Skyscanner

A travel search engine generally well regarded by users. Finda and compares flights, hotels, and car rentals. It works by searching various travel providers and presenting users with the best deals and allowing them to book directly with the provider. Offers features like ‘Everywhere’ searches to find cheap flights to various destinations and provides 24/7 support in 30 languages.

Features

Allows users to compare prices from various airlines and travel providers in one place. It offers features like "Everywhere" search, transparent pricing, price alerts, and the ability to search for hotels and rental cars, all within one app

Performance

Generally has good online tech performance, particularly in terms of speed and search functionality. Known for its fast search capabilities, serving up numerous flight options quickly. Additionally has invested in its technology to enable online-only communication, demonstrating its commitment to digital efficiency

Support

Receives mixed reviews. Some users praise responsiveness and helpfulness in resolving issues with third-party providers, others have reported negative experiences, including difficulty obtaining refunds or getting resolution for problems with bookings made through Skyscanner. Trustpilot score 4.4 out of 5 stars.

Pricing and value

Primarily acts as a price comparison tool, finding the best deals by searching various airlines and travel agents, but it doesn't always guarantee the lowest prices. Important to note that while Skyscanner can help you find potentially cheaper flights, this may be found by booking directly with the airline or through a travel agent.

Pro's

Wide range of options. Displays a variety of flight options, including those from different airlines and online travel agencies.
Price comparison. Allows users to easily compare prices from various different sources, potentially saving money.
Flexibility. Users can search for flights to "everywhere" or set multiple destinations, giving them flexibility when planning.
Alerts. Allows users to set up price alerts to track specific flights and get notified of any price changes.
No hidden fees. Claims to have no hidden fees, meaning the price displayed is the price the user pays.

Con's

Price fluctuations. Prices displayed in the search results can change after the initial search, and sometimes the price will be higher when booking.
Not all travel agents are included. Does not show ‘live’ prices from all major travel agents.
Questionable booking partners. While Skyscanner rates third-party booking sites, some of these have lower star ratings, which might raise concerns about their reliability or customer service.
Complex itineraries. Not always the best option for booking multi-stop or complex itineraries, where booking directly with the airline or using a travel agent could be more convenient.
Customer service issues: Some reported issues with customer service support, including difficulty unsubscribing from email lists.

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Google flights

Web-based flight search engine that compares prices from over 300 airlines and travel agencies. Assists users find the best deals by allowing flexible date searches, multiple airport comparisons, and real-time price tracking. NB: Does not book flights directly, it directs users to the airline or travel agency's website to complete their booking.

Features

Locates cheapest days to fly. Provides a date and price graph making it easy to see the best flight deals. Tracks prices for planned trip/s

Performance

Generally has good online tech performance for flight searches. Offers features like real-time price updates, price tracking, and detailed flight information. Only updates flight data once a day meaning might not always find the absolute cheapest fares.

Support

Not directly accessible as it's a search tool rather than a booking platform. While it can be a helpful tool for finding flights, it's not a booking service, so support isn't needed for booking or post-flight issues. Trustpilot score 2.9 out of 5 stars.

Pricing and value

Provides a powerful tool for finding and comparing flight prices, offering features like date grids and price graphs to help you identify the best deals. Generally recommended to compare prices across multiple booking platforms, including airlines.

Pro's

Speed and Efficiency. Known for its speed and user-friendly interface, allowing users to quickly search for flights and view various options.

Flexibility. Offers variable date and location searches, enabling users to find deals by exploring different dates and destinations.

Multi-City Search. Allows for multiple destination search, making it easier to plan multi-city trips.

Price Alerts and Guidance. Provides price alerts to notify users of fare changes and a pricing guidance tool to assess whether prices are high, low, or average.

Calendar View. Offers a calendar view to see the cheapest travel dates within a specified timeframe, helping identify potential deals.

Mobile-Friendly. Efficient design making it easy to use on both desktop and mobile devices.

Data-Driven Insights. Provides insightful data, such as price trends and historical data, to help users make informed decisions.

Book with Confidence. Does not sell flights directly, but rather directs users to the airline or Online Travel Agency (OTA) for booking, ensuring that users book directly with a trusted source.

Con's

Limited OTA Coverage. Primarily focuses on airline data and may not always find deals from smaller OTAs that offer lower fares or mistake fares.
Ghost Fares. Sometimes fares are displayed that are no longer available, leading to frustration when users try to book.
No Live Price Updates. Provides ‘real-time’ data but may not always display the most up-to-date prices, especially for smaller OTAs.
Booking Redirect. Sends/redirects users to third-party sites for booking, which may not always provide the most seamless booking experience.
Potential for Overwhelm. Large number of options displayed by Google Flights can sometimes be overwhelming for users, especially those new to flight searching.

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Kayak

A travel search engine that assists users to find and compare flight, hotel, rental car, and vacation package deals from a number of travel sites, acting as a metasearch engine, it gathers information from different providers then makes available to the user for comparison. Users can then choose to book directly with the travel provider or through another third-party site.

Features

Reliable online booking platform primarily used as a travel search engine, not a direct booking platform. It helps users find the best deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars by aggregating information from various providers. While Kayak provides a convenient way to compare prices and options, users are typically redirected to third-party websites to complete their bookings.

Performance

Offers application programme interface (API) which allows developers to access its data and integrate it into their own applications. The technology infrastructure enables facilitation of online booking and travel information access through this interface rather than a direct, internal ‘online booking tech performance’

Support

Does not offer direct customer support for booking issues with third-party providers; instead, customers are directed to the respective provider's contact information, which can be found on the booking confirmation. Trustpilot score 2.4 out of 5 stars

Pricing and value

Differs from other online booking services by acting as a search engine rather than a direct booking platform. It displays prices from various providers, including airlines, hotels, and other booking sites. Allows users to compare prices and book directly with the preferred provider, offering flexibility and potentially lower prices. However, there can sometimes be discrepancies in price availability and real-time updates compared to booking directly with the airline or hotel.

Pro's

Price Comparison. Assists users compare prices across multiple airlines for flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages.
Convenience. Easy to search for deals and find travel options from various providers.
Deal Finding. Provides help to find good deals and potentially save money on travel expenses.
Destination Insights. Assists with identifying the most economical time to travel to popular destinations.
Last-Minute Deals. Ability to explore last-minute deals from different starting points or based on specific interests like family vacations or beach getaways.

Con's

Not a Direct Booking Platform. Likelihood of being directed to the airline or another travel agency to complete your booking.
Credit Card Rewards. User may not receive specific credit card rewards or benefits depending on the airline ultimately booked with.
No Direct Support for Cruises. Kayak no longer offers cruise search and booking.
Reliance on External Booking Sites. User needs to be aware of specific platform or travel site booking with, as changes or issues may need to be addressed with them.

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Expedia group

A large online travel agency (OTA) that provides a wide range of travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages. Expedia Group own and operate numerous travel brands, including Expedia.com and Hotels.com. A a dominant force in the online travel market, particularly in the US

Features

Score = 0%

Features a large-scale travel booking system that allows users to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and vacation packages. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including personalized recommendations, flight alerts, and the ability to book package deals that combine different travel elements. For hoteliers, Expedia Partner Central provides tools to manage listings, interact with guests, and maximize visibility.

Performance

Score = 0%

Offers technology solutions for online booking, including Rapid API. Rapid API provides access to the Expedia Group’s vast global lodging inventory and technology for building shopping, booking, and post-booking experiences.

Support

Score = 0%

Received mixed reviews, with common complaints including difficulty obtaining refunds, long waiting times for support, unhelpful and unresponsive staff and issues with price discrepancies. Trustpilot score 2.9 out of 5 stars.

Pricing and value

Score = 0%

Generally competitive with other major online booking services like Booking.com and Wotif. While prices may vary slightly depending on specific properties and deals, they are often within a close margin. Offers package deals, which can provide discounts when combining flights, lodging, and car rentals.

Pro's

Wide Selection: Offers a vast range of hotels, flights, and vacation packages, making it very convenient to find a variety of travel options.
Comparisons: Platform allows users to easily compare and book flights, hotels, and other travel components in one place.
Group Travel: Availability of tools for booking group travel, allowing users to coordinate and manage reservations for multiple travellers.
Customer Care: Mixed reviews but praise given especially during challenging situations.
New Features: Constantly developing, adding features like reservation retrieval capabilities to enhance guest interaction and streamline operations.

Con's

Customer Service Issues: Number of users report difficulties with customer service, citing long wait times, unresponsive agents, and a lack of clarity in resolving issues.
Refund Issues: Some level of struggle for users to receive refunds or experience a delay.
Pricing and Booking Accuracy: Can be unreliable. Some users find advertised prices are not the final cost, or there are unexpected changes (or fees) to booking, not being honoured or deals are not as good as booking directly with the hotel or airline, or not honoured by hotels or airlines.

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Booking.com

A leading online travel agency (OTA) that connects travellers with a vast network of accommodations, including hotels, apartments, vacation rentals, and more. Allows users to search, compare, and book their stay, and it also provides options for flights, car rentals, and activities.

Features

Wide range of features including an app, a vast selection of properties, customizable search filters, user-generated reviews, and 24/7 customer support.

Performance

Offers a broad range of AI-powered solutions such as the AI trip planner tool and search filters, accommodation Q & A and the recently added, AI Tech Stack Advisor tool, developed by HotelTechReport.com.

Support

Available 24 hours a day. Promise to respond to booking queries within a reasonable time frame. Offer free calling for some countries e.g. New Zealand. Trustpilot score 2.4 out of 5 stars.

Pricing and value

Generally advertise having the lowest prices, but prices on different hotel booking sites tend to be quite similar because hotels share their data with multiple platforms.

Pro's

Wide Selection: Offers a vast array of accommodations, including hotels, apartments, vacation rentals, and more, catering to diverse preferences and budgets.
User-Friendly Interface: The website and app are designed for easy navigation and booking, making it convenient for travelers to find and reserve their stay.
User Reviews: Provides a platform for travellers to share reviews and ratings, helping others make informed decisions about their accommodation choices.
Free Cancellation Options: Offers free cancellation options up to a certain time before check-in, providing flexibility for travellers.
Genius Loyalty Program: Includes exclusive deals and perks to frequent users, including discounts and free upgrades.
Clear Pricing: Generally displays clear and transparent pricing, without hidden fees or reservation charges.

Con's

Pricing Fluctuations: Variation can be significant depending on demand, time of year, and other factors, and may not always be the lowest price available.
Customer Service Issues: Some users have reported difficulties with customer service, finding it challenging to get assistance with booking changes or cancellations.
Potential for Hotel Cancellations: Occasionally (but fairly uncommon) there have been instances where hotels have cancelled bookings made via Booking.com, leaving travellers stranded.

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