Flight Auction Sites: Is it Worth it to Bid on Flights? 

When you’re planning your dream trip abroad, it often starts with finding flights. So, whether the golden shorelines of Australia have caught your eye or the concrete jungles of the U.S. are calling, navigating the landscape of flight ticket prices, with often hefty fares, can be an overwhelming situation. 

But, as you browse the internet searching for the perfect flights for you that don’t cost an arm and a leg, you might stumble upon something new and intriguing - websites where you can actually bid on flights. 

Much like a property or art auction, travellers keen to secure the best value fares to visit destinations they only dream of can snap up some real deals on flight auction sites. But, for those unfamiliar with the concept, it can take a while to navigate and to understand if it’s the right option for you to find affordable fares efficiently. 

If you’re ready to find out if this concept is too good to be true, we’ve dived into the fascinating world of flight auction sites to reveal whether they’re really worth your time and energy. 

What Are Flight Auction Sites?

Flight auction sites are a relatively new phenomenon in the world of flight finding that has become more prevalent in the last decade.

Defined as a site that auctions off its available flight offers to the person who is willing to pay the highest price, the way these flight auction sites work is that an individual will put in a bid for what they’d be willing to pay for a particular air fare. 

In other words, these sites are turning the traditional booking process on its head; Instead of searching through what can feel like endless lists of fixed-price tickets, you bid on the flights you want, and name what you’re happy to pay for them. 

If the odds are in your favour, you can snag yourself a flight ticket that’s sometimes considerably cheaper than a conventional fare to the same destination!

The concept taps into airlines' desire to fill empty seats while giving budget-conscious travellers a chance to bid on cheap flights that might otherwise be out of their reach. So, it’s a win-win, really!

How Do I Bid for Flights? 

When you bid for flights on these platforms, you essentially begin a negotiation process with airlines that are offering seats on flights that they want to sell. If there’s one thing airlines hate, it’s empty seats, so if they can sell these in any way they can, they will do it, hence why you can snag great deals using flight auction sites and discreetly get these fares at reduced prices. 

You’ll begin by choosing a flight auction site and entering your basic travel information, including the departure city you want to fly from, the destination you want to travel to, and your preferred travel dates. You’ll then encounter several options for auction flights and place your bid! 

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that by throwing in the lowest fare possible, you’re rarely likely to succeed in securing a ticket. Airlines are still looking to maximise their revenue on these spare seats, so if you’re adding a low-ball bid, it’s unlikely that you’ll see results. Instead, offer a realistic price that you feel acknowledges the value of the flight but still offers significant savings compared to a standard ticket. It’s important to find that sweet spot! 

Why Flight Auctions Can Be A Great Method to Secure Cheap Flights

When it comes to auction flight tickets, it’s obvious that they can offer substantial savings on airfare. And it’s not just a small saving in many cases, but can be as much as 30% to 50% off standard fare prices, offering travellers a real deal. This is especially for those who travel frequently, as these savings can quickly add up! 

But, it’s not just about the financial benefits of securing a reduced fare using flight auction sites. For many, it’s the anticipation and strategy involved in placing a bid for flights that people genuinely find exciting, offering an opportunity to make potentially huge savings, without sacrificing much in the process. So, really, it’s a no-win, no-lose scenario, as if you aren’t successful in your bid for flights, you can always try again! 

And, flight auction sites offer travellers who have the luxury of being flexible an increased ability to secure bargain flights. You can alter your travel days, or even take connecting flights instead of direct ones, which means you can secure great deals by being just that little bit more lenient with your travel plans. 

What Am I Signing Up For With Flight Auction Sites? 

While it might seem like there are plenty of positives to flight auction sites, it’s definitely worth bearing in mind that there are a few downsides. 

Firstly, when you bid on flights through auction sites, you’re giving up control over your travel experience. For example, if you prefer to travel with specific airlines, when you submit a bid for a flight, you can’t choose which airline you travel with. So, you could end up travelling with a budget carrier, or get lucky with a full-service airline - you have to take the gamble. 

In the same respect, you don’t have control over your departure times if you place a bid for flights successfully. So, you run the risk of having to get up at some ungodly hour to make your flight, or you might get lucky and bag a convenient time that lets you maximise your stay in a destination. This is all part of the deal. 

Typically, the flights that are available through these auction sites are there for a reason: they’re struggling to sell through conventional channels. While this doesn’t mean they’re bad flights, they might have certain characteristics that make them less favourable to the majority of travellers. So, it’s always worth taking these flight auction sites with a pinch of salt.

Additionally, don't be surprised if such flights come with strict terms and conditions. Limited legroom, baggage restrictions, and difficulty with refunds might be a few of these conditions that you come across if you successfully bid on a flight auction site. However, the silver lining is that these are usually disclosed by the flight provider before you actually commit to your purchase, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Popular Flight Auction Sites

If you've decided to dip your toes into the world of flight auction sites, there are a few main players you’ll want to be aware of. These are the most reliable and established platforms where you can bid on flights:

Priceline

Priceline is one of the biggest players in the game of flight auction sites, having pioneered much of what we now know about bidding for flights. Their platform allows you to bid for flights, but also for hotels and rental cars, which can make a trip all the more convenient and cost-effective. 

Skyauction

Skyauction takes a more specialised approach to bidding for flights, focusing specifically on aviation-related deals. Beyond standard commercial flights, they often have unique aviation experiences and charter opportunities. 

As such, this flight auction site typically attracts a community of aviation enthusiasts and travellers looking for something beyond the typical airline experience.

SpareFare

SpareFare has a focus on last-minute inventory and what the industry refers to as "distressed" airline seats, which are basically flights that airlines need to fill quickly. 

Their model works well for spontaneous travellers who can make quick booking decisions when great value deals arise. So, this platform’s approach to auctioning flight tickets might be ideal if this is your travel style.

Why Flight Comparison Sites Might Be More Worthwhile For You

While flight auction sites can offer great opportunities to bid on cheap flights and make your travel dreams a reality, there's a compelling case to be made for using a comprehensive flight comparison site as your primary booking strategy.

Here's why many experienced travellers ultimately prefer to book with a flight comparison site to secure the best flight fares while avoiding the uncertainties and potential negatives associated with a flight auction site: 

Comprehensive Market Coverage and Pricing, Without the Risk

Flight comparison sites search hundreds of major travel booking platforms simultaneously, giving you access to a hefty selection of airline deals and competitive online travel agency and booking site prices that might not participate in auction platforms. 

This broad search capability means you get comprehensive market coverage that creates a complete picture, so you know that you’re seeing all of the best deals available. 

Not to mention that, given this broad coverage on a quality comparison site, you’re likely to reveal deals that are just as competitive as the prices you’d pay on a bid on an auction site. This means you avoid the hassle of placing a bid for a flight and can pay for this great value deal straightaway.

Airlines regularly offer promotional fares, mistake fares, and inventory management deals through traditional channels that can rival auction savings. You can evaluate these deals with complete information too, and book with confidence, compared to using a flight auction site, where you have to wait for your bid to be accepted, and might face surprise restrictions if you’re successful.

Increased Control and Transparency

The beauty of flight comparison sites is that you don’t have to surrender control of aspects of your travel arrangements, such as departure times or the airline you’ll be flying with. Instead, these sites let you filter and select exactly what you want. You can compare airlines, choose departure times that are preferable for you, and better understand exactly what you’re booking before you part with your money. 

This means you’ll also see the total cost of your flight upfront, too, and won’t be faced with fees that were otherwise hidden beforehand, like you might on auction sites. This offers peace of mind in knowing that you’re fully informed while finalising your travel arrangements, and avoids disappointment in the long run.

Time Efficiency and Reliability

If you want the most straightforward and time-efficient approach to choosing flights, with minimal hassle, then flight auction sites might not be for you.

For one, you have the time involved with submitting bids, then waiting for responses and potential negotiations before you know whether you’ve secured your flight or not, leaving your travel plans somewhat uncertain. But with a flight comparison site, you can simply get instant results from your searches and book in a matter of minutes, knowing your travel plans are secured. This offers a more reliable and time-efficient way of booking your flights. 

Better Customer Support and Protection

You’ll often find that established flight comparison sites offer more reliable and robust customer support and protection compared to auction platforms. If something goes wrong with your booking or you need to make changes, you can often get in touch with reliable customer service representatives who can help you resolve these issues. This helps to save time, money, and reduce stress when it comes to finalising your travel plans!

Our FlightsFinder multi-flight search tool helps you find cheap flights from the world’s best comparison sites, searching hundreds of airlines and OTAs on every flight route worldwide. Rest assured that we will find you the most economical ticket from the world’s foremost airfare search engines. Try our simple search tool today. 

The Lesson to Be Learned: Compare Before You Bid

So, there’s a lot to be considered when deciding if flight auction sites are right for you. But, for many travellers, the simpler, more efficient, and stress-free way to book flights that can still offer drastic savings is to book with a reliable flight comparison site. 

However, if you’re still considering exploring flight auction sites, we’d strongly recommend using a flight comparison tool as your baseline research tool. Look at the current market prices through comprehensive comparison sites and see what flight prices are available. 

This way, you can make an informed decision about whether auction opportunities really offer good value, or if you can find comparably good deals using comparison platforms, eliminating the time and stress that may come with using a flight auction site. 

Whether flight auction sites are worth your time ultimately depends on your travel priorities and preferences. If you’re focused on saving as much as possible, you’re flexible, and you have a high tolerance for uncertainty, then flight auction sites might work well for you and offer real value. But if you value your time and energy, and are happy to still secure great deals with less hassle and increased predictability, then we’d recommend opting for a flight comparison site to find your flights.

The trade-off between savings and control is the fundamental equation you'll need to solve for yourself.

Summary

Flight auction sites offer a strategic and exciting way for flexible travellers keen to make a saving to bag the best flight deals, but they’re not for everyone. In comparison, flight comparison sites can be a great way to efficiently and quickly secure similarly great deals on flights, with the certainty of knowing your travel plans are secured as soon as you book them. 

Ultimately, whether you decide to bid on cheap flights through auction sites or use a flight comparison tool, the best booking method is the one that fits your budget, comfort, and goals. So long as you approach these platforms knowing how they work and with realistic expectations, we’re sure your travel plans will unfold in the best way possible!

If you’re looking for a reliable and convenient flight comparison tool to find the best flight deals available, try our FlightsFinder search engine and secure cheap flights without the hassle!