Alternative Flight Search Engines: Skyscanner

Now, we are starting with the most obvious and perhaps the most well known flight comparison website that there is, we are of course talking about Skyscanner!

Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2003, Skyscanner was the original trailblazer when it comes to flight comparison websites, and stands out to this day for its user friendly interface and the ever useful ‘Everywhere’ search feature, ideal for those who just want to get away!

Another excellent feature utilised by Skyscanner is their price alert system. Perfect for budget conscious travellers, this option allows the user to sign up for notifications detailing prices drops on your preferred routes!

But, as we’ve discussed at great length in one of our previous blogs, The Top 11 Skyscanner Alternatives, there is a world beyond Skyscanner, and indeed Google Flights…
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A ‘Different’ Google Flights Alternative

When we say different, we don’t mean that the wheel has been reinvented by any means. All we mean is that we’re looking beyond the world of just a flight search engine.

Enter TripAdvisor. Now, we know what you’re thinking, TripAdvisor is just that website with all the reviews of tourist destinations and things to do when you’re on holiday, right? Wrong!

It may have escaped your notice, but TripAdvisor features an intuitive flight search functionality, aptly named TripAdvisor Flights. And we must say, that is flight search functionality is almost as impressive as its review’s platform!

They integrate user reviews of both airlines and airports into the search process, which we must admit is something that we’ve not seen before, a true unique feature, to provide a holistic view of the whole travel experience.

Additionally, they also boast a ‘Flight Score’ feature, where real users have had an input into the ratings of flights based on factors such as in-flight services, amenities and legroom. Not bad eh?

Take a look at TripAdvisor Flights
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Google Flights Alternatives: Comprehensive Travel Solutions

Here, we will take a deeper look into two options that are more than just flight compassion tools, they are comprehensive travel solutions. We’re talking about Expedia and Kayak.
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Expedia are known as one of the biggest names within the B2C (business to consumer) travel industry. And they are more than just a flight comparison site, they are a full fledged travel agency.

Their strength lies in the fact that you are able to book package deals, potentially allowing the end user to save hundreds of pounds on the total cost of their trip by bundling flights, hotels, car rentals, and much more. They also rewards frequent travellers via their reward program, which allows you to save up to 10% of your favourite hotels around the world.

Take a look at Expedia
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Kayak is another option that excels in offering comprehensive travel solutions, not just flights.

The feature that really sets Kayak apart is its 'Price Predictor', which uses historical data to advise whether you should book now or wait. This is a feature that is really handy for those looking to travel on a budget, where savings on flights can have a big impact of the remaining budget for activates at their final destination.

We also liked its 'Explore' feature. A great option for spontaneous travellers, as it suggests destinations for you based on your budget!

Again, they offer more than just flights, also being able to help users find hotels, hostels, holiday packages, and hire cars.

You might also know that Kayak is the tip of the iceberg, in that they operate an umbrella of smaller travel companies beneath them.

Take a look at Kayak
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Our Very Own Google Flights Alternative

So, this section is about Moonsand (that’s us!), and we’ll prove to you that you don’t need to go to one of the big names in the flight search engines industry to find a good alternative to Google Flights!

Unlike many of the other players in the field, we’re genuinely in this for the love of travel, and we make it out mission to ensure that regular people like me and you can source the cheapest possible flight options, to allow them to properly enjoy their holiday while they’re away!

How do we do this? Well, as a metasearch platform, for each flight search query, we source results from hundreds of trusted, vetted providers to get the end user the best deal possible!

We also like to help you out as much as possible, which is why we give you an estimate on how much your checked baggage will cost as well!

Check out our section on ‘Is Google Flights the Cheapest’ below for proof that we really do offer flights at better rates that some of the biggest names in the business!

Oh, and did we mention that if you find a flight cheaper than we’re offering, you’ve just got to let us know!

Head over to our flights page to compare your future flights!

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Other Google Flights Alternatives

Aside from ourselves, Skyscanner, Expedia and TripAdvisor Flights, there are countless other Google Flights Alternatives out there, and in this section we will give you a brief roundup of a few of them.

• Momondo – as a subsidiary of the KAYAK travel group, Momondo is another option to give some serious consideration too. They specialise in sourcing flights, at excellent rates, to some of the lesser known, but still fantastic destinations around the world.
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• Compare Flights – if convenience is your thing (and you have an iOS device), then you may want to take a look at Compare Flights. They have one of the best mobile apps out there for flight comparison and booking, meaning you literally have cheap flights at your fingertips, wherever you are! Another great Google Flights alternative.
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• Travelocity – now, we’ve already mentioned the KAYAK travel group, but did you know that Expedia also have a travel group? Well, they do, and Travelocity are one of the businesses under their umbrella. They bill themselves as being an all-in-one holiday booking tool, featuring flight, hotel, care rental and holiday activity options, all wrapped up in money saving holiday packages!
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• Kiwi.com – our final Google Flights alternative is Kiwi.com, whose website features a clean and user friendly layout. They also offer daily deals, and travel alerts to help users get a good deal! But the standout feature is that they link directly with a certain booking.com, meaning you can book your hotels and flights at the same time. Conveniently, they also cover you in the event of flight delays or changes to your schedule through their guarantee.
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Is Google Flights the Cheapest?

As we already know, not all flight search engines have been created equal. And, with every flight comparison website out there seemingly claiming to have the cheapest flights and best deal, here at Moonsand, we decided to put some of these claims to the test!

We’ll point you back to our previous blog again, The Top 11 Skyscanner Alternatives, and the price comparison we carried out when writing that piece.

We used our own platform (Moonsand), Google Flights and Skyscanner, and searched for flights from London to New York, and back again, on the 1st of March 2024 with the return on the 8th of March 2024… The results, if you didn’t read them previously, might surprise you!

• Google Flights – came in at a reasonable £412
• Skyscanner – came in at a whopping £426
• Moonsand – came in at a much more affordable £362

So, if you’re looking to save a bit of extra spending money for when you arrive at your chosen destination, remember that Google Flights is not the cheapest option and book your flights with us!
In the bustling world of travel, Google Flights is often considered to be THE go-to tool for booking and comparing flights.
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But, for any other traveller wondering if there are better deals out there, who are perhaps seeking out Google Flights alternatives, we’re here to tell you that there most certainly are alternatives to Google Flights available on the web!

Not only are there alternatives, but there are boundless options, many of which offer features and functionality that Google Flights simply cannot match!

From user friendly features to better deals, sit back and relax, as we take you through our list of alternative flight search engines that prove once and for all that there are indeed Google Flights alternatives to be found!