30 Ways to Save Money Using Skyscanner

What is Skyscanner?

Skyscanner is a flight search engine that also helps with hotels and car rental, but its core is finding plane tickets. Both the website and the app are free. The difference with other comparison sites? Skyscanner does not sell tickets and charges the buyer no commission: it compares offers from hundreds of airlines and travel agents and redirects you to the seller’s website, where you complete the booking. Skyscanner does all the comparison work, and you pay the airline or agent directly.

30 tricks for cheap flights with Skyscanner

1. Set up price alerts.
You know where you want to go but are in no rush to buy? Enter the route and dates, click “Get price alerts” and leave your email address. Every time the price changes, you get a notification. The further away your departure, the harder the alert works for you.

2. Be flexible with your dates.
Shifting your departure by a day or two often cuts the price considerably. The flexible dates search shows prices for several days at a glance.

3. Choose “Everywhere” as your destination.
No fixed destination? The “Everywhere” option ranks countries and cities from cheapest to most expensive. Perfect for a spontaneous getaway on a budget.

4. Travel in the off-season.
The same destinations outside high season sometimes cost a fraction of the holiday price. Bonus: fewer tourists and cheaper accommodation.

5. Use the “Cheapest month” feature.
When picking your date, select “Cheapest month”: Skyscanner shows you when your route is at its lowest price across the year.

6. Avoid baggage fees.
If you can, travel with hand luggage only. Especially with low-cost airlines, a checked bag can cost more than the ticket itself.

7. Compare one-way tickets.
Two one-way tickets, sometimes with two different airlines, occasionally work out cheaper than a return. Check both options.

8. Build your own routes.
Instead of an expensive direct flight, split the journey into two cheaper legs with a self-arranged connection. Leave plenty of time between the flights.

9. Compare nearby airports.
Departing from a neighbouring airport can be much cheaper. Skyscanner can include nearby airports in the search, at both origin and destination.

10. Finish the journey with a regional airline.
On long routes it sometimes pays to buy a cheap ticket to a major hub and cover the last leg with a regional airline that does not show up in the main results.

11. Use layovers to your advantage.
Flights with a stopover are usually cheaper than direct flights, and a long layover is a chance to explore an extra city on the same trip.

12. Search hotels on Skyscanner too.
The hotel search works like the flight search: it compares offers from many booking sites and instantly shows the cheapest option.

13. Calculate the total ticket cost.
The lowest fare is not always the cheapest once you add baggage, seat selection and payment fees. Compare final prices, not teaser prices.

14. Search in private mode.
Want to be sure cookies are not pushing prices up? Search in your browser’s incognito window. It costs nothing and keeps the comparison clean.

15. Use the price map.
The map view shows prices to many cities at once. Ideal for spotting a cheap destination in the region you fancy at a glance.

16. Book in advance.
On most routes the best prices appear a few months before departure. Buying last minute rarely pays off, especially in high season.

17. Plan your holiday early.
The earlier you know your dates, the more tools you can use: price alerts, flexible dates and tracking how prices develop on your route.

18. Install the Skyscanner app.
In the app, price alerts and search are always at hand, and you can start a booking on your phone and finish it on your computer.

19. Collect points in loyalty programmes.
If you fly regularly, register your flights with the airline’s or alliance’s frequent flyer programme. Points turn into tickets or upgrades.

20. Buy at the right moment.
Prices change constantly. Watch the route with a price alert and buy when the fare drops properly, instead of guessing the perfect day.

21. Beware of basic fares on long-haul flights.
On intercontinental flights the cheapest fare often includes neither checked baggage nor seat selection. Check what is included before you click “buy”.

22. Keep an eye on your flight’s price.
Even after finding a good deal, it is worth watching it for a few days. The price alert will tell you if the fare drops further.

23. The day of the week matters.
Midweek departures are usually cheaper than Fridays and Sundays. If you are flexible, compare several days side by side.

24. Read Skyscanner’s tips and deals.
Skyscanner publishes articles with promotions and pricing tricks. Reading them regularly uncovers opportunities you would not find on your own.

25. Use the price calendar.
The whole-month view shows the cheapest days on your route. One glance is enough to pick the best outbound and return dates.

26. Avoid flying on public holidays.
Holiday periods and long weekends are the price peak. If possible, move your trip a few days earlier or later.

27. Book smart for groups.
For group trips, compare the price of one group booking with individual tickets. Booking systems sometimes charge the whole group the most expensive available fare.

28. Follow a few airlines’ news.
Subscribe to the newsletters of the airlines that fly from your airport. Promotions and new routes often land there before they reach the search engines.

29. Pick your destination by budget.
Instead of insisting on one city, choose a region and let the prices decide. “Everywhere” combined with flexible dates is the cheapest combination.

30. Compare before you commit.
Even the best deal deserves a quick double-check: look up the price directly on the airline’s website. It is sometimes identical, and booking at the source makes changes and complaints easier.

Frequently asked questions

Is Skyscanner reliable?
Yes. Skyscanner is one of the largest flight search engines in the world. It does not sell tickets itself: it redirects you to the airline or agent, where the payment takes place. Preferably book with well-known airlines and highly rated agents.

Does Skyscanner add fees to tickets?
No. Skyscanner compares prices and charges the buyer no commission. The amount you pay goes to the airline or agent completing the booking.

What is incognito mode when searching for flights?
It is your browser’s private mode, in which websites do not store cookies from your previous searches. That way you compare prices without your search history influencing them.

When are flights cheapest on Skyscanner?
Usually when booking a few months ahead, departing midweek and travelling outside high season. The exact moment differs per route; the safest approach is to set a price alert.