For avid travelers like me, finding the best flight deals is essential. As a travel writer constantly on the go, I have become well-versed in the art of researching airfares, booking flights, and maximizing miles. Over the years, I have discovered a valuable tool that has become my go-to secret for scoring incredible flight deals: Skyscanner. In this comprehensive guide, I will delve into the features and hacks of Skyscanner, providing you with valuable insights on how to save money and find the perfect flights for your travels.
1. Unveiling Skyscanner: The Ultimate Travel Platform
Skyscanner, founded in 2003, has gained immense popularity among frequent travelers seeking the best flight options, hotels, and car rentals. While numerous travel search platforms exist, Skyscanner stands out due to its exceptional features. These include the ability to isolate flight searches by country or explore options “everywhere” in the world, as well as insights on the best times to travel. Let’s dive deeper into these features and explore how they can revolutionize your travel planning experience.
1.1 Exploring “Everywhere”: The World at Your Fingertips
One of Skyscanner’s standout features is the ability to search for flights from your preferred destination to “everywhere.” This feature allows you to explore flight options worldwide or narrow down your search to a specific country. It is particularly useful when you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway within the United States, and you prefer to avoid customs and immigration. By using the “everywhere” search, you can find exciting destinations and unexpected travel opportunities.
To access this feature on Skyscanner, simply click on the “Explore everywhere” button on the homepage or set your destination as “everywhere.” Additionally, Skyscanner provides popular destinations searched by other travelers, enabling you to quickly check flight rates, hotel prices, and car rentals for these trending locations.
1.2 Tailored Flight Searches within a Country
Skyscanner’s flexibility extends to tailored flight searches within a specific country. Suppose you have your heart set on exploring Italy during the summer but are unsure which airport offers the most affordable fares. In that case, Skyscanner can be your trusted companion. By entering your preferred departure airport in the “From” field and typing “Italy” as the destination in the “To” field, Skyscanner will present you with a range of flight options from your departure airport to different airports within Italy.
This feature allows you to compare prices and make informed decisions about your travel itinerary. For example, Skyscanner might reveal that flying into Naples is 30 percent cheaper than Florence or Rome. By evaluating airfare to multiple airports within a country, you can optimize your travel plans and make cost-effective choices.
1.3 The Power of Whole Month Search
When it comes to finding the best deals, Skyscanner’s Whole Month Search emerges as a game-changer. This feature enables you to identify the most cost-effective time to visit a specific destination by exploring flight prices throughout an entire month. By avoiding high flight prices caused by conferences, events, or peak travel periods, you can save a significant amount of money on your trips.
As a frequent user of Skyscanner, I estimate that the Whole Month Search alone has helped me save thousands of dollars over the years. For instance, when planning a trip to Montego Bay with my friends, we used the Whole Month Search and discovered that early December offered the best range of dates with airfares approximately 40 percent lower than other flights in the same month.
Post-pandemic, airfare pricing has become even more complex, with traditional seasonality no longer being a reliable factor. Factors like flexible work schedules and the rise of work-cation trips have disrupted travel demand patterns. Skyscanner remains a reliable ally in navigating these uncertainties and securing the best prices.
2. Pro Tips and Tricks for Maximum Savings
Now that we have explored the key features of Skyscanner, let’s delve into some expert tips and tricks that can help you unlock additional savings and optimize your travel plans.
2.1 Set Price Alerts for Future Flights
If you have a destination in mind but are not in a rush to book your flights, Skyscanner’s price alert feature can be a game-changer. By setting up price alerts for your desired destination, you will receive notifications when prices drop, allowing you to seize the best deals. This feature is particularly useful for flights planned well in advance.
I have personally used price alerts to monitor airfare prices that I anticipated would decrease. It is important to note that when Skyscanner sends you an alert, it is advisable to act quickly. Based on my experience, airfare prices tend to spike back up within 24-48 hours, so swift action is crucial.
2.2 Embrace Open Jaw and Multi-City Searches
Skyscanner’s multi-city search feature can transform your travel dreams into affordable realities. By utilizing this feature, you can plan “open jaw” trips with stopovers, allowing you to explore multiple destinations within a single trip. This not only reduces the number of flights you need to take but also minimizes carbon emissions—a win-win situation for both your wallet and the environment.
For example, during my research for business class seats to Athens, I discovered that booking a flight with a stopover on Swiss Air cost approximately one-third of the price of a direct flight. This unexpected opportunity enabled me to spend a few days in Switzerland, a destination I had been longing to visit.
2.3 Add Nearby Airports for Enhanced Flexibility
If you live within proximity to multiple airports, Skyscanner’s “add nearby airports” option can be a valuable tool in finding the best flight paths and fares. By expanding your search to include airports further afield, you increase your chances of stumbling upon significantly cheaper flights.
Living near JFK, La Guardia, and Newark airports, I have frequently utilized this feature to explore alternative flight options. On occasions when flight costs were high at my local airports, I considered departing from airports such as Westchester County, NY, or Philadelphia, PA. Moreover, this feature can also be applied to your destination airport, allowing you to explore nearby airports for potential savings.
2.4 Utilize the Savings Generator Tool
Skyscanner’s Savings Generator tool is a recent addition to their suite of money-saving features. This tool leverages data collected from millions of airfare searches to offer money-saving hacks for the 15 most popular destinations from numerous cities worldwide.
To use the Savings Generator, simply select your departure city and the month you plan to travel. Then, choose a popular destination for that specific month. The tool will provide you with valuable information, including average flight costs, the best time to book, the cheapest and most expensive travel days, and an estimate of the potential savings if you follow its recommendations.
Conclusion
In today’s era of rising airfare costs and evolving travel dynamics, finding the best flight deals has become more challenging than ever. Skyscanner rises to the occasion, providing travelers with a comprehensive platform that empowers them to save money and make informed decisions. By utilizing features such as “everywhere” search, Whole Month Search, and price alerts, you can unlock significant savings on your flights. Additionally, open jaw and multi-city searches, as well as the option to add nearby airports, enable you to maximize flexibility and discover hidden gems while minimizing costs.
Skyscanner’s commitment to enhancing user experience is evident in their constant innovation, as demonstrated by the Savings Generator tool. With its vast database of travel data and robust features, Skyscanner equips travelers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the ever-changing landscape of airfare pricing.
So, whether you are a seasoned globetrotter or a casual vacationer, make Skyscanner your trusted companion in the quest for the best flight deals. Happy travels!