Flight prices can be notoriously volatile and it can be hard to know the optimal time and place to buy tickets. But apps exist that can help track price changes and identify deals such as mistake fares or free upgrades.
Momondo is a well-known mobile tool that searches major airlines as well as low-cost carriers, enabling users to set alerts for specific dates or browse a price graph.
Kayak
Kayak, owned by Booking Holdings, provides travelers with several features to help them secure flight deals. For instance, users can search flights by precise dates or add flexibility by letting its search engine compare prices on different days. Kayak also offers package searches which could save them money by bundling plane tickets with accommodations, car rentals and experiences.
Kayak offers filters such as airline alliance (to make using elite status benefits easier), price range, aircraft cabin and layover airports. Furthermore, its “Hacker Fare” feature searches cheaper prices by booking two one-way tickets instead of round trips. Kayak also has mobile-friendly versions and provides exclusive hotel discounts – though these won’t earn loyalty points with some credit cards.
Momondo
Momondo is one of the premier flight metasearch engines. With an intuitive user interface and results displayed in a matrix-style grid format, Momondo allows users to quickly assess what airfare costs on specific dates. Furthermore, Momondo displays top results quickly to narrow down search options quickly.
Momondo stands out with its “Flight Insights.” This tool offers detailed reports about what factors are driving ticket prices and when might be an ideal time to purchase tickets.
Momondo can also be used to search for hotels, car rentals and travel packages. While its search capabilities may be slower due to gathering data from hundreds of sites simultaneously, Momondo provides greater date flexibility than Google Flights can often misses and can uncover deals Google Flights doesn’t reveal.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is widely known for its flight search features, but they also provide other useful tools that can assist with finding the perfect deal. Their ‘Everywhere’ search allows users to enter their departure city and then provide a range of destinations within that price bracket.
This site gives users access to a global distribution system of prices, providing access to real-time airline and OTA prices as well as providing an effective tool that lets users set price alerts for certain dates or routes.
Noteworthy is their display of fares both calendar and chart format, making it easy to quickly identify the most economical days and months for travel. Plus, last-minute booking is made easier.
Dollar Flight Club
Dollar Flight Club is a digital subscription service that alerts subscribers to amazing airfare deals. Imagine having someone keep an eye on airline fares and let you know when prices have drastically reduced! It’s like having your own personal airfare expert helping keep an eye out and inform when deals become available!
Mobile Passport Plus isn’t cheap, but it can help you quickly locate deals without spending all day checking price tracking websites. Plus, its premium version provides even more discounts – such as notifications for business or first-class seats as well as 20% off an annual membership of Mobile Passport Plus that lets you skip customs lines at international airports!
This service is ideal for travelers with flexible dates and destinations who are open to discovering great flights to Barcelona, Cancun or Bilbao that they might not have found otherwise.
Going
Flight prices fluctuate constantly and tracking them can be tricky business. Some apps like Google Flights and Hopper offer price tracking with alerts; Hopper can keep an eye on specific flights or an entire area and send email notifications if it predicts price changes; for instance.
Skyscanner and Going Places are also mobile apps to consider; similar to KAYAK, both search fares across multiple airlines and travel sites and provide users with a selection of options. Skyscanner allows users to monitor specific flights by entering departure/return dates; however, its app does not feature Southwest flights and directs travelers instead to a third-party booking service for purchase.
Going Places provides free membership that lets you monitor deals from your home airport, while its premium version allows for tracking up to 10 airports and offering alerts for business-class and first-class seats as well as mistake fares as well as providing estimates for how long a deal will remain active.
