner and save a significant amount of money.
These examples illustrate the potential savings that travelers can achieve by using Skyscanner to compare prices and book flights. While these instances are not guaranteed to happen every time, they demonstrate the importance of comparing prices across multiple platforms before booking a flight.
Conclusion
In conclusion,there are several reasons why Skyscanner is often cheaper than the airline website. Skyscanner’s ability to search multiple airlines and travel websites, dynamic pricing, discounts and promotions, transparency about fees and charges, and features like “Everywhere” and “Price Alerts” all contribute to its lower prices. While booking directly through an airline’s website may be more convenient, it is important to compare prices on Skyscanner before booking a flight. This can help travelers save money and find the best available deal on flights, hotels, and rental cars.
However, it is also important to note that not all flights available on Skyscanner may be legitimate or trustworthy. Some third-party travel websites may not have the same level of security or customer service as the airline’s website, which can result in issues with booking or canceled flights. Therefore, travelers should always read reviews and check the reputation of the travel website before booking a flight through Skyscanner or any other travel search engine.
Overall, Skyscanner is a powerful tool for travelers who want to find the best available deal on flights. By taking advantage of Skyscanner’s features and comparing prices across multiple platforms, travelers can save money and enjoy their trips without breaking the bank.
