[Matrix Airfare Search] How to find the cheapest airfares - all airlines

[Tobias]

This is a website I use regularly to find the best fares for a particular trip I am needing to take. As I have a high status with BA I restrict my searches to oneworld Alliance airlines.

The website is great for finding fares either for specific dates, or over a period of up to a month for any length of stay. Those who are in a specific airline alliance or prefer to fly with a specific airline from a specific airport can do that with accurate results. It will provide results from/to any commercial airport worldwide - particularly useful for those looking for the cheapest option to bring a partner/family member from BKK to any UK airport.

Once you have your results you are then able to filter them to find the best flights that suit your criteria.

You cannot book from the site, it merely checks the flights from the airlines, you then contact the airline direct (website/phone) or use your usual travel agent booking site.

The website only provides results for 'published' fares so any special 'bucket' fares will not be shown.

It's saved me thousands over the years - happy hunting!

Matrix Airfare Search

[ian1208]

This is a good search engine that compares in real time what the airlines direct price is and what the likes of netflights, opodo, and skyscanner etc are pricing at. All in one place but although I personally have compared and went directly, I am having doubts on what is genuine and what is inflated because of your location when searching.
Without exception for a scheduled flight, the airlines direct has always been cheaper for me from Scotland.

http://www.google.co.uk/flights/

SINCE POSTING AND THEN HAVING A LOOK AT TOBIAS'S LINK, DISCOUNT GOOGLE SEARCH AS TOBIAS'S LINK IS 1ST CLASS

[Tobias]

I never use those online travel booking sites or click-throughs as you are not necessarily getting the airlines' best fares for the dates in question. There is a commercial relationship between the advertiser and the search-engine.

With the ITA Matrix software there is no commercial relationship at all so the results are simply the lowest prices and routings available at the time of the search.

I should point out that many low cost airlines do not publish their fares and so they are not be shown in the Matrix results.

[Natty]

Just had a look with dept in November for 14 day stay and BA came in lowest at £598 with the next cheapest Thai at £940, a huge saving, prices include taxes etc.
Double checking for a Thai discounted net fare there is one available for the same dates @ £634.00 so still a saving there.

[Kingy]

BA have a sale at the moment. You have to book before September 24th to get the £598 seats

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...FWOWtAodtVUAfg

[prikphet]

That means the sprog's passport will be returned on September 25th...

[prioritypress]

Is it not the same as Skyscanner?


Nick

[Linne]

Looking at it I would say that SS is a bit more flexible and gives promos etc

[colin244]

This is the go compare and the like of airline prices but very good Mr T.

colin 244

[Tobias]

Is it not the same as Skyscanner?

No. There is no commercial relationship with the airlines and there are no clock-through links top the airlines. What you find on the ITA Matrix are all the published fares offered direct by the airlines. You would then visit the airline's website or contact your usual web or high street travel agent to book the ticket. Results are not affected by commercial interests - it is raw, live data with a complete list of available flights and fares.

You will not find the bucket fares on that website at bucket fares are not 'published' fares.

Looking at it I would say that SS is a bit more flexible ..

Why would you say that? The ITA Matrix in a very versatile and powerful searching tool.

[prioritypress]

There is one thing I would like to know if it could do...

Eg. Cathay Pacific are offering specials to Japan for £549.

No matter how hard I look I can't find any dates with those prices.

Is there a way to use this (or other website) to find the lowest price not dependent on date?


Nick

[ash]

November - December

Include overnight flights

lhr - tokyo











Options marked contain overnight flights. Choose your departure date.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 1 £602 2 £586 3 £594 4 £578 5 £578 6 £578 7 £578 8 £583 9 £618 10 £578 11 £578 12 £577 13 £577 14 £578 15 £588 16 £587 17 £552 18 £577 19 £575 20 £575 21 £577 22 £587 23 £575 24 £552 25 £552 26 £575 27 £575 28 £575 29 £552 30 £552

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 £552 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

[prioritypress]

Yes...cheapest prices...But not Cathay Pacific only - which is showing £5k?

Like I've said - their website states they have a far of £549 - yet I can't find one date with it!


Nick

[ash]

Probably sold out they don't have that fare on the Cathay Pacific Website looks like it finished

[millermac]

My flights I booked last week are more expensive on the link than the price I paid to WestEast Travel

[Sawyer]

This works really well! Looking to fly out late Jan/Feb. Found some flights £490 with Etihad.

Whenever I use skyscanner half the prices it throws up are links to duff 'super cheap flights honest guv' websites.

[Boydio]

The biggest problem is trying to combine two searches. For example, I'm trying to book a return flight for me (MAN-BKK-MAN) but also a return flight for Mrs Boydio (BKK-MAN-BKK). BA are significantly cheaper for her, but very expensive for me.

Why is nothing ever simple?

[colin244]

Why is nothing ever simple?

Thats life mate

colin 244

[prikphet]

The biggest problem is trying to combine two searches. For example, I'm trying to book a return flight for me (MAN-BKK-MAN) but also a return flight for Mrs Boydio (BKK-MAN-BKK). BA are significantly cheaper for her, but very expensive for me.

Why is nothing ever simple?

I'm trying to do similar but with a Infant on Lap thrown in, my god its difficult some airlines seem to charge full price for a little one the size of hand luggage (but lighter) !

[Tobias]

I'm trying to do similar but with a Infant on Lap thrown in, my god its difficult some airlines seem to charge full price for a little one ...

Have you tried the Matrix search?


Posted from an iPhone so what you read may not necessarily be what I typed!