Flight booking apps are a dime a dozen these days, and all of them promise low fares and a great booking experience. However, with so many of them sharing similar features, figuring out which one to use can be challenging.
6 Best Apps for Booking Flights
We’ve made it easy for you by breaking down the six best apps and their unique features.
1. Secret Flying
You know those crazy low fares that your friends share on Facebook, but that disappear by the time you click on them? Use the Secret Flying app, and you won’t miss those deals again. Secret Flying lets you subscribe to flight alerts by region, city, or just all deals.
When super low fares or hotel rates appear, you’ll receive a notification from the app. In addition to subscribing to custom fare alerts, the app has a “trending” section that lets you scroll through all the best travel deals currently available.
2. Skyscanner
Skyscanner is an excellent app if you have specific travel dates and a budget in mind but no destination. The app’s “Explore” function populates a list of flight deals based on your travel dates and departure city. The resulting list includes cheap flights for destinations around the world, starting with the cheapest. This is great if you want to literally see how far you can travel on a budget.
Beyond the “Explore” feature, Skyscanner offers a powerful search engine that compares prices from various airlines and travel agencies. You can filter results by duration, number of stops, airlines, and more. Once you find a flight that fits your needs, Skyscanner redirects you to the airline or travel agent to complete the booking.
Skyscanner also has a price alert feature, which notifies you when the fare for your chosen route drops. This helps you book at the best possible price without constantly checking the app. Additionally, the app includes hotel and car rental searches, making it a comprehensive tool for planning your entire trip. With Skyscanner, you can also find inspiration for your next adventure with their curated travel guides and tips.
3. Hopper
Hopper is a data-driven app that predicts when fares may drop and when the best time is to book. Simply type in your departure city and destination, and Hopper will populate a color-coded calendar showing the cheapest flight dates. You can book flights, hotels, and rental cars right on the app or select “watch this app” to receive notifications when flight prices drop or when they’re about to increase.
Hopper features the major airlines in the US, Canada, and around the world. These airlines include Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, KLM, Lufthansa, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, WestJet, and many more.
For the indecisive, Hopper has a “Freeze” feature that lets you hold a fare price for up to 168 hours in exchange for a small deposit. For example, a $200 flight will cost you $8 to hold, per traveler. This fee is refunded if you end up booking before the 168 hours is up. Overall, Hopper is great if you’re looking for cheap flights and the flexibility to hold your ticket for up to a week.
4. Google Flights
Google Flights is a powerful tool for finding and comparing flight prices. It offers a clean and user-friendly interface where you can quickly see the best options for your travel dates. One of the standout features of Google Flights is its ability to show you the cheapest dates to fly by using a calendar view.
Additionally, Google Flights provides insights on how the price of airline tickets are expected to change, which can help you decide when to book. The app also lets you track specific flights and routes, sending you notifications when prices drop. With the integration of Google’s vast data resources, Google Flights offers reliable and comprehensive search results, making it a go-to app for many travelers.
A secret feature of Google Flights is its flexible destination search. Leave the destination blank and enter only your departure city and dates. This allows you to see flight prices to various destinations on a map, helping you discover affordable options you may not have considered. This is particularly useful for travelers who are open to exploring new places based on the best available deals.
5. Skiplagged
Skiplagged’s deals are so good the company got sued by United and Orbitz in 2014 for employing “hidden city ticketing.” For those who are unfamiliar with this tactic, hidden city ticketing involves booking a one-way ticket and ending your trip on the layover.
Why would anyone do this? Because sometimes fares are cheaper with another destination tacked on. This isn’t an actual example, but let’s say a flight from San Francisco to Dallas prices out at $250. You might find a cheaper fare if you instead book a ticket to New York that has a brief layover in Dallas. You’d simply get off the plane in Dallas and skip the connecting flight to New York.
Skiplagged brought this to the mainstream when it got used in 2014. A judge ruled against the airline, but airlines have policies against hidden city ticketing. The caveat? They have no way to prove that you booked a cheaper flight with no intention of completing the trip. Hence, Skiplagged continues to make hidden city ticketing a feature of its app, allowing users to save money in a unique and creative way.
6. Flights by StudentUniverse
If there is a student discount to be had, Flights by StudentUniverse will find it. This is an excellent flight search app for students looking for special discounts and all-around cheap flights.
The app is very intuitive and the flexible flight search function, in particular, is great for comparing fares across several dates. Flights by StudentUniverse also lets you book hotels, with student discounts automatically applied, when available.
In addition to flights and hotels, the app offers travel resources specifically tailored for students. You can find information on visa requirements, travel insurance, and destination guides. The app also includes tips on traveling on a budget, helping you find cheap eats, affordable accommodations, and free activities.
Another feature is the ability to join group trips, making it easier to coordinate travel plans with friends or classmates. This is especially useful for study abroad programs or volunteer projects.
Overall, Flights by StudentUniverse is a comprehensive travel app designed for students, offering a user-friendly interface, flexible search options, and exclusive discounted fares.
7. Tripit Pro
Tripit Pro isn’t technically a flight booking app, but it does come handy after the travel booking process. Keeping track of all your travel reservations can be challenging, especially if you have separate bookings.
The Tripit Pro app pulls all of your travel reservations from your email and compiles them into a single itinerary. Tripit will even send you notifications when it’s time to check in, board your flight, or if there are delays.
I can’t even count how many times Tripit Pro has notified me of a travel delay or gate changes before the airline even provided this information. Complicated travel itineraries can be tough to organize and keep track of. Tripit Pro makes it incredibly easy.
If you’d rather not pay the $49 annual fee for this service, the company has a free version you can use. It includes most of the same functionality. It’s still great for keeping all of your travel bookings in one place and receiving the occasional complimentary travel alert.
8. Kayak
Kayak is a well-known travel search engine that allows you to compare prices on flights, hotels, and car rentals. Its app provides robust search features and price alerts to help you find the best deals. Kayak’s “Explore” feature shows you where you can travel within your budget, which is great for spontaneous trips.
Kayak also offers a “Price Forecast” tool, predicting whether flight prices will go up or down, helping you decide the best time to book. Additionally, you can track your flight status, manage your itinerary, and receive gate change notifications through the app. Kayak’s comprehensive features make it a versatile tool for all your travel planning needs.
9. Going
Going, formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights, is a subscription-based service that alerts you to incredible flight deals. While it started as an email newsletter, it now offers a mobile app to make deal-hunting even more convenient. The app focuses on international and domestic flights, finding unadvertised sales and mistake fares that can save you hundreds of dollars.
Subscribers can set their home airport and receive notifications about the best flight deals. The premium service offers more frequent alerts and better deals, but even the free tier provides access to significant savings. Going is perfect for travelers who are flexible with their travel dates and destinations and want to take advantage of unexpected deals.
Why use a flight booking app?
Booking a flight can be a stressful and time-consuming experience, but with the best flight booking apps, the process can be easier and more convenient.
Find cheaper flights and save time
Flight booking apps can save you time by allowing you to compare fares from multiple airlines in one place, so you can quickly and easily find the best flight for your trip. In addition, many apps offer exclusive flight deals and discounts that can help you save money on airfare.
Stay organized and track your flight status
Flight apps can also help you stay organized and on top of your travel plans. Many apps store your booking information in one place, so you can easily access it when you need to make changes or view trip details. Some apps even allow you to track your flight status in real-time, so you can stay informed of any delays or schedule changes.
Make travel more enjoyable
Flight booking apps can also provide you with additional features to make your travel experience more enjoyable. For example, many apps offer seat selection and other amenities, such as in-flight entertainment, so you can customize your travel experience. Plus, some apps even offer rewards and loyalty programs, so you can earn points and discounts for future trips.
Resources and tips
With flight apps, you can also access various travel resources and tips. Many apps provide reviews and ratings of airlines, airports, and routes, so you can make an informed decision when booking your flight. Plus, you can also access travel advisories and other important information to help you prepare for your trip.
Overall, travel apps can help simplify the process of booking a flight and make your travel experience more enjoyable. With all the features and resources available, you can save time, money, and stress when booking your next flight.
Bottom Line
Using a flight booking app can transform your travel experience by saving you time, money, and stress. With features like fare alerts, flexible search options, exclusive discounts, and comprehensive travel planning, these apps make finding and booking flights more convenient than ever.
Whether you’re a student looking for budget-friendly options or a frequent traveler seeking the best deals, these apps have something to offer. Download one or more of these top flight booking apps and enjoy a smoother, more efficient travel planning process for your next trip.
