Skyscanner vs. Google Flights: Which Travel Website Offers Better Deals on Flights?

SKYSCANNER 

Skyscanner, a metasearch engine, scours through multiple airlines and travel agencies to uncover flight deals. With the ability to search based on various criteria such as dates, destinations, and passenger count, it provides a versatile and user-friendly flight search experience. Additionally, the flexible search option enables you to explore flights within a range of dates, simplifying the hunt for the most economical fares. Should you have any questions or concerns, Skyscanner offers a convenient contact number, connecting you with their helpful representatives who are ready to address your queries and provide assistance.

PROS:

1. Search by cheapest: "cheapest month features allows users to find the cheapest fares within a particular month and the "evreywhere" as the destination. 
2. Last-minute dates:detects great budget-friendly last-minute flights.
3. Works with smaller OTAs: Skyscanner search includes smaller OTAs therefore, is usually able to find the lowest flight price.
4. Price Alerts: it provides a convenient price alert feature, alerting you whenever there is a change in flight prices. This ensures that you can seize the opportunity to book your tickets at the most favorable price available. So, not only can you find budget airlines, but you can also stay updated with price fluctuations, maximizing your chances of securing the best possible deal for your journey.

CONS:

1. Ghost fares: just like many others, sometimes you see a great price only for it to disappear when try to book.
2. Might not be cheapest: while Skyscanner often fins the best prices available, it's not a guarantee, so it's best to compare results against the same search on other flight search engines.
3. Lacks automation: the prices you see are generated using other users' previous searches. It works quite well for popular destinations. However, if the destination is not popular, you won't see any price info on the calendar view. While still searchable, you can't compare all dates in one calendar and need to go back and forth with selecting the dates.
4. Questionable OTAs: sometimes the best price comes from a smaller OTA you've never heard before. To be on the safe side, it's best to do a little background search before placing a booking. 

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Google Flights, a popular flight search engine, offers customizable search options based on dates, destinations, and passenger count. It also features a price tracker alert for flight price changes. Just like Skyscanner, for any assistance, you can contact their support team via the Google Flight contact number. You can find out more about Google flights and how to use it in the most efficient way on our blogpost - Google Flights Guidance: How To Find Cheap Flights. 

PROS

1. Fare View Calendar: Google Flights has a simple, clear and user-friendly calendar view where you can see the cheapest fare over the next 12 months. 
2. Multiple airports: look for the lowest fare between seven origins and seven destinations. 
3. Map View: see the cheapest place to fly from your airport in the Explore Map. 
4. Price Graph: it shows the graph that indicates whether the price is high, low or average for your chosen dates. It will also show you the carbon footprint of each flight.
5. Booking directly with the airline through Google Flights option. While you might find other options to book through third-party websites, there's great value in avoiding intermediaries when reserving flights. Dealing directly with airline agents ensures a more comfortable experience and reliable customer service compared to some smaller online travel agencies. 

CONS

1. Ghost Fares: again, like many others, you might come across an enticing price that mysteriously vanishes when you attempt to book.
2. Other online travel agencies (OTAs) sometimes have negotiated special deals with airlines, providing deeply discounted flights not found on Google Flights.
3. Not All Airlines Seen: some airlines, like Southwest, Air China, China Eastern, and Thai Airways, choose not to display their fares on Google Flights or other search engines.
4. No Mistake Fares: most mistake fares are shown on smaller online travel agency websites which Google Flights fail to search.
5. Missing Fares: Google searches for fares sold directly by the airlines and only includes a few OTAs, for example, Expedia or Orbitz. Smaller OTAs might offer a better price, undetected by Google Flights. 

In the end, the choice between Skyscanner and Google Flights boils down to your preferences and travel requirements. Both platforms offer valuable features to secure you the finest deals & both shows the most annoying ghost fares. Take a closer look at their benefits, assess your specific travel needs, and use the search engine that aligns better with your preferences to finalize your booking.