[分析] 找尋最好的機票網上搜尋器Finding the best flight search engine

簡單的買一張機票，原來也可以有很多學問。

機票加上酒店往往是旅遊最大的成本，如果能找到合適而且便宜的機票，其他旅途上的洗費也可以寬裕很多。大部分的人也會有自己獨特的一套方法，有些人會聯絡相熟的旅遊公司提供想去的時間和目的地，旅遊公司就會報價，有些人會到網上搜尋自由行套票或是獨立的機票。

本人相信最便宜的機票往往都是在網上找到的，如果要經人手的話，一定有手續費用，那一定比無需人手的網上訂票貴。那市面上有這麼多的機票搜尋器網，應該怎麼去利用呢？

我最常的找機票方法是：
視乎要去的地方，如果是由香港出發，通常都是
1. 先到Zuji去找，因為Zuji有Flexible search的功能，讓你一看就可以比較定下的出發日子前後三天的機票價格，然後因應價錢去選擇合適的時間和航空公司
2. 有時候這些搜尋器未必準確，所以一定會再到那家航空公司的網站去看有沒有更便宜的機票
3. 由於Zuji沒有廉價航空的機票，所以也會到相關的廉價航空網站格價

這是我用了差不多六七年的方法，我想是時候因網上有更多更好用的搜尋器，去改變一下我的習慣。

問題1: Zuji能找到最低價格的機票嗎？Zuji是否覆蓋所有航空公司？

市面上有超過數十個機票網上搜尋器，主要有以下兩個類別：

1. 只有搜尋器的功能，搜尋各大網上機票訂購網站，比較它們提供的價錢，然後可以連結到付費網站
   – SmarterTravel (能搜尋超過四十個訂票網，包括Expedia, Kayak, CheapOair, Orbitz, Tripadvisor等等，要打開數個新視窗顯示)
   – Kayak (比較過百個訂票網，還可以設定price alert，在搜尋結果上顯示不同訂票網的價錢以作比較，十分好用)
   – Hipmunk (搜尋結果以timeline的形式顯示，方便以飛行時間為首以條件的旅客)
   – Farecompare (分開數個視窗顯示，不太好用)
   – Tripadvisor (搜尋結果理想)
   在這個類別，最多好評的是Kayak，最受矚目的是Hipmunk

   

   

2. 像Zuji一樣的機票訂購網站也有得多，最多人選用的有
   – Expedia
   – Orbitz (和CheapTickets，ebooker是同一個公司)
   – Travelocity (Zuji的母公司，Zuji是亞洲版)
   – Priceline (剛收購了Kayak)
   如果用上了第一個類別的搜尋器如Kayak，就不需要用上第二個類別的。
   所以要選一個覆蓋得最多的，應該會是Kayak。

   

問題2: 現在廉航十分普遍，哪這些搜尋器包不包廉航？怎樣訂廉航機票？

找廉航的最大麻煩，就是不知道哪一家廉航飛哪一條路線，又不想逐家去找。有一站式的廉航搜尋器嗎？
有一家We go low (http://www.wegolo.com/)好像是專門搜廉航，不過我試了數次有找不到AirAsia的機票，而且介面不太好用，有待改善。

亞洲區的廉航還不算複雜，每一家廉航主要經營三至四個國家的特定航線。
Tiger和Jetstar的航班都可以經以上機票搜尋器(e.g. Tripadvisor, Travelocity)找得到。
AirAsia暫時只在Expedia才有，所以如果要去的目的地是AirAsia的航線，就要到官網才有。
詳細的各個廉航的航線，可以參考我的一篇關於廉航的分析。(https://worldtravelholics.com/2012/08/09/lccairlineanalysis/)

歐洲區的廉航比較複雜，比較大的EasyJet和RyanAir的航線跟一家大型航空公司差不多多。而且每一次到歐洲時間都可能會去久一點和多去幾個國家，所以行程計劃會變得複雜一點。而且坐廉航可能比坐火車便宜，也不會因交通要太久而限定了一個旅程只可去附近的國家。我的一個行程就是先去倫敦，再去愛丁堡，然後到里斯本，最後回倫敦。以倫敦和基地，是因為香港到倫敦的機票比起到歐洲的其他地方是最便宜的。
想知道要去的地方有沒有廉航，可以用http://www.whichbudget.com/，打進你的出發地和目的地就找到哪一個航空公司有營運相關航線，之後就可以到那家廉航公司去訂票。British Airways在歐洲區內飛的票價也不太貴，如果從香港出發坐的是BA，可能多加一兩個腳程(leg)，比廉航便宜，這個可以用Multi City Search去找。(e.g. HKG – London – Paris, Paris – London, London – HKG)

問題3: 這些搜尋器有沒有地區性分別?

對於國內Domestic航班，無論是中國國內，還是其他國家境內，我相信大型網上搜尋器效果會比較差，而當地旅行社會是能找到便宜機票比較好的地方。好像如果是中國國內，我一定會去"去那兒" (qunar.com)買機票，這裡匯合了國內大大小小的訂票公司，價格絶對便宜。對於一些比較資訊落後的國家，我相信情況也會是一樣。

問題4: 如果沒有特定目的地，那應該怎樣找到便宜機票？

美國有Airfare WatchDog (http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/)，每天更新各大航空公司的特價票推廣。香港近年也有一個Blog  又飛啦! Flyagain.la 為喜歡去旅行的大眾留意機票特價行情。我在右手面的Blog Thread也有他們的最新情報。
國泰航空每個星期二，也推出特價機票，雖然大部分都是短期，不過絶對是旅遊常行每個星期的期待。

問題5: 還有其他選擇嗎?

最近有一個網站Flightfox (https://flightfox.com/)提供了一個由專人替你找最好的機票，你只要提供你的路線和心目中的價格，如果能達到你的要求，你要付出大約25USD的費用，而且是不滿意不收費。遇到很麻煩的行程，可能值得一用。我也相信他們的專家絕對比本地的旅遊社員工要專業。

還有一個搜查網站會將你可賺到的哩數也金錢量化，讓你可以找到最適合自己的機票。
Superfly (https://www.superfly.com/#!/main/) – We built a new personalized flight search engine. It’s better than Kayak because it takes you into account. By you we mean your miles and points, elite status and travel preferences.

希望大家能更加輕易就找到合適又便宜的機票

以下是各個機票搜尋器的一些資料:

Hipmunk – https://www.hipmunk.com/

Hipmunk is a remarkable new travel search site that aims to take the agony out of travel planning. We designed our site to help people who are overwhelmed with pages of irrelevant search results. Flight results are presented in a visual “timeline" that allows people to select the best flight for them at a glance. Hotel results are shown on a map so that people can view where in a destination they will be staying and the landmarks near them.

At Hipmunk, we want to make your experience a lot better and put the fun back into travel planning.

Smartertravel – http://www.smartertravel.com/compare-prices/flights/

SmarterTravel.com is the largest online travel resource for unbiased travel news, deals, and timely expert advice. Our experienced editors spend hundreds of hours each week researching the latest and best travel deals, compiling travel guides for destinations worldwide, and offering money-saving tips for travelers.

Kayak – http://www.kayak.com/

We’re a tech company focused on making online travel better. Cofounders of Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz started KAYAK in 2004 to take a different approach.

Zuji – http://www.zuji.com.hk/

ZUJI is an online travel agent dedicated to bringing great value travel choices to travellers in Asia Pacific. We offer inspiring holidays at great rates online. We bring a choice of more than 400 airlines, 60,000 hotels, and thousands of car hire, activities, attractions as well as travel insurance to travellers.

ZUJI is part of the Travelocity family of companies globally

AirGorilla – http://www.airgorilla.com/

AirGorilla is a leader in Internet travel services. Our company was founded in February, 2001, and is located in the San Diego area in California. We combine discounted fares from multiple participating air consolidators with the published fares of hundreds of airlines to provide the best selection of low fares you can find. AirGorilla also has developed a great array of discount hotel, cruise, vacation, and car rental rates for customers to book.

Travelocity – http://www.travelocity.com/Flights

Our industry-leading technology searches the lowest fares from hundreds of airlines, and gives you access to Web Fares. Choose your plane seat with Seat Maps, and know when fares to your favorite destinations drop with Fare Watcher.

Priceline.com – http://travel.priceline.com.hk/eng/retailair/select.aspx

Priceline is an Internet-based travel service that offers air tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, air plus hotel combo and travel insurance.

In addition to its Name Your Own Price^® travel services, Priceline also markets fixed-price, retail travel products through Make Your Own Choice model.

This website is operated by Hutchison-Priceline (Travel) Ltd, an independent company formed with investments from Hutchison Whampoa Limited, a Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate, and priceline.com Inc., based in the U.S. Launched in April 1998, priceline.com is consistently rated the best travel-deal provider on the Internet.

One Travel – http://www.onetravel.com/

OneTravel.com is a travel website offering Flights, Hotels, and Packages to top destinations throughout the world. OneTravel was launched in the mid nineties in a Barn in Pennsylvania and has grown to be one of best recognized Online Travel brands in the US and Internationally. We are one of the oldest and most recognized travel sites, celebrated for our incredibly low airfares, last minute flight deals, cheap business class flights and affordable first class fares, Discount Hotels the Best car Rental deals and attractive Vacation Packages all year round. We have just added 84,000 negotiated hotel rates to our offering. Our products are backed by 1-800 courteous and professional customer support any time of the day 24/7.

FareCompare – http://www.farecompare.com/

Hi there. We’re FareCompare. And we’re one of the fastest growing travel planning websites.

For too long, you’ve gone from website to website, comparing prices – wondering “when is the best time to buy" – looking for the “cheapest days to fly," only to end up frustrated by ever-changing airfare prices. And a serious case of booking angst.

Enough. It’s time to win the airfare game. To know, deep in the bones of your clicking finger, that you got that flight at just the right time, for just the right price. It’s time to FareCompare.

We’re not here to sell you a ticket. We’re here to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your flight. That’s why we’ve compiled raw, real-time fare data from over 500 airlines – every day since 2004. It all adds up to (drum roll please) The World’s Largest Database of Historic and Current Airfares.

Skyscanner – http://www.skyscanner.com.hk/

1. We search through thousands of websites to find you the very best travel deals.
2. When you find a deal you want, we connect you to the airline or travel agent to make your booking directly with them (no middlemen, so you always get the lowest price). The airline or travel agent then pay us a small referral fee.
3. We compare all airlines – including scheduled and budget carriers – so you always get the best deal.
4. The price you see on Skyscanner is the price on the airline’s site. Remember: you are always booking directly with the airline or travel agent – not with Skyscanner.

eDreams – http://www.edreams.net/

Founded in March 1999, eDreams has grown to become the biggest e-commerce travel company in Spain and one of the leaders in Europe. We offer customers over 60,000 flight routes from more than 100 airlines, and over 150,000 hotels in 30,000 destinations around the world, as well as vacation packages and car rentals. We do this through our highly developed search engine and booking technologies.

Our goal is to offer the widest choice of flights, hotels and tailored holiday packages at the most competitive prices. But apart from helping customers to plan their travels, we also offer online marketing and advertising services to other businesses.

lastminute.com – http://www.lastminute.com/site/travel/flights/

lastminute.com is the UK’s leading online travel & leisure retailer, with over 1.65 million visitors per week, and provides customers with the best ways to make their free time go even further. Time is precious after all!

In May 2005, lastminute.com was purchased by Travelocity, part of the Sabre family of travel companies.

Sabre, now owned by venture capitalist Texas Silverlake Partnership, is a leading travel technology company that powers the travel industry with its fleet of products including its flights distribution tool.

Cheaptickets – http://www.cheaptickets.hk/en

CheapTickets is part of the global online company, Travix, which manages an extensive portfolio of travel-focused websites operating under the brand names BudgetAir, Flugladen, Vayama, and Vliegwinkel. Travix operates its five brands in 15 countries; employs 375 staff; and combined sales in excess of US $1Billion.

CheapTickets provides a wide selection of cheap flights and fares to worldwide destinations. All flights can be searched and booked directly online. Not only are scheduled flights displayed, flights on Low Cost Carriers are also offered within the same search results. Everything can be booked and paid in 5 easy steps.

Along with a wide selection of flights and fares, CheapTickets provides you with the best deals on hotels. And whether assistance is need before, during or after booking, CheapTickets Customer Support Team are available to help with your questions or concerns around the clock.

eBooker – http://www.ebookers.com/flights/

ebookers.com is a leading pan-European online travel agency specialising in worldwide travel. ebookers.com offers a wide range of travel products including a choice of over 250 airlines, more than 110,000 hotels, holidays, car hire and insurance. ebookers.com is part of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company. ebookers.com prides itself in its passion for travel and in strong customer experience. The company offers a full range of travel products online and over the telephone. It operates local online travel agencies across 12 countries in Europe and its headquarters are in Central London.

Expedia – http://www.expedia.com.hk/?rfrr=Redirect.From.www.expedia.com%2FFlights&langid=2057

Expedia, Inc. is the world’s leading online travel company and operates localized websites for travellers in the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, China (through a controlling investment in eLong) and Singapore!

Expedia.com.hk brings the world closer to you. Go ahead and explore the largest range of destinations and hotels with the world’s leading online travel company.

Expedia.com.hk is a portal for the Singapore traveller from Expedia, Inc., the world’s leading online travel company. Expedia offers travellers the ability to select and book a wide selection of hotel accommodation across the world.

Tripadvisor – http://www.tripadvisor.com/Flights

TripAdvisor Flights is your one-stop shop for finding the best flights online. Simply tell us where and when you want to travel and we’ll do all the legwork for you. Featuring the most powerful shopping tools on the web, we search the largest online travel websites (Expedia, Hotwire, CheapOair, etc.), established airfare discounters (Airfare.com, Vayama, etc.), plus the world’s leading airlines and low-cost carriers to bring back thousands of flight options. Our advanced filtering makes it a snap to easily find the flight that’s right for you and book the ticket through the partner of your choice.

No need to shop multiple sites. We’ve already done all the searching for you – scouring airline consolidators, low-cost carriers, and the biggest online travel agencies for the lowest prices so you won’t miss the best airfares. We’ll even check alternate dates and nearby airports to help you save money, time, even sanity. Even the Associated Press has found that TripAdvisor Flights returns the lowest airfares the most often. So search with confidence.

Orbitz – http://www.orbitz.com/

Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), CheapTickets (www.cheaptickets.com), ebookers (www.ebookers.com), HotelClub (www.hotelclub.com), RatesToGo (www.ratestogo.com), the Away Network (www.away.com) and corporate travel brand Orbitz for Business (www.orbitzforbusiness.com).

Our History
Orbitz was originally formed by a group of leading U.S. airlines in 1999 to participate in the rapidly growing online travel industry. The airline investors in Orbitz consisted of American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and United Air Lines. The Orbitz website was launched in 2001. In November 2004, Orbitz was acquired by Cendant and assumed responsibility for Cendant’s domestic online travel business, which included CheapTickets, a leading online travel brand focused on the value-conscious traveler, and for Flairview Travel, which operated the international online hotel websites HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com. In February 2005, Cendant acquired ebookers, a leading international online travel brand with an online presence in 13 countries in Europe. Orbitz Worldwide was formed through the combination of Orbitz and the online travel assets of Cendant’s travel distribution services division and became a public company in July 2007.

CheapOAir – http://www.cheapoair.com/

CheapOair is an industry-leading travel website offering customers a large selection of discounted flight deals, hotel rates and car rentals. Our low airfare guarantees have seen over 18 million flight deals on CheapOair.com, as well as 80,000 discounted hotel rates – and we don’t plan on stopping there.

Hotwire – http://www.hotwire.com/air/index.jsp

US based flight only

Hotwire is a leading discount travel site that offers ridiculously low prices. How do we do it? We have special relationships with major travel providers to help them fill airline seats, hotel rooms, and rental cars that would otherwise go unsold, so our customers get them at prices lower than many other travel sites. And unlike other discount travel sites, our posted price model makes it easy for our customers to find a great deal without bidding or guessing.

Travel value hunters have come to rely on us for the low prices from the industry’s most highly respected travel brands — deep discounts on last-minute, local, weekend, and leisure deals in fantastic destinations at extraordinary savings.

Fightfox – https://flightfox.com/