Cheap Flights Finder: Airfare Comparison Site

What are cheap flights, and how can I find them?

Cheap flights are low-cost tickets offered by budget airlines at a significantly lower rate than standard fares. Airlines regularly use dynamic pricing to set these rates: when demand is low, prices drop; when demand spikes, prices rise. This rule applies to both budget and full-service carriers alike. The secret to saving money is knowing exactly when and how to book the most economical option.

How to find the lowest prices?

The most efficient way to start your search is by using a flight comparison website. These platforms scour hundreds of airlines and online travel agents to find the best deals for your route. Many also offer powerful tools like flexible date calendars, price predictors, and alerts that let you track airfares and book at the optimal moment.

The most famous of these websites include:

Google Flights
Skyscanner
KAYAK
momondo
Cheapflights
KIWI
JetRadar

The challenge, however, is that each site employs different partnerships, search features, data sources, and pricing algorithms. This means the absolute lowest fare might appear on one platform today and a different one tomorrow.

How does our Flight Finder solve this problem?

The ultimate solution is to search all comparison sites simultaneously to ensure you spot the cheapest ticket. Flights Finder is a meta-search engine that aggregates the results from the top comparison sites into a single, easy-to-use platform.

Our site lets you quickly compare prices head-to-head across Skyscanner, KAYAK, Google Flights, Cheapflights, momondo, Kiwi, JetRadar, and more. This "Meta-Meta" flight search ensures you get the broadest view of the market without missing a single deal.

In fact, it is not uncommon to save £50-£100 per passenger by comparing the comparison sites.

How to book the cheapest flights?

Comparison sites are great at ‘finding’ the cheapest airfare, but they don't actually ‘sell’ you the ticket. They act as large digital directories which show you which airline or travel agent has the best price.

Once they have found you the cheapest flight, they will redirect you to an airline or online travel agent to complete your booking and purchase your ticket.

Is it safe to book ‘through’ a comparison site?

Yes, it is safe to book through a comparison engine, as they work only with reputable airlines and well-established online travel agents. However, agents come in all shapes and sizes, so it is worth checking third-party reviews of the merchant you wish to book with before parting with your hard-earned cash.

Comparison sites also let you book directly with the airline, which some people prefer for peace of mind or if they need to make post-purchase adjustments.

How can Flights Finder help you book the best flight?

Because Flights Finder searches so many comparison sites, it can show you multiple booking options for the same itinerary. For example, you might click on Skyscanner to discover they direct you to book their cheapest flight with Expedia.co.uk, whilst KAYAK may list the same flight but direct you to book through Booking.com instead.

Flights Finder makes it easy to identify this, so you can select and purchase through the booking provider you feel most comfortable with. You can compare cheap one-way flights, flexible date flights, cheap multi city flights, business class flights, first class flights and more.

What do the airfare experts say?

There is a virtual consensus amongst leading travel experts that you should always check prices across comparison sites, as prices can differ widely.

Which? Magazine:

“Remember to compare comparison sites. Even price aggregators can sometimes show different results.”

– Amy Axworth, Senior Researcher

MoneySavingExpert:

“Use at least two comparison sites. Try Kayak, Skyscanner, Momondo and Google Flights.”

– Martin Lewis, Founder of MSE (Cheap flights article)

The Telegraph:

“Found differences of nearly £100 between the cheapest (comparison sites).”

– Hugh Morris, Travel News Editor

Frommer's:

“You have the potential to save hundreds on a single flight (by comparing comparison sites)”

- Jason Cochran ~ Editor-in-Chief

A real-world example of this:

In a recent test by Flights Finder, a return flight from London to Phoenix, Arizona, USA, showed dramatic price variation. Skyscanner listed the cheapest non-stop option at £1,959, while KAYAK showed the exact same itinerary for £1,856. That is a saving of £103 per person, or £412 for a family of four.

See screenshot evidence below:

Skyscanner screenshot:

Kayak screenshot:

For a detailed comparison study, read our article on Which site has the cheapest flights? and get more pro tips on the Flight Finder blog

Which comparison site is best for finding cheap flights

No single flight comparison engine is the best every time. Each website performs well in different areas: KAYAK covers North American routes well, Skyscanner is ideal for European flights, and Kiwi specialises in stitching together low-cost fares from non-affiliated global airlines. Jetradar and Google Flights serve specific needs such as Asian travel and major airline coverage, respectively.

The search engines we show you are the most reputable, offer broad airline coverage, and provide access to the cheapest fares worldwide.

Here are some of the flight search engines you can compare on our site:

1. KAYAK - Best for advanced filters.

KAYAK is one of the most popular flight comparison engines in the world. Booking Holdings owns it and has millions of customers worldwide. It has been live since 2004 and is our primary partner. You will see KAYAK results on the first tab of our search results screen.

2. Skyscanner - Best for transparency & trust.

Skyscanner is one of Europe's biggest flight search engines. Established in 2003, they have excellent coverage of European carriers. The Skyscanner search engine powers our flexible dates calendar, and you can find their results on the second tab of our search results page.

3. Google Flights - Best for speed and flexibility.

Google Flights is one of the largest and most established flight comparison engines in the world. Results load lightning fast, and they showcase powerful, flexible date flight options, with easy-to-use explore maps. You can quickly compare Google flight results directly on our search results dashboard to see if they can offer a cheaper deal.

Flights Finder also compares momondo, Cheapflights, Jetradar, Skiplagged and Kiwi, giving you the ultimate bird's-eye view of the market.

What are the downsides of booking cheap flights?

The downsides of booking the cheapest flight you can see may be multiple:

Extras: Add-ons such as checked baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding can significantly increase the cost beyond the base price.
Location: Another thing to consider is that budget airlines usually use much smaller regional airports, which are sometimes located on the outskirts of the city. So you have to factor in the travel cost and time when looking at such flights.
Amenities: Budget flights are also notorious for charging you for little extras like snacks, drinks, or wifi access if available. Our advice is to check a full-service airline alongside the budget flight and consider all factors, such as overall comfort and convenience, before making a final decision.
Reliability: Also, beware of booking through smaller, less well-known agencies, as it is not uncommon to encounter problems with your ticket after purchase. Always check third-party reviews.

How can Flights Finder assist?

FlightsFinder lets you quickly apply filters for checked bags, flight quality, duration, and stopovers in each search engine, making head-to-head price comparison easy.

Because we search so many comparison sites, we give you an unmatched view of all budget and full-service airlines, allowing you to compare with ease and settle on the most convenient option within your allocated time and budget.

The other important thing we help with is showing many booking agents for a single flight. Don't be tempted to go for the cheapest or unknown agent without checking reviews; we enable you to choose a provider you feel 100% comfortable with quickly.

Is it safe to book cheap flights through our platform?

Yes — Flights Finder is a transparent flight comparison engine.

We only display results from well-known, top-tier travel meta-search engines with good industry reputations.
When you select a flight, you are redirected to the provider’s official, secure website to complete your booking.
We always recommend checking the individual reviews of the final travel provider you choose. FlightsFinder makes finding a reputable seller easy by displaying multiple booking options for every route.

In addition, our platform has been recommended by numerous reputable travel journalists and experts, some of whom include:

Frommer's: The famous travel guides producer, crowned us "The King of Airfare Search Sites", noting you could save hundreds using our dashboard.
The Telegraph: They tested our platform to see if the market needed a "comparison site of comparison sites" and concluded it saves consumers substantial sums of money.
The Daily Express: Wrote an article suggesting our site could be "Better than Google", because it crawls multiple giant search metrics at once.

To see further recommendations and details of our press coverage please visit our press room.

Frequently asked questions:

What are hidden tickets, and can they save you money?

Hidden-city tickets are when it is cheaper to get off on a layover than to book a direct flight. For example, you want to fly to Rome but find it cheaper to book a flight to Türkiye with a stop in Rome than to book a flight straight to Rome. The hack is getting off at Rome and discarding the second leg of the journey.

This can save you money, but it comes with a few caveats: you cannot check any luggage, as it will continue on to your final destination, and it violates the airline's contract of carriage and could get you banned in a worst-case scenario. Flights Finder shows any hidden-city tickets available via Skiplagged, which we search via our dashboard.

How can I find cheap error fares?

Error fares are when an airline accidentally makes a pricing mistake and publishes a fare well below the average price. These flights are rare but do occur. Flights Finder’s broad ‘Everywhere, Anytime’ flight searches enable you to spot these errors quickly - read our article on how to find error fares. Alternatively, you can sign up to free specialist websites such as ‘Secret Flying’, which seek out these error fares for you. We always post any errors or amazing deals we find on our social channels, so be sure to check them out on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Should you search for flights in incognito mode?

There is a common perception that the more you search for a particular route, the higher the price rises as airlines notice demand. In our experience, this is not really the case and more of an urban legend; however, if you wish to be 100% sure, you can switch your browser mode to incognito so your search history cannot be tracked.

Is it cheaper to book a flight in a different currency?

Yes, it can sometimes be cheaper to book in another currency due to exchange rates. The trick is to change the market you are searching for in your chosen comparison site and compare prices. Flights Finder makes it easy to search multiple markets by selecting a different region in our dropdown country selector - we will then show you all the aggregator fares in that particular geographical market. You must read the terms and conditions before booking a flight in another region.

How far in advance should I book my flights?

Our research shows that for short-haul flights, you should book 1-3 months in advance, whilst for long-haul flights, it is best to book 4-6 months in advance. It is not an exact science, and the advice we give is to monitor prices using a flexible date calendar or to set up price alerts for a particular route. You can set this up on most comparison sites relatively easily.

What is the cheapest day of the week to book flights?

Our data and others indicate it is cheaper to fly on a Tuesday or a Wednesday; however, it is not guaranteed. The best and most efficient way to check pricing is to use a flexible date calendar. Flights Finder offers a grid calendar, which makes it easy to spot cheaper days to fly. Use it alongside other comparison site calendars to get the best deals.

Is it worth using a VPN to search for flights?

In most cases, it does not matter whether you use a VPN, as fares are priced based on the route you are searching. It may help in some circumstances, for example, when you are booking internal flights within a foreign country, as they may offer “resident-only” rates for the local population. You must read the terms and conditions of such tickets before booking.

Are there any Google flight hacks?

The best features of Google Flights include the ‘explore map’ feature, plus the ability to enter multiple departure and arrival airports. Another powerful hack is being able to track fares and filter flights on their price grid. Beware, however, that Google does not always show the cheapest options. In fact, Skyscanner and KAYAK often beat them on pricing, so always price-check against multiple competitors before making a final decision.

What are the most popular budget airlines in the world?

The most prevalent budget airlines include AirAsia, Scoot, Jetstar Airways, Southwest Airlines, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, Eurowings, Vueling Airlines and WizzAir. Flight Finder searches most of these via multiple comparison engines; however, some, like Southwest, don't appear on comparison sites and may have to be searched separately.

What are some other top tips to get the cheapest flights possible?

Book in advance: Start comparing fares several weeks ahead for short-haul trips and several months ahead for long-haul travel, while checking prices regularly because the best timing varies by route and season.
Mix and match: Do not assume a return ticket is cheapest; sometimes booking two separate one-way tickets with different airlines saves money, especially on short haul routes using budget carriers.
Travel light: Avoid checked baggage fees by travelling with a cabin-approved backpack.
Book your flight and hotel together as a package if required: Sometimes booking a flight and hotel together can work out cheaper overall then buying both items separately. Always compare both options before spending your money.

What is a phantom fare, and how to avoid it?

A phantom fare is when you see a great price on a flight comparison site, but when you click to book it magically disappears or goes up substantially.

This is very frustrating, but it can happen because most aggregators pull airline ticket prices from multiple sites, and there may be a lag in getting the most up-to-date fares. Alternatively, the flight you booked might have just sold out as fares are constantly being traded.

The best workaround is to use Flights Finder, which lets you see multiple booking options from multiple search engines. If you find that a fare has sold out on one site, you can quickly check whether it's available to book on another.

Cheap Flights Finder. The Airfare Comparison Site.

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Latest Cheap Flight Deals found from the UK:

What are cheap flights, and how can I find them?

How to find the lowest prices?

How does our Flight Finder solve this problem?

How to book the cheapest flights?

Is it safe to book ‘through’ a comparison site?

How can Flights Finder help you book the best flight?

FlightsFinder Featured in the Press

Is this the king of airfare search sites? The aggregator of aggregators

Frommers

FlightsFinder Featured in the Press

Travel site looks for errors that produce ultra-cheap air fares

Los Angeles Times

FlightsFinder Featured in the Press

Man creates travel website from his hospital bed and it's saving people millions

Mirror

FlightsFinder Featured in the Press

'World's first meta-meta flight search' to be better than Google?

The Express

What do the airfare experts say?

Which? Magazine:

MoneySavingExpert:

The Telegraph:

Frommer's:

Where are the cheapest places to fly right now?

Flights Finder Deals Carousel:

Which comparison site is best for finding cheap flights

1. KAYAK - Best for advanced filters.

2. Skyscanner - Best for transparency & trust.

3. Google Flights - Best for speed and flexibility.

What are the downsides of booking cheap flights?

How can Flights Finder assist?

Is it safe to book cheap flights through our platform?

Frequently asked questions:

What are hidden tickets, and can they save you money?

How can I find cheap error fares?

Should you search for flights in incognito mode?

Is it cheaper to book a flight in a different currency?

How far in advance should I book my flights?

What is the cheapest day of the week to book flights?

Is it worth using a VPN to search for flights?

Are there any Google flight hacks?

What are the most popular budget airlines in the world?

What are some other top tips to get the cheapest flights possible?

What is a phantom fare, and how to avoid it?

Expert advice from our founder:

Book cheap flight deals to popular cities

Trending cities on FlightsFinder

Birmingham

Málaga

Dublin

Poznan

Tirana

Munster

Oslo

Toulouse

Poprad

Faro

Milan

Copenhagen

Pula

Klagenfurt

Jersey

Book cheap flight deals to popular countries

Trending countries on FlightsFinder

Montenegro

Estonia

Bulgaria

Romania

Lithuania

Switzerland

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Latvia

Belgium

Sweden

Morocco