Which Website is the Cheapest for Flight Booking in India?

Mohit had a plan to celebrate a long weekend. So, he wanted to book a flight from Delhi to Mumbai without burning a hole in his pocket. As it happens with most travellers these days, he also opened a couple of tabs, like Goibibo, ixigo, Skyscanner, Travomint, MakeMyTrip, etc. expecting that one of them would offer him the lowest price. 

To his findings, every flight booking platform that he tried kept changing prices dynamically. 

One site looked cheaper at first but added fees later whereas another one displayed a lower rate but redirected him to a third-party platform where the rate was different. Within a few minutes of his intensive search, he finally came to his conclusion that the very notion of 'cheapest website' for booking a flight is just a mirage. There is no ‘cheapest’ OTA or aggregator offering the 'most affordable' deal on the flight booking in India.

This is not the experiential journey of Mohit alone. Countless travellers like him almost have similar experiences. In this context, this blog serves as a guidebook for you to understand the crux of finding the cheapest website, where to book and how to get the lowest fare. 

What does the cheapest flight really mean?

Before we make a comparative analysis on different flight booking platforms, let's understand the meaning of 'cheapest’ flight first. 

Websites like Travomint, Goibibo, EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip are online travel agencies (OTAs), allowing you to search and book tickets directly. They don't redirect you to a third-party booking platform, which happens in the case when you choose websites like Skyscanner, KAYAK, Momondo. They are actually metasearch engines to compare flight prices across different travel platforms and redirect you to a third-party booking platform. 

Now where the prices get tricky is mentioned in the following ways;

• At first, a website may display a low flight rate but adds convenience fees later.
• Another website may offer discount coupons or cashback.
• Some websites may have exclusive partnerships with airline companies (e.g. Travomint).
• The flight booking prices may change dynamically, depending on time, demand, or on your search behavior.

Based on what we have discussed so far, we gather that the cheapest price is not about the number you see, it is the final price you pay in reality. 

A quick comparison of who is doing what in terms of flight booking

Analysis of the flight-booking platforms based on how Mohit's experience

Goibibo - The discount hub

When Mohit started with Goibibo, he found that the website offered a list of attractive prices, and there was a coupon applied instantly. Then came cashback (e.g. GoCash), signifying, to his expectation, that his trip was going to be a bit cheaper, until he noticed a convenience fee creeping in. But that was okay, as he was still getting a cheaper price after applying coupons and cashback. 

So, his conclusion then was that while Goibibo may be cheaper for the last minute bookings due to aggressive discounts, it is not always guaranteed. That means he got the hunch not to depend on one platform for flight booking.

ixigo - A tool for smart travel planning

Next, Mohit tried ixigo, expecting this would get him the cheapest deal for his purpose. While everything was okay during the course of booking, he came across something like "Prices are likely to drop", which caused him to take a pause right there. He realised that the website's strength was price prediction and alerts. It doesn't sell you tickets directly but helps you decide when to book, a useful insight considered more valuable than finding an instant cheap deal. 

According to Mohit, ixigo is a platform that helps you make an informed decision about when to book, avoid overpaying, and do not book in a hurry if you happen to plan your trip in advance. While Goibibo helped him with the discounts, this one helped him the right time to book.

Skyscanner - A metasearch for a broader picture

When Mohit tried Skyscanner, he found that the platform was useful in the context of helping him find a wide range of options across dates and airlines, even highlighting the cheapest day to fly. He found that the website is useful for travellers who are flexible with time. According to him, Skyscanner is not only good for helping you find cheap flights, it helps you rethink your travel plan to save money. 

Travomint - The unexpected contender

When Mohit came across Travomint and used the OTA, nothing turned out interesting at first. But then the platform walked him through competitive fares on certain travel routes, sometimes matching or even better than other platforms he came across in his hunt for cheapest flight booking prices. However, the experience varied. Sometimes he came across the best deal, other times not the best. 

He also realised something important here, that Travomint was authorised by recognised associations like IATA, ADTOI and IATO, concluding it as a legit company. He also realised that the OTA was highly rated (3.7) on TrustPilot for its smooth booking process and supportive customer service. Moreover, he gathered that Travomint can occasionally surface deals far better than others and is also trusted for excellent customer support.

EaseMyTrip - A silent saver

When Mohit tried EaseMyTrip, nothing stood out in a way that would have caught his attention. Simple interface with listed offers and option to book flights, hotels, trains, buses, cabs, etc. However, his initial perception of landing on a website with a simple interface changed remarkably when he came across no convenience fee. It was something that made him realise that it was a silent winner, because it did not lure him with discounts and then added fees later. Just a plain message with the potential of making your final booking step cheaper. 

MakeMyTrip - Costlier but trustworthy

Mohit tried MakeMyTrip to find the cheapest deal on his flight booking from Delhi to Mumbai. What he found was that the price was slightly higher than most platforms, but it offered something that travellers always crave for - the trust! It came with excellent customer support, smooth booking experience, and reliability. The experience of coming across these made him realise that even though the website's pricing is slightly higher, these ancillaries make it a preferred choice for travellers.

Why is no website always the cheapest?

Mohit's hunt for the cheapest website for flight booking was not restricted to those websites above-mentioned. He also tried as many as 15 platforms and finally came up with an interesting finding that most travellers often ignore. It was the realization that flight pricing is dynamically adjusted. Therefore, what you see in the current moment is going to change in fleeting seconds. 

Realities behind the cheapest deal on flight booking:

• Pricing changes according to demand and timing.
• Airliners may offer exclusive deals on some platforms.
• Pricing can also be influenced based on your location.
• The same site can reflect varying prices within minutes.
• Sometimes, booking directly from an OTA can help you get the cheaper deal compared to a third-party platform.

Conclusion is - there is no exact parameter on which we can decide which website is the cheapest for flight booking.

Are cheap flights engineered?

It is true that cheap flights are engineered by way of employing sophisticated algorithms, dynamic pricing models, and certain business strategies aiming to maximise revenue by filling seats. Prices are adjusted demand-wise, competition, and booking speed using AI-driven dynamic pricing algorithms, and factors like low-cost carrier (LCC) models, and data-driven booking times. 

How to get the cheapest deal on your flight booking

In Mohit's case, he tried different methodologies until he devised a unique one that worked in his favor. First of all, he compared prices across three platforms. He used incognito mode to avoid price tracking, checked ixigo alert before booking, and browsed through flexible dates at Skyscanner. He maintained the caution of verifying the final checkout price, including fees, applied credit card discounts. He didn't forget to cross-check the airline's official website. 

Which flight booking website should you choose for cheapest pricing?

To answer this question, you need to decide the kind of travellers you are. For example, if you love discounts, go for Goibibo or EaseMyTrip. If you plan ahead, try ixigo. If you are flexible with dates, try Skyscanner, and if you value trust and confidence, try MakeMyTrip. The point is, every flight booking platform serves a different purpose. As a traveller, do not stick to specific ones. 

Winding up

Finding the cheapest flight booking website in India is not necessarily going to get you the cheapest deal on your flight booking. The flight pricing is dynamically adjusted based on demand, cookies, location, and platform-specific factors. 

Airline companies also use AI-powered algorithms to adjust fares instantly. Even metasearch engines like Skyscanner may show different results based on their partnerships, thereby making the best price totally subjective and transitory. At the end of the day, the 'cheapest' deal on flight booking is not tied to a single website. It depends on how and when you book. 

FAQs:

Which app gives the cheapest flight tickets in India?

There is no such app that can actually give you the cheapest flight ticket in India. It varies by routes, timing and offers.

Is booking directly from airlines more affordable?

It could be sometimes, when you do so during airline-specific sales like cheaper base fares, etc.

Which day is the cheapest to book flights?

Bookings on Tuesday/Wednesday often have lower fares. The best time for booking is early morning (5 am to 8 am). Also, ensure booking for domestic flights is 1-3 months earlier, and for international flights, it should be 3-6 months earlier.

Do flight prices increase when you search repeatedly?

There is no proof to support this claim. Price fluctuation happens in real-time based on high demand, seat availability, and algorithmic based adjustments.

Should I book at night to get a cheaper deal on flight booking?

There is no guarantee to grab a cheaper deal when booking at night, but late night lower-deals appear occasionally.