Need to get the hang of Skyscanner? This guide on how to use Skyscanner provides a straightforward, step-by-step method to use all the features of Skyscanner so you can effortlessly find affordable flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Tailored for any trip, learn how to use Skyscanner and make the most out of it.
Want to fight cheap flights and boost your savings? Use Matt’s Flights newsletter in tandem with Skyscanner and enjoy saving money on cheap flights.
Getting Started with Skyscanner
To begin snagging cheap flight deals, you must first download the Skyscanner app. Available for free download on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, this nifty little tool gives you the power to find cheap flights literally at your fingertips, book cheap deals, and even discover car rental deals.
Booking flights with Skyscanner is also a possibility, but you will be redirected to the OTA or airline of your choice. You can easily find and book a flight deal for your next trip, or alternatively, you can try using Google Flights for more options.
After downloading the app, proceed to create your Skyscanner account since it is necessary for setting up price alerts and accessing bonus app features. With your account ready, you’re all set to start exploring the skies.
Conducting a Flight Search on Skyscanner
Conducting a flight search on Skyscanner is as easy as 1-2-3. Start by inputting your departure city in the ‘From’ field and your destination in the ‘To’ field. You can select between one-way, round-trip, or multi-city flights by clicking the appropriate tab.
After entering your locations, proceed to select your travel dates using the calendar view and choose your preferred cabin class, like economy or business. Don’t forget to specify the number of passengers traveling to ensure that the search is tailored to the size of your party. You can also consider including nearby airports in your search to explore a wider range of flight options and potentially find cheaper or more convenient flights. Additionally, you might want to look into car rental options for your destination.
Utilizing Flexible Dates and Locations
If your travel plans are flexible, you’re in luck! Skyscanner’s ‘Whole month’ and ‘Cheapest month’ search options allow you to compare flight prices across a wide range of dates. This feature makes it easier to find the most cost-effective days and months to travel, helping you discover the cheapest dates for your journey and secure the cheapest price available.
But why stop at flexible dates? Why not consider flexible locations too? Searching by country rather than a specific city can yield cheaper flights, as it opens up more potential entry points into the destination. This is particularly useful within Europe where cities may be in close proximity and cheap prices can be found.
The ‘Explore Map’ feature on Skyscanner lets you visually plan your travel by showing the best prices available at any time within your selected month. You can filter non-stop routes and prices to suit your preferences.
Exploring the “Search Everywhere” Feature
For the adventurous souls or those who just can’t decide where to go, the ‘Search Everywhere’ feature is a great tool. This feature suggests a list of destinations with the best flight deals when ‘Everywhere’ is entered in the ‘To’ field.
To use this feature, simply follow these steps:
- Enter your departure city in the ‘From’ box.
- Type ‘Everywhere’ in the ‘To’ box.
- Click on the ‘To’ field.
- This will display a drop-down menu with options.
- Browse through a list of destinations, sorted by country and starting with the cheapest options, to pick a place that fits your budget.
- You can also combine this feature with flexible dates for the best prices.
After conducting your search, you can proceed to navigate through your flight results. Skyscanner allows users to sort flight results by factors such as duration, which helps in identifying flights that best match their time preferences.
Filtering Results for Optimal Flights
To further refine your flight search, Skyscanner offers a range of filters. These filters, such as the number of stops and flight duration, can be applied to ‘Search Everywhere’ results for a more fine-tuned search experience.
On Skyscanner’s interactive map, filters can be used to display non-stop routes exclusively or to adjust the price range to better match your budget constraints. With these smart filters, including the fair fuel policy flag, you can ensure that the flights you see are perfectly tailored to your travel needs.
Analyzing Price Trends and Setting Alerts
Having tailored your search, it’s now opportune to focus on optimizing your savings. Skyscanner allows users to set up a price alert for specific flights, meaning you’ll be notified of price drops and can snag deals when they become available.
The Skyscanner app enhances this by providing instant notifications for flight price changes via Price Alerts. Plus, Skyscanner’s calendar view allows you to quickly scan for the cheapest days to fly by highlighting dates with lower prices. This means no more missing out on a great deal because you were a day late!
Booking Your Flight Through Skyscanner
Having found your perfect flight, the next step is to book your flight. When you’re ready to secure your seat, Skyscanner redirects you to the selected OTA or airline to complete the booking process.
You’ll be pleased to know that Skyscanner doesn’t add any booking fees or hidden charges. The price you see is the price you get, offering transparent pricing directly as provided by the OTAs and airlines. However, keep in mind that additional service fees, such as those for seat selection, are subject to the terms and charges of the OTA or airline selected during booking.
To assist in determining the reliability of the booking agency, Skyscanner provides a list of OTAs along with a star rating for each one. Reading through reviews of OTAs on Skyscanner can further guide you in making an informed decision regarding the trustworthiness and service quality of the agency. And remember, before booking, check the cancellation policy of the OTA or airline, as terms may vary and affect your ability to cancel.
Expanding Your Travel Plans: Hotels and Car Rentals
Don’t limit yourself to flights. Skyscanner flights search engine goes above and beyond, and transcends being just a flight search engine—it’s a comprehensive solution for all your travel needs. The Skyscanner app allows you to compare various travel options including hotels, streamlining the search process to save you both time and money.
Using the app allows you to conduct a detailed hotel search, including parameters such as location, stay dates, number of guests, free cancellation policies, and hotel star rating. This means you can find and take advantage of deals on hotels, making your trip-planning process even smoother.
Multi-City and One-Way Flight Searches
If you have a complex itinerary or wish to explore multiple destinations, Skyscanner’s ‘Multi-city’ search option can greatly simplify the process. This feature enables the planning of complex itineraries, which is especially useful for those wanting to visit multiple destinations in one trip.
To initiate a multi-city flight search, follow these steps:
- Select the ‘Multi-city’ option in the destination field of Skyscanner’s search panel.
- Plan up to six legs of your journey with the multi-city option, specifying details such as departure airport, destinations, and dates for each leg.
- This feature encourages extended exploration by allowing the booking of additional legs to see more locations during a person’s travels.
Skyscanner App vs. Website
Whether you’re planning on the move or from the comfort of your home, Skyscanner caters to your needs. Skyscanner’s features, including the ability to explore potential destinations and deals, are available on both the website and mobile app.
On Android devices, users can sort flight results by price on the Skyscanner app through the ‘Sort & Filters’ option. For iOS devices, sorting flight results by price can be done by clicking ‘Sort’ and then selecting the ‘Price’ option. So whether you’re an Apple aficionado or an Android admirer, Skyscanner has your back.
Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Savings with Skyscanner
Being a Skyscanner pro now let’s delve into some strategies to maximize your savings. First up, exploring alternate routes through other countries such as Istanbul and Dubai can present real savings on flight bookings.
Next, timing is everything. Booking flights around three months before departure is often recommended as the optimal time to secure the best deals. And finally, don’t forget to compare. After deploying all tips to identify the best day, price, airline, and route on Skyscanner, it’s advisable to compare the discovered price with that offered directly by the airline, ensuring you get just the best prices.
Conclusion – How to Use SkyScanner
So there you have it, your ultimate guide to mastering Skyscanner. From setting up an account to snagging the best flight deals, we’ve explored all the ins and outs of this powerful travel tool. With Skyscanner, the world really is at your fingertips. So go ahead, start exploring, and let your next adventure begin!
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Skyscanner work for flights?
Skyscanner works by aggregating results from various online travel agencies and airlines to find the best flight options for you, and when you find a flight you like, you book directly with the specific airline or travel agency. The price you see on Skyscanner is the price on the airline’s site.
Can you book directly from Skyscanner?
You can’t book directly through Skyscanner. After finding the best deals, you’ll be directed to the airline or travel agency’s website to make your booking.
How do I search on Skyscanner?
To search on Skyscanner, simply enter your desired dates and destination in the search bar and select the desired cabin and number of tickets. You can also choose to search from your local airport or even an entire country for more flexibility and prices. Then, if you’re flexible, you can search by “whole month” to find the cheapest time to fly.
Is it OK to buy a ticket through Skyscanner?
Yes, it’s okay to buy tickets through Skyscanner. It is a powerful tool to find cheap flights and an independent company trusted by over 100 million customers. So, using Skyscanner to cross-check flight prices can potentially help you score a better deal.
How do I set up an account on Skyscanner?
You can set up an account on Skyscanner by downloading the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and following the prompts to create your account.
Stop overpaying for travel!
Get cheap flight deals emailed straight to your inbox and save up to 90% on your next trip.
