Cheapflights is a travel search engine. It compares flight, hotel and car hire prices from airlines and online agencies, then sends you to that provider to book. Cheapflights itself does not sell the ticket, which shapes everything about using it well.
What decides whether a Cheapflights search ends in a good trip is the provider you click through to, the fare rules behind the headline price, and timing. The cheapest line on the results page is not always the best buy.
What Cheapflights actually does
Cheapflights is part of the same group as KAYAK, and it draws on similar price data. You enter a route and dates, Cheapflights queries many sellers, and it shows the results side by side.
When you pick a fare, Cheapflights hands you to the airline or agency. Your contract, payment, changes and refunds are with that seller, not with Cheapflights. Keep that in mind before booking the absolute lowest price from an agency you have never heard of.
Airline direct or agency: choosing the result
Where the Cheapflights results show the airline itself within a few pounds or dollars of an agency, book with the airline. Changes, cancellations and disruption help are usually simpler when the airline holds the booking.
Agencies sometimes beat the airline by a wider margin, especially on combined itineraries. If you take that deal, read the agency's change fees and reviews first, and check whether it charges a booking or card fee at the last step.
Cheapflights may show an estimated price that changes once you reach the seller. Always confirm the final total on the seller's page before paying.
Read the fare, not just the price
Basic economy fares found through Cheapflights often exclude a carry-on bag, seat selection and changes. A fare that looks cheaper can end up costing more than a standard ticket once bags are added.
Use the Cheapflights filters for stops, times and airlines, and check whether a connection involves an airport change or separate tickets. Self-transfer itineraries are cheap because you carry the risk of a missed connection.
Timing and fare alerts
Cheapflights offers price alerts on a route. Setting one a few months out lets you watch how the fare moves instead of guessing. There is no single best day to book; demand, season and the airline's own sales matter more.
Flexible-date views on Cheapflights show prices across a week or month. Shifting a trip by a day or flying midweek often saves more than any code. School holidays and big events push fares up everywhere.
Hotels and car hire on Cheapflights
The same comparison applies to hotels and cars. For hotels, compare the Cheapflights result with the hotel's own site, since direct rates can include breakfast or flexible cancellation.
For car hire, check the fuel policy, mileage and excess insurance, which change the true cost far more than the daily rate on the Cheapflights listing.
Before you pay the seller
Once Cheapflights hands you over, slow down. Check the passenger names match passports exactly, since name corrections can be costly with some sellers. Confirm the currency, because a fare shown in one currency and charged in another adds a card conversion fee.
Look at the seller's cancellation terms and whether it offers a free cancellation window on the booking. Pay by credit card where possible for the extra protection it can give.
After booking, add the airline's own booking reference to the airline app. That lets you pick seats, check in and get disruption updates directly, even when an agency found through Cheapflights made the sale.
Where the Cheapflights savings are
Because Cheapflights does not take payment, these codes work on the partner site you book with, and only when that partner honours them. Enter them at the seller's checkout and check the total drops before you pay.
The $50 code suits a flight or package booking large enough to meet any minimum. The $70 code looks aimed at a specific partner product, such as car hire; read the terms shown with it.
The 15% code is a KAYAK-linked percentage offer. Percentage codes of this kind usually apply to hotels rather than flights, and a cap may apply. On a large booking, check whether 15% beats the fixed amounts.
If none of the codes takes, the real saving on Cheapflights is the comparison itself, plus flexible dates and a fare alert.
Common questions
Do I book with Cheapflights or the airline?
With the airline or agency. Cheapflights compares and passes you to the seller, who holds your booking.
Why did the Cheapflights price change at checkout?
Prices are cached and seats sell. Always check the final total, including bags and fees, on the seller's page.
Are Cheapflights codes valid on every fare?
No. They depend on the partner and the product. Many apply only to hotels, packages or cars.
Is the cheapest Cheapflights result the best?
Not always. Add bags and seat fees, and weigh how easy the seller is to deal with if plans change.
| Brand | Best For | Highlight | Promo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calphalon | Similar deals and discounts | Active promo codes available | SEE DISCOUNT CODES → |
