Finding the “best” airfare search engine is the holy grail of travel planning. With prices fluctuating by the minute and hundreds of airlines competing for your clicks, where you start your search matters.
The truth is: There isn’t just one “best” engine. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize speed, the absolute lowest price, or flexible travel dates. Here is a breakdown of the top airfare search engines and what they are best for.
1. Google Flights: Best for Speed and Tools
Google Flights is widely considered the gold standard for most travelers. Because it hooks directly into the ITA Software (the same tech used by travel agents), it is incredibly fast.
- Best Feature: The Calendar View and Price Graph. It allows you to see instantly which days are cheapest to fly within a month.
- The “Explore” Map: If you know you want to go to “Europe” but don’t care which city, the map shows you the cheapest destinations globally in real-time.
- Pros: Extremely fast, no ads, transparent pricing, and direct links to book with the airline.
- Cons: Doesn’t always find the “hacker” fares from smaller, obscure Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).
2. Skyscanner: Best for the Lowest Prices
If your primary goal is to save every dollar possible, Skyscanner is usually the winner. It searches a wider variety of smaller OTAs that Google Flights sometimes ignores.
- Best Feature: The “Everywhere” Search. Type in your home airport and select “Everywhere” as the destination to find the cheapest flight to anywhere in the world.
- Pros: Often finds lower prices than Google; includes many budget airlines (like Ryanair or AirAsia) that others miss.
- Cons: Because it links to smaller OTAs, customer service can be difficult if you need to change your flight.
3. Momondo: Best for Finding “Hidden” Deals
Owned by the same company as Kayak, Momondo has a reputation for digging up the absolute cheapest tickets by scouring hundreds of sites.
- Best Feature: Their Price Insight tool. It provides a data-driven look at how many days in advance you should book and which airports are cheapest for your specific route.
- Pros: Excellent user interface; consistently finds the cheapest “Hacker Fares.”
- Cons: Can be slower to load because it searches so many sources.
4. Kayak: Best for Multi-City and Filters
Kayak is a veteran in the space and remains one of the most reliable tools for travelers who have complex needs.
- Best Feature: Hacker Fares. Kayak will find two one-way tickets on different airlines that, when combined, are cheaper than a round-trip on a single airline.
- Pros: Advanced filtering (filter by aircraft type, baggage fees, or layover duration); great for booking hotels and cars simultaneously.
- Cons: The interface can feel a bit cluttered with ads compared to Google Flights.
5. Skiplagged: Best for the “Hidden City” Trick
Skiplagged is the “disruptor” of the bunch. It uses a loophole called “Hidden City Ticketing.”
- How it works: It might be cheaper to fly from New York to Dallas with a layover in Charlotte than it is to fly from New York directly to Charlotte. Skiplagged finds these flights, and you simply get off at the layover.
- Pros: Significant savings on specific routes.
- Cons: Risky. You cannot check bags (they go to the final destination), and airlines generally dislike this practice.
The Verdict: Which one should you use?
To get the absolute best deal, you should use a three-step strategy:
- Start with Google Flights: Use it to narrow down your dates and see the general price range.
- Cross-check with Skyscanner or Momondo: Once you have your dates, see if these engines can find a lower price through a smaller OTA.
- Book Direct (Whenever Possible): Once you find the flight, try to book it directly on the airline’s website. It makes it much easier to handle cancellations or delays.
Summary Table:
| Search Engine | Best For… | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Google Flights | Planning & Speed | Best User Interface/Calendar tool |
| Skyscanner | Budget Travelers | Finds the absolute lowest price |
| Momondo | Deep Searches | Scours the most OTAs |
| Kayak | Comparison | Reliable filters and “Hacker Fares” |
| Skiplagged | Extreme Savings | Hidden city ticketing |
Pro Tip: Always search in Incognito/Private mode to ensure that “cookies” don’t track your interest and hike up the price!