Navigating the vast online world to find the best flight deals can be overwhelming. With countless search engines, aggregators, and booking sites vying for your attention, how do you determine which platforms truly offer the most value? At travels.edu.vn, we’ve rigorously tested the leading airfare websites to bring you an updated guide to the Best Travel Sites For Flights in 2024.
This year’s in-depth analysis reveals some surprising shifts in the landscape of online flight booking. While familiar names still hold ground, we’re excited to highlight lesser-known platforms that have risen to the top, outperforming even industry giants in finding you the lowest fares. Our comprehensive testing methodology has uncovered not only the overall best performers but also the go-to site for snagging those elusive last-minute flight deals. Interestingly, some previously favored sites have slipped in our rankings, with Booking.com and FlightNetwork no longer making our top 10 list this year.
Our carefully curated list of the top 10 best travel sites for flights will provide you with the insights you need to book smarter and travel cheaper in 2024. Each site is evaluated based on its strengths and weaknesses, ensuring you can choose the platform that best fits your travel needs.
We’ve meticulously narrowed down a broad selection to present you with the top 10 airfare sites for 2024. Let’s explore them.
Airplane flying in the sky
Our Testing Methodology for Flight Search Sites
To provide you with reliable recommendations for the best travel sites for flights, we conducted a thorough test across 15 different platforms, evaluating their performance on 32 distinct flight itineraries. Our testing encompassed a range of scenarios, including last-minute flights (departing within a week) and advance purchase fares (booked three months ahead).
We included both major and secondary travel routes in our analysis. We searched for flights from major hubs such as NYC to LAX, LAX to Hong Kong, and NYC to Paris, as well as routes from secondary airports like Philadelphia to Tampa, Chicago to Rome, and Miami to Rio de Janeiro. To further challenge the platforms, we added a unique route from Dallas to Dubai and a European route from London to Barcelona, testing their ability to handle low-cost carriers within Europe.
Crucially, we prioritized realistic and practical flight options. We disregarded unrealistically cheap fares that came with excessively long layovers, multiple stops, or circuitous routes that significantly extended travel time. Specifically, we rejected any itinerary that increased the total travel duration by more than 50%. While airlines might consider these options viable, we focused on providing recommendations for reasonable and efficient travel.
Our scoring system was rigorous and weighted. We awarded points based on fare competitiveness: three points for finding the lowest fare, two points for the second lowest, and so on. We also penalized sites that presented fares higher than the average compared to competitors. Fares within a 1% margin of each other were considered equivalent. This meticulous approach ensures our ranking of the best travel sites for flights is based on concrete data and reflects real-world performance.
Traveler looking at a map
Key Considerations When Using Flight Search Websites
Before diving into our top picks for the best travel sites for flights, it’s important to understand some fundamental aspects of how these platforms operate.
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Aggregators vs. OTAs: It’s crucial to distinguish between aggregators and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). OTAs like Hotwire, Kiwi, and CheapOAir are booking engines that directly sell flight tickets. Aggregators, on the other hand, such as Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Momondo, don’t sell tickets themselves. Instead, they search across numerous booking engines, airfare sites, and OTAs, compiling results in one place. When you select a flight on an aggregator, you are typically redirected to a third-party site (often an OTA or the airline’s website) to complete the actual purchase.
The reliability of the booking sites presented by aggregators can vary. While reputable aggregators strive to filter out unreliable ticket sellers, it’s always wise to exercise caution. Before booking through an unfamiliar OTA, we recommend performing a quick check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB.org) to look for any complaints or red flags. This extra step helps ensure a smoother and more trustworthy booking experience when using best travel sites for flights.
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Beware of Misleading Tactics: Some OTAs may employ tactics such as displaying enticingly low “lead prices” that slightly increase once you click through to book. Others might misleadingly categorize flights with stops as “nonstop” when they are actually “direct” flights – meaning they stop but don’t require changing planes. While even the most reputable aggregators can sometimes lead you to a site where the initially quoted fare is no longer available due to rapid price fluctuations, be particularly wary of sites that consistently exhibit these practices. Our reviews highlight instances where we encountered such discrepancies during our testing of best travel sites for flights.
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Southwest Airlines Exclusivity: It’s essential to remember that Southwest Airlines flights are generally not listed on most third-party OTAs or aggregator sites. Southwest restricts its flight listings, primarily allowing bookings through its own website, Southwest.com. This means that to include Southwest in your flight search, you typically need to check their website directly. However, as noted below, Google Flights has recently started including Southwest results, making it a notable exception. When seeking the best travel sites for flights, keep in mind the Southwest exception and consider checking their site separately or utilizing platforms like Google Flights for comprehensive results.
Google Flights website on a laptop
#10: Google Flights (google.com/flights)
Type: Aggregator
Google Flights, while backed by the search engine giant Google, lands at the tenth spot in our ranking of best travel sites for flights.
Pros: Google Flights excels in speed and user experience. It swiftly updates results as you type in destinations or adjust filters. A standout feature is its price calendar, which displays average fares for different dates, allowing you to quickly identify the cheapest days to fly. Notably, in spring 2024, Google Flights became the first major platform to integrate Southwest Airlines’ flight fares into its search results, a previously exclusive domain of Southwest.
Cons: Despite its strengths, Google Flights’ pricing performance was inconsistent. While it did find the best fare once in our tests (Miami to Rio), it frequently presented prices that were only average or even significantly higher than competitors, particularly for major routes like NYC to Paris and LA to Hong Kong. For instance, on a last-minute Dallas-Dubai flight with Emirates, Google Flights quoted $673 more than the top-performing site. While Google Flights is excellent for quickly finding flight options and comparing basic details, it’s less reliable for consistently securing the absolute lowest fares, placing it lower in our list of best travel sites for flights when price is a primary concern.
Key Features:
- Fast and responsive interface
- Interactive price calendar and graph
- Comprehensive filters
- Option to include or exclude specific airlines or connecting airports
- Displays in-flight amenities (legroom, power outlets, entertainment, Wi-Fi)
Hotwire website on a laptop
#9: Hotwire
Type: OTA
Hotwire makes a return to our rankings this year, but with a significant caveat: it’s not recommended for last-minute flight bookings. Previously known for its deeply discounted “Hot Rates” (opaque fares), Hotwire’s performance in our tests positions it as a mixed bag among best travel sites for flights.
Pros: Hotwire showed decent performance for advance purchase fares. While it didn’t consistently find the absolute lowest overall prices, it often secured lower or even the lowest rates on direct flights when booking in advance.
Cons: Hotwire performed poorly, by far the worst of all tested sites, when it came to last-minute fares, recording the highest prices a staggering six times. This weakness significantly impacts its overall ranking as a top flight search site. One major drawback we identified is Hotwire’s limited search capability regarding alternate airports and no-frills carriers. For example, on the New York to Paris route, Hotwire missed significantly cheaper direct flights offered by budget airlines that were readily found by other sites. Similarly, for the London to Barcelona route, Hotwire’s default single-airport search caused it to overlook much cheaper fares available from nearby London airports on low-cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet. Hotwire’s filters are also subpar, lacking essential options like setting maximum flight duration or layover times.
Key Features:
- Decent pricing on advance purchase (APEX) airfares
- Displays prices for flights three days before and after your selected date
Limitations:
- Very poor performance for last-minute flights
- Substandard filters
- Limited consideration of no-frills carriers and alternate airports
Hopper app interface on a smartphone
#8: Hopper
Type: Aggregator
Hopper, a mobile-first travel app known for its user-friendly and visually appealing interface, drops five places from its previous third-place ranking. Its performance as one of the best travel sites for flights in 2024 is inconsistent.
Pros: Hopper showed reasonable performance in finding advance purchase APEX fares, achieving slightly better-than-average prices about a third of the time in our tests. It continues to offer price prediction advice, suggesting whether to book now or wait based on historical price trends. The app’s calendar is color-coded to highlight the cheapest travel days within a two-month window, aiding users in finding cost-saving flexibility. Hopper also offers a unique filter to limit results to flights with no change fees.
Cons: Hopper’s performance on last-minute fares was notably poor, ranking second worst only to Hotwire in frequently displaying the highest prices. This inconsistency significantly detracts from its overall appeal as a top flight search tool. Furthermore, Hopper has significantly reduced the depth of its flight insights. Features like historical price graphs, baggage fee information, and seat pitch details are no longer prominently displayed. Hopper also aggressively promotes its own add-on services, such as fare freezing and various travel insurances, requiring users to decline these offers multiple times before proceeding, which some may find intrusive. Its sort-by filters are limited compared to other top best travel sites for flights.
Key Features:
- Decent fares for advance purchases
- Price prediction advice (buy now or wait)
- Color-coded calendar for cheapest travel dates
- Option to filter for flights with no change fees
Limitations:
- Subpar last-minute fares
- Limited filter options
- Aggressive upselling of add-on services
- Reduced flight insights compared to previous versions
Kiwi.com website interface on a laptop
#7: Kiwi.com
Type: OTA
Kiwi.com, a Czech-based booking site, experiences a significant drop in our rankings, falling from second to seventh place. While its price performance as one of the best travel sites for flights was generally average, some factors contributed to its lower ranking.
Pros: Kiwi.com caters well to flexible travelers. Its default search is set to “anytime” for departure dates, allowing users to easily see the cheapest days to fly. It offers price calendars displaying indicative fares for each day over a two-month period, and a fare grid showing prices three days before and after selected dates. A unique feature is its inclusion of train and bus options alongside flights, which is not commonly found on other platforms. Kiwi.com also boasts a robust set of filters, second only to our top-ranked site.
Cons: Kiwi.com’s primary weakness is its inconsistency in finding the lowest fares, particularly for advance purchase direct flights. It also faces criticism regarding customer service. There are reports and Better Business Bureau complaints about lackluster support when issues arise, which may concern some travelers. While Kiwi.com offers valuable features and flexibility, the customer service concerns and inconsistent pricing prevent it from ranking higher among the best travel sites for flights.
Key Features:
- Flexible date search options
- Price calendars and fare grids
- Integration of train and bus options
- Powerful filters
- Option to include baggage fees in fares
Limitations:
- Inconsistent pricing performance
- Reports of poor customer service
Priceline website interface on a laptop
#6: Priceline
Type: OTA
Priceline makes a comeback to our top 10 list, improving significantly from previously falling off the rankings entirely. Priceline has addressed some past shortcomings, enhancing its filters and embracing low-cost carriers, solidifying its position as a mid-range option among best travel sites for flights.
Pros: Priceline showed improved performance in advance fare searches, lifting its overall ranking. It demonstrated some clever itinerary optimization, such as identifying a short layover in Istanbul that saved $40 on a Chicago-Rome flight. Priceline also continues to offer its unique “Express Deals” – opaque fares where flight details are revealed only after booking. These deals can potentially offer savings, although typically around 10% rather than the advertised 40%.
Cons: Last-minute fares remain Priceline’s weakness, underperforming even Kiwi.com in this category. While Priceline has made positive strides, its overall pricing performance is still middle-of-the-road, particularly for urgent travel needs.
Key Features:
- “Express Deals” for opaque fares with potential discounts
- Improved filters
- Price comparisons on date-picker calendars
- Inventive itinerary suggestions
Limitations:
- Average pricing, especially for last-minute flights
- Opaque fares require flexibility and uncertainty
Tripadvisor website interface on a laptop
#5: Tripadvisor
Type: Aggregator
Tripadvisor maintains its fifth-place position, demonstrating consistent performance as a reliable flight search aggregator. While primarily known for reviews, Tripadvisor’s flight search capabilities are holding steady among the best travel sites for flights.
Pros: Tripadvisor offers a useful option to include nearby airports in searches, potentially uncovering cost-saving alternatives. Its filters are comprehensive, including an option to restrict booking site results to only trusted providers.
Cons: Tripadvisor’s primary drawback is its speed, being notably slower than many competitors. In terms of pricing, while decent, Tripadvisor rarely outperformed the top three sites in finding the absolute lowest fares. Its last-minute fare performance was also average, lacking standout deals. Furthermore, Tripadvisor can be somewhat intrusive, automatically opening search windows for other sites unless this option is deselected.
Key Features:
- Decent pricing
- Option to include nearby airports
- Good filter variety, including trusted booking site selection
Limitations:
- Slower search speed
- Average last-minute fares
- Automatic pop-up search windows
CheapOAir website interface on a laptop
#4: CheapOAir
Type: OTA
CheapOAir stands out as the highest-ranked OTA on our list and reigns supreme when it comes to last-minute flight deals. If you’re looking for best travel sites for flights for urgent bookings, CheapOAir is a strong contender.
Pros: CheapOAir consistently excels in finding the best last-minute airfares, outperforming competitors in our tests. Its price calendar automatically displays fares for each day, and a helpful chart at the top of results shows costs for nonstop and cheapest flights on leading airlines. Filters are also quite useful, including options for alternate dates and nearby airports to maximize cost savings.
Cons: CheapOAir’s performance on advance purchase fares is erratic, with prices sometimes being worse than average. The site is also plagued by excessive pop-up ads, can be slow and glitchy, and won the “Most Annoying Popups” award in our testing. Despite its last-minute strengths, these drawbacks prevent it from ranking higher overall among the best travel sites for flights.
Key Features:
- Excellent for last-minute airfares
- Price calendar display
- Handy airline comparison chart
- Options for alternate dates and nearby airports
Limitations:
- Inconsistent advance purchase fares
- Slow and glitchy performance
- Excessive and annoying pop-ups
Skiplagged website interface on a laptop
#3: Skiplagged
Type: Aggregator
Skiplagged, a relatively new aggregator, takes the third spot in our ranking of best travel sites for flights. While known for controversial “hidden city” fares, Skiplagged’s performance is strong even when excluding these.
Pros: Skiplagged is particularly effective at finding low fares for direct flights. Its user interface is simple and visually appealing, allowing easy comparison of trip lengths and layover durations. The price calendar shows precise fares for each day over two months, a feature more detailed than some higher-ranked sites. Skiplagged is also notably fast in its search results.
Cons: Skiplagged’s filters are basic, and it doesn’t disclose baggage fees upfront. It has also been known to direct users to less reputable OTAs, and prices can sometimes increase after clicking through. While “hidden city” fares are offered, we advise caution due to airline policies and potential repercussions. However, these fares can be excluded by unchecking the “SKIPLAGGING” box, which we did for our tests evaluating best travel sites for flights.
Key Features:
- Strong performance for direct flight fares
- Fast search speeds
- User-friendly interface
- Precise price calendar display
Limitations:
- Mediocre filters
- No baggage fee display
- Potential for price discrepancies after click-through
- Controversial “hidden city” fares (optional)
Skyscanner website interface on a laptop
#2: Skyscanner
Type: Aggregator
Skyscanner remains a top performer, securing the second position in our list of best travel sites for flights. It closely rivals Skiplagged in finding low fares, particularly for advance purchase tickets.
Pros: Skyscanner excels in advance purchase fares and offers a unique “Explore everywhere” feature, displaying a grid of destinations with the cheapest costs. Unlike Skiplagged’s similar feature, Skyscanner’s “Explore everywhere” includes destinations worldwide. A significant advantage is Skyscanner’s star rating system for third-party booking sites, aiding users in vetting unfamiliar platforms. It also allows searching for destinations within an entire country and includes nearby airports in searches. While its initial date calendars show color-coded price ranges, a “Show whole month” link leads to a page with estimated prices for two months.
Cons: Skyscanner’s last-minute fare performance is average, and its filters are only mediocre. Baggage fees are not included in the initial display, and sponsored results are mixed with organic results, though clearly marked.
Key Features:
- Excellent advance purchase fares
- “Explore everywhere” destination search
- Star ratings for booking sites
- Nearby airport search
- Country-wide destination search
- Two-month fare view for flexible dates
Limitations:
- Average last-minute fares
- Mediocre filters
- No baggage fee display
- Sponsored results integration
Momondo and Kayak logos
#1: Momondo / Kayak
Type: Aggregator
Momondo and Kayak share the top spot as the best travel sites for flights in 2024. These sister sites consistently outperformed competitors in our tests, demonstrating exceptional pricing and a range of valuable features.
Pros: Momondo and Kayak consistently found the lowest fares most frequently in our testing. They offer comprehensive filters, including the ability to set maximum flight duration and layover times, which are lacking in some competitors. Their price calendars are interactive and informative, showing color-coded price ranges and often precise fares for alternative dates. Kayak, in particular, provides price trend forecasts, advising whether to buy now or wait. Both platforms search a vast number of sources, delivering a wide range of flight options.
Cons: While both are top-tier, even Momondo and Kayak are not flawless. Like many aggregators, they may sometimes lead to third-party sites with slightly higher prices than initially displayed. However, this is infrequent and outweighed by their consistent pricing strengths and feature-rich interfaces.
Key Features:
- Consistently lowest fares
- Comprehensive and robust filters
- Interactive price calendars with color-coded ranges and precise fares
- Price trend forecasts (Kayak)
- Extensive search across numerous sources
Limitations:
- Occasional price discrepancies after click-through (minor)
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Flight Booking Site for You
Our comprehensive testing has identified Momondo and Kayak as the leading best travel sites for flights in 2024, offering the most consistent low fares and a wealth of helpful features. Skyscanner and Skiplagged are strong contenders, particularly for advance purchase fares and user-friendly interfaces. CheapOAir excels for last-minute deals, while Priceline and Tripadvisor offer solid mid-range options. Google Flights is valuable for quick searches and Southwest fares, but less reliable for consistently low prices. Hotwire and Hopper are best approached with caution, especially for last-minute bookings.
Ultimately, the “best” site depends on your individual needs and travel style. For the most consistently low fares and comprehensive features, we recommend starting your search with Momondo or Kayak. For urgent travel, CheapOAir may be your best bet. And remember to always double-check fares and consider booking directly with airlines when possible for added security and flexibility. Happy travels!
