Detailed Review
Skyscanner's mobile application serves as an aggregator for travel services, positioning itself as a comprehensive tool for trip planning rather than a direct booking platform. The app scans hundreds of airline, hotel, and car rental websites to present consolidated options, saving users the effort of checking multiple sources individually. This approach has established Skyscanner as a popular starting point for travel research, particularly among price-conscious travelers who value comparison shopping.
The core functionality revolves around three main components: flight search with flexible date calendars, hotel filtering by neighborhood and amenities, and car rental comparisons by vehicle type and company. Unique features include price alerts for specific routes, 'Everywhere' search for spontaneous travelers, and multi-city trip planning. The flight search implementation stands out with its month-view calendar that visually displays pricing trends, helping users identify the most economical travel dates. Hotel searches integrate map views showing property locations relative to landmarks, while car rental comparisons include transparent pricing that accounts for additional fees.
In practical use, the app performs efficiently for research phases but requires handing off to partner sites for actual bookings. This transition sometimes introduces minor inconsistencies in pricing, though the app generally maintains accurate initial quotes. The interface organizes complex travel data logically, with filters that help narrow options by price, duration, stops, or airline alliance. Real-world testing shows the app works particularly well for international travel planning, where price variations between providers can be substantial. The 'Save Search' functionality proves valuable for monitoring price fluctuations over weeks or months.
User feedback consistently praises the price comparison capabilities and comprehensive search results. Travelers report successfully finding deals that weren't visible on other platforms, especially for international routes and last-minute bookings. Some reviews mention occasional synchronization issues where prices change during the transfer to booking partners. The app's notification system for price drops receives positive comments for its reliability, though a small number of users note that the frequency of alerts can become excessive during active travel planning.
Overall assessment acknowledges Skyscanner as a robust research tool with some limitations in the booking experience. The strength lies in aggregating options and identifying pricing patterns, while the weakness involves the handoff process to external sites. The app delivers significant value during the planning phase but functions best when users understand it's primarily a discovery tool rather than a complete booking solution. The occasional UI lag when loading complex search results represents a minor tradeoff for the depth of information provided.
Perfect for: Travelers who prioritize finding the best deals and don't mind booking through various provider sites