Planning your dream trip starts with finding the perfect flight, and in today’s digital age, booking websites have become the go-to resource for getting the best deal on plane tickets. At KOHO, we understand that the journey is as important as the destination.
We’re here to help you navigate the myriad of airline booking websites to find the best domestic and international flights for your adventure. Whether you’re seeking the lowest fares on a France round-trip vacation, the most flexible booking policies, or top-notch customer service, our comprehensive guide will steer you toward the best platforms to suit your travel needs.
Introduction to flight booking
Booking a flight is often the first step in planning a memorable trip, and finding the best flight deal and most reliable services can make all the difference. With so many options available, navigating the world of flight booking can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly round trip flights, flexible cancellation policies, or seamless booking experiences, understanding the nuances of various flight booking platforms is crucial.
Benefits of using a flight booking website
Price comparisons
Airline booking websites aggregate flight options from multiple airlines, allowing you to see numerous prices and options in one place, like round trip tickets, one-way flights, direct flights, or flights with layovers. It makes it easier to compare the cheapest flights.
Many sites offer fare alert services where you can set a price range for your desired route to find the cheapest price. You'll receive notifications when prices drop or fall within your specified range, ensuring you never miss a deal.
Some platforms provide price prediction tools that analyze historical data and current trends to suggest the best times to book for the lowest fares to save money.
Convenience
You can search for and book flights at any time, without needing to adhere to the operating hours of a travel agency. Most airline booking websites are mobile-friendly or have dedicated apps, enabling you to book flights and manage your itinerary on the go. These platforms are designed to be intuitive, with filters and sorting options that make it easy to find flights that meet your criteria.
Comprehensive information
Booking websites provide extensive details about each flight, including layover times, aircraft type, and in-flight amenities such as Wi-Fi, meals, and entertainment. You can review baggage policies, including fees for checked and carry-on luggage, ensuring no surprises at the airport.
User reviews and ratings
Access to reviews and ratings from other travelers can give you a clearer picture of what to expect from different airlines, including customer service, punctuality, and overall satisfaction. These reviews add an extra layer of transparency, helping you make more informed choices based on the experiences of others.
Flexible booking options
Many websites offer the option to pay in installments, making it easier to manage your budget. Online booking platforms often allow you to easily change or cancel your reservation, sometimes with minimal fees, directly through their site. You can purchase travel insurance directly when booking, providing coverage for unexpected events such as trip cancellations or medical emergencies.
Bundled packages
Bundling flights with hotels, rental cars, or activities often results in discounted rates, allowing you to save money. Booking a complete travel package through one website simplifies the planning process and ensures that all components of your trip are coordinated. Many websites allow you to tailor your bundle to suit your needs, selecting specific hotels or car rental options.
Loyalty programs and rewards
By booking through platforms affiliated with loyalty programs, you can accumulate points or miles that can be redeemed for future travel, upgrades, or other perks. Members of loyalty programs often receive exclusive offers and discounts, further enhancing the value of their bookings. Booking websites can integrate with your existing loyalty accounts, automatically applying points and tracking rewards.
Special deals and discounts
Booking websites often have special promotions, such as discount codes, flash sales, or last-minute deals that aren't available elsewhere to help you save money. These platforms frequently run seasonal sales, offering significant discounts during peak travel periods or holidays. By signing up for newsletters or becoming a member of the booking site, you can receive exclusive discounts and early access to sales.
Top flight booking websites
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is known for its powerful search engine that compares prices from various airlines and travel agents, helping you find the best flight deals. You can search for flights across entire months or even years, allowing you to compare cheap flights and find the best flight deals.
You can set the current view showing March dates or showing July dates if you're looking to travel in the summer. If you want to book an autumn sight-seeing trip, you can also set the calendar view showing October flight prices. The platform supports multi-city search results, making it ideal for planning complex itineraries, such as if you want to explore from Amsterdam and return from a different city.
Google Flights
Google Flights is renowned for its speed and efficiency in helping people find cheap flights and quickly displaying different flight options. You can track price trends, see the price graph for your preferred travel dates and locations, and receive email updates when flight prices change to compare cheap flights for your trip.
For example, if you want a Canada round trip or a United Kingdom flight, you can track prices and get notifications when the price drops. The Explore feature lets you search for destinations based on interests, budget, and available dates, which is perfect for flexible travellers.
Kayak
Kayak searches hundreds of travel sites, including airlines, travel agencies, and hotel booking platforms. The site offers price forecasts and recommendations on whether to book now or wait for better deals for the cheapest prices. Kayak's tools include flexible date searches, price alerts, and a mobile app for on-the-go booking.
Expedia
Expedia offers bundled deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals, often at discounted rates. Members of Expedia Rewards can earn points on booking flights, which can be redeemed for future travel. The site provides extensive customer support, including options for flight changes and cancellations.
Orbitz
Orbitz Rewards members earn Orbucks on flights, hotels, and package deals, which they can use for future bookings. The Orbitz Price Assurance program refunds the difference if another Orbitz customer books the same flight for less. The site offers 24/7 customer support, making it easy to resolve issues at any time.
CheapOair
CheapOair specializes in finding the best flight deals and offers a variety of promotional codes and deals. The site offers travel protection plans that cover trip cancellations, delays, and other unforeseen events. You can book flights through their website, mobile app, or with a travel expert.
Hopper
Hopper is known for its accurate price prediction tools, advising you on the best times to book to get cheap flights. The mobile app is highly rated for its ease of use and functionality, allowing you to book flights and receive price alerts. Hopper offers "Freeze" features that allow you to lock in a price for a limited time, providing flexibility while you finalize your plans.
Tips for finding cheap flights
Whether you're booking a round-trip flight or a one-way ticket, finding cheap flights can significantly reduce your travel expenses and make your dream trip more affordable with the best price. Here are some practical tips to help you score the best travel deals.
Be flexible with dates and times
Having flexible dates and travel times gives you more options to find the cheapest tickets. Flying during off-peak times like mid-week, early morning, or late at night can save you money.
Avoid peak travel periods like holidays and weekends. Use flexible date search options on booking websites to see if shifting your travel dates by a few days can lower your fare. If you can't fly nonstop, consider flights with one or more stops that fit your itinerary but are cheaper.
Set fare alerts
Sign up for fare alerts on websites like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak. These alerts notify you when prices drop for your desired route, ensuring you don't miss a deal. Track fares for several routes or nearby airports to increase your chances of finding cheap flights.
Book in advance
While last-minute deals can sometimes be found, booking 2-3 months in advance is generally advisable for domestic flights and 3-6 months for international flights. Booking too far in advance can sometimes lead to higher prices. Aim to book within the optimal window mentioned above for optimal travel planning.
Use incognito mode
Airlines and booking websites sometimes use third-party cookies to store and access information about your device and process personal data such as your IP address and device identifiers. They can use cookies to track your search results and provide and may raise prices based on your activity. Conducting flight searches in incognito mode or clearing your third-party cookies can help you see unbiased prices and find cheap flights.
Compare multiple websites
Whether you're looking at online travel agencies or airline booking websites, use travel search engines to compare prices and find the best cheap airfare for your vacation. After finding a good deal on a search engine, check the airline's official website to see if the fare is the same or lower. For example, you can use Google Flights to compare prices on Canada round-trip flight tickets and compare it with a site like Air Canada to find a better deal.
Consider nearby airports
Check flights to and from nearby airports. Sometimes, flying into or out of a smaller or less popular airport can be cheaper. It may be more expensive to fly nonstop to your destination. Look into booking two separate one-way tickets to and from different airports for potential savings.
Use points and miles
Join frequent flyer programs to earn miles that can be redeemed for free or discounted flights. Use travel rewards credit cards to accumulate points that can be used to find cheaper direct flights and cover other travel expenses.
Look for budget airlines
Consider flying with budget airlines to get better deals and flight prices. Be aware of additional fees for baggage and other services. Sometimes, booking a flight with a layover and not taking the final leg can be cheaper. Use this strategy cautiously, as airlines may penalize it.
Sign up for newsletters and follow airlines on social media
Subscribe to airline newsletters and follow them on social media to stay informed about flight deals, special promotions, flash sales, and discount codes. Some airlines offer exclusive deals and early access to sales for subscribers and followers.
Use alternative search methods
Use tools like Google Flights' "Explore" feature to find the cheapest destinations and dates based on your budget. Booking multi-city or open-jaw tickets, flying into one city and out of another, can sometimes be cheaper and allow for more travel flexibility.
Best travel rewards credit cards
Choosing the right travel rewards credit card can help maximize your travel benefits and save on future trips. Whether you're booking with a secured credit card, a debit card, or a regular credit card, many cards offer lucrative rewards for booking flights and have insurance to protect your travels.
KOHO Premium Prepaid Visa
Interest Rate: N/A (Prepaid)
Rewards: 2% cash back on dining, groceries, and transportation, 0.5% on everything else.
Benefits: No foreign transaction fees, no interest charges, and budgeting tools.
American Express Cobalt™ Card
Interest Rate: 20.99%
Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on dining and groceries, 2 points per $1 on travel and transit, 1 point per $1 on everything else.
Benefits: Comprehensive travel insurance, flexible points redemption, monthly fee structure.
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Interest Rate: 20.99%
Rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on dining, groceries, and entertainment, 3 points on gas, transit, and select streaming services, 1 point on all other purchases.
Benefits: No foreign transaction fees, extensive travel insurance, concierge service, and purchase protection.
MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard®
Interest Rate: 19.99%
Rewards: 2 points per $1 spent on dining, groceries, and gas, 1 point per $1 on everything else.
Benefits: Comprehensive insurance coverage, travel protection, and concierge services.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
Interest Rate: 19.99%
Rewards: 1.25 RBC Rewards points per $1 spent on dining and all other purchases.
Benefits: Comprehensive travel insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty.
Tangerine World Mastercard®
Interest Rate: 19.95%
Rewards: 2% cash back on up to three categories of your choice (including dining), 0.5% on everything else.
Benefits: No annual fee, customizable rewards categories, no limits on cash back earned.
BMO® World Elite™ Mastercard®
Interest Rate: 20.99%
Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on dining, travel, and entertainment, 1 point on all other purchases.
Benefits: Comprehensive travel insurance, airport lounge access, concierge service.
Meridian Visa Infinite Cash Back Card
Interest Rate: 19.50%
Rewards: 4% cash back on dining and groceries, 2% on drugstores and recurring bills, 1% on all other purchases.
Benefits: Comprehensive travel insurance, mobile device insurance, and price protection.
Brim Financial Mastercard®
Interest Rate: 19.99%
Rewards: Up to 1% cash back on all purchases and additional rewards with Brim partners.
Benefits: No foreign transaction fees, mobile device insurance, extended warranty.
Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
Interest Rate: 19.99%
Rewards: 1.25% cash back on Walmart purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
Benefits: No annual fee, purchase protection, extended warranty.
Benefits of travel rewards cards
Travel rewards cards often come with generous sign-up bonuses, giving you a large number of points or miles after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months.
You can enjoy early boarding, allowing you to settle in and secure overhead bin space. Many travel cards offer free checked baggage, saving you money on airline baggage fees. Some cards provide complimentary access to airport lounges, offering a comfortable place to relax before your flight.
Travel cards can help you avoid extra fees on purchases made abroad. If you're booking international trips, no foreign transaction fees can make your international travel more affordable.
Some cards offer complimentary room upgrades at participating hotels. Enjoy late check-out times, giving you more flexibility with your travel plans. You may also earn free night stays at hotels through rewards redemptions or annual card benefits.
Earn additional rewards or enjoy special discounts for cheap flights when you use your card with specific travel partners, such as airlines, hotels, and car rental companies.
Redeem your points or miles for various travel options, including award flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages. Many travel rewards programs allow you to transfer points or miles to airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at favourable rates.
Sign up for a KOHO card today
From local trips to flying across the globe, KOHO’s virtual credit card lets you explore, make online transactions, and experience the world without worry. Earn up to 2% cash back on groceries, transportation, and dining out wherever you are, and enjoy bonus rewards when shopping with our brand partners.
Leverage our expert guidance and resources to track your spending against your budget and develop healthy financial habits for future success. For instance, request a free credit score report to ensure you’re building a good credit score and get valuable insights into areas for improvement.
Whether you’re interested in a high-interest savings account, overdraft protection coverage, or a prepaid card, our plans for spending and saving cater to various needs to help you manage your budget and earn interest.
Build your credit with KOHO today to strengthen your credit profile and qualify for the travel rewards credit card you need to travel comfortably.
About the author
Grace is a communications expert with a passion for storytelling. This hobby eventually turned into a career in various roles for banks, marketing agencies, and start-ups. With expertise in the finance industry, Grace has written extensively for many financial services and fintech companies.
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