International Flights
Replies: 38 - Last Post: Mar 14, 2013 8:42 AM Last Post By: max_mexico
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15
"If one gives a complicated answer the complicated nature is analytical."Say what? That sentence makes no sense. Try again.
"Though there is a simple answer you chose not to give."
Ok, the simple answer is, any flight search engine may or may not beat travelsupermarket.com on any given day as may any airline's own website.
One simple sentence which is of no help whatsover if what someone wants is to know how to find cheap flights. The questions asked here on the TT are often not actually the question the person wants an answer to.
I interpret what MrJack asked as 'how do I find a cheap flight'. I do not interpret it as 'list flight search engines and don't think about why I'm asking you to do so.'
17
Heh, you not understanding =/= no sense, champ. Stay classy San Diego :p19
One point to note -When searching with Skyscanner, Kayak etc, they will often bring up prices from 3rd party booking agencies that seem too good to be true (cheaper than the airlines themselves). More often than not these fares turn out not to exist.
By all means, use the search engines to determine timings/routings etc, but 99% of the time, you are much better off booking directly with the airline.
21
I would not agree with 99% but I do agree that often, you can find the same or a better price by booking directly with an airline. As noted earlier, not all airlines and in particular the LCCs are covered by some flight search engines because they do not pay commissions. The same is of course true of travel agencies. They are not going to suggest an airline that pays them no commission.I also don't understand the 'do not exist' part. Are you saying that if you go through with the booking process that the price changes along the way or that the 3rd party is a scam and your money disappears Peregrinef? I think an example would be in order before suggesting Kayak, Expedia, etc. are somehow not delivering what they advertise.
What is clear is that you cannot rely on any one method of searching for a flight and price.
22
#19, I've had mixed experience with Skyscanner in the past, but others like Kayak and Momondo are usually quite accurate. Often times, nowadays, you can get the same price by booking through the airline (and indeed, these 3rd party search tools tend to also search the airlines directly). But many times you can get a better deal with an agent since they have brokered deals with airlines. I can give you several examples of this if you want.Also keep in mind the difference, Travelinstyle and others. Expedia is an online travel agent. Kayak is a metasearch engine. That's a big big difference.
23
That's an interesting link in #9, OneScot.At first sight it's a bit comparable to this one: http://www.ticketspy.com (though in Dutch and flying from Schiphol Amsterdam. But easy to understand, destinations and fare shown and links to the bookingsite.
Amazing deals, so the OP might have a search here
NB. Example I booked flight Amsterdam-Toronto, return Vancouver-Amsterdam for 625 plus motorhome C25 included plus one night hotel.
24
sorry, link in #23 should be http://www.ticketspy.nl26
The edit is back , YAHOO.I don't rely on any one method Max and also realize there is no such thing as the BEST price anyway. It changes hourly in some cases and that's only the ones you KNOW about. LOL.
Bottom line, knowing you have got the best price for a given flight on a given day is like trying to guess the price of a stock in advance. If anyone could do that they'd be richer than rich. If anyone could figure out a way to be able to tell you the best price for a flight ticket it would be the same thing. Start a website and make a fortune. LOL
Asking where to get the best flight price is like asking someone to tell you the winning lottery number.
27
No, I am talking about third party booking sites that do not have access to completely live flight prices.A lot of the less reputable ones will take your money for the price advertised, email you back the next day and say the ticket for £x is no longer available, and that it will cost an additional £y. They offer you a full refund, but tell you that this can take up to 90 days. Not a scam as such, but it ties your money up for a while.
Truth is, in this day and age, every airline can sell their own tickets via the internet. They have no real incentive to offer significantly discounted tickets to travel agents anymore.
There is also the issue if something goes wrong (cancelations/delays etc) - the agent points the finger at the airline and vice versa.
There are some good ones out there (STA and Trailfinders spring to mind), but there are some bad ones as well.
28
Peregrinef - "When searching with Skyscanner, Kayak etc, they will often bring up prices from 3rd party booking agencies that seem too good to be true (cheaper than the airlines themselves). More often than not these fares turn out not to exist."This isn't the case - at least with skyscanner - as they direct you to the airline's own website for booking.
Moreover, they tell you exactly when the price was last checked before they do so.
Plus, the fares they quote can be higher than the fare the airline gives you, as they include booking charges and often the extra charge for a bag in their guide price.
