When it’s time to plan a trip, I don’t want to get bogged down switching between tabs or bouncing around airline, hotel and car rental websites just to figure out what’s affordable. I also don’t love using online travel agencies I’ve never heard of, especially when it’s unclear what their extra fees or policies might be.
That’s why I often start my search on Skyscanner. It’s not an online travel agency; it’s a metasearch tool that pulls together results from more than a thousand travel providers so I can see everything in one place.
Once I find an itinerary I like, I click through and book directly with the airline or hotel. That way, I still earn points and miles and use my loyalty benefits I get from having hotel elite status while knowing I got a fair price.
Here’s how I use Skyscanner and why it has become an important part of my travel planning process.
Finding inspiration when I don’t know where to go
Some of my favorite trips have started without a destination in mind. When I just want to get away, I use Skyscanner’s “Explore Everywhere” feature. I plug in my home airport, set flexible dates and see what comes up. It ranks destinations by price, and I can filter based on the type of trip I’m craving: beach, nightlife, adventure … you name it.
I also like the “Underrated Destinations” tab for spotting places I might not have considered. A few years ago, I booked an unforgettable trip to Svalbard in northern Norway (the world’s northernmost airport with scheduled commercial flights) simply because I saw a great deal pop up. I built the entire trip around that one affordable flight.
Call it main-character energy meets spontaneous adventure.
SKYSCANNER
Using the ‘Cheapest Month’ feature to time my trips
When I’ve already picked a destination, I use the “Cheapest Month” tool to see when fares are usually lowest. It’s a simple feature, but one that can make a big difference.
Instead of guessing when to book a trip to Tokyo or Lisbon, Portugal, I can see at a glance which months are likely to offer the best value and plan my paid time off accordingly.
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Related: The 10 best places to visit in December
Setting alerts and catching fare drops
There are times when I’m eager to book travel but see that the current prices are too high when I first search, so I put off booking.
I can set up an alert on Skyscanner that will notify me when prices change. When they drop to a price that’s within my budget, I can pull the trigger on booking my next trip.
On the mobile app, there’s also a feature called “Drops” that flags routes where fares have fallen by 20% or more. It’s like having a deal-finding friend who never sleeps.
I also save searches so I can easily revisit them — especially for group trips where someone’s still “thinking about it” in the group chat. When they finally say “yes,” my saved results are ready to go.
SKYSCANNER
Choosing self-transfer fares to combine flights I never would have found otherwise
Not everyone is aware of this, but Skyscanner also displays self-transfer fares, which combine separate flights from different airlines into a single, smart itinerary.
Instead of being limited to one carrier or alliance, you can unlock new routing options and significant savings. You can view the entire journey, including details on layovers and baggage rules, in one search.
Here’s an example. Say you want to live out your “White Lotus” fantasy in Thailand. The latest season was filmed on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, but your airline of choice might only fly to Bangkok, the country’s capital, without offering onward connections to your final destination, as it doesn’t fly there itself or maybe doesn’t partner and sell tickets with any airline that does.
Skyscanner can show itinerary options that can fly all the way to Samui International Airport (USM) by self-transferring and allowing you to choose the itinerary in one place, rather than going back and forth between your favorite airline and Thai-based airlines to ensure you find an itinerary that works for you. If you need to change airports to make this connection, Skyscanner will notify you of this before you book your tickets.
Related: 5 hotels in Thailand to check into for a ‘White Lotus’-inspired getaway
CAMERON SPERANCE/THE POINTS GUY
Bottom line
Many people assume Skyscanner is an online travel agent, but it’s actually more like a travel ally, a comparison tool with lots of neat features.
If you know exactly where you want to go, it can show the cheapest months, alert you when prices drop and send Drops for the cheapest flight deals. I really appreciate the self-transfer fares, as they can piece together flights from different airlines that other comparison tools might miss, allowing you to save money while traveling to lesser-known destinations.
I’m wary of booking through online travel agents, even if they show cheap travel results, both because I don’t know what their change and cancellation policies and fees are (is it worth taking this on to save $20?) and because I may not be able to use elite status benefits or earn points and miles if I’ve booked through a third party. This is especially possible when staying at luxury hotels.
Instead, I love saving time and money by using an online comparison tool and then booking directly. I know exactly what I’ve booked and that I’ve found the best price.
