Click It To Book It: The Best Travel Apps for Booking Flights for 2023

NEWS - When it comes to traveling, people now use technology more than ever. From booking plane tickets to finding accommodations for that perfect vacation, you can now do everything with a few clicks on an app.

Travel apps are now widely popular for giving people the best deals when they're traveling. As a traveler, it's always a good idea to find the best deals so you can make the most out of your vacation.

Personally, I'm a sucker for cheap flights because I prefer spending my budget on other leisurely things. I'm pretty chill when it comes to flying, so when I book flights through an app, I don't mind the flight times even if it's a red-eye.

Some travelers, however, may not be as flexible as I am. There are times when people can only leave during a specific time frame, so it makes it harder to find flights that are affordable for that specific date. This is where booking apps can help.

Apps Are Where It's At For Booking Flights - Here's Why

A long time ago, booking flights was a very tedious process. Only those who needed to travel would bother booking flight tickets because of the lengthy process.

Before the era of online flight bookings and travel apps, you'd have to go to the airline reservation office to book your flight. If you had no patience for that, you'd need the help of a travel agent to do the job for you.

Most travelers had less flexibility during these times because you generally wouldn't be able to find the best deals when it comes to flight bookings.

When the airlines started offering ticketing options through their websites, booking tickets became a little easier. Travelers can now book flights on their own without the help of travel agents.

Now, enter smartphones with apps being introduced, and these websites slowly migrated into these nifty, quick-loading apps that make booking flights quicker and easier.

Quick Price Comparisons

One of the best reasons why it's great to book through an app is the flexibility and ease of comparing flight details with various airlines. With these travel apps, changes in pricing and seats will automatically change once you refresh the page.

Booking apps also make traveling hassle-free. Generally, one of the features most of these apps share is their ability to collate all the necessary travel information for flights and even hotel bookings.

Convenient Access To Flight Info & Tickets On Your Phone

Gone were the days when you had to print your tickets out before boarding—nowadays, all you need is your smartphone, and airlines can check out your details straight from the device.

Now that you've checked out all the best reasons why booking apps are the best, we've listed down some of the top flight booking apps that we've tried and tested.

Here is our list:

Top Flight Booking Apps for Hassle-free Travel

Skyscanner

If you're looking for an app that will cover all of your travel planning needs, Skyscanner is one of the best apps you can use. This app is one of the most used by travelers because it basically helps you plan for all of your travel needs.

Skyscanner technically isn't a "booking" app per se, but it is more of an aggregator for flights related to your search. You can customize your search by choosing direct flights or if you are okay with having a few stops in between.

The search function can also be modified to choose specific airlines, airports, and flights with lower CO₂ emissions.

Aside from helping you find your preferred flights, Skyscanner can also help you book your hotels and car rentals. This is very convenient if you're relatively clueless about booking accommodations and transport services to your destination.

Kayak

Similar to other apps, Kayak also looks for the best flight choices for you, with some additional functions. Aside from giving you multiple options for your flight, Kayak also has a tracking function so you can see if your flight is on time or delayed.

This additional functionality is great to have, especially if you have connecting flights. With this feature, you'll have a general knowledge of knowing if your destination airport typically gets delays.

With this information, you'll be able to book a more comfortable connecting flight by giving yourself ample time for the transfer.

Kayak also has a nifty feature called "Measure Your Bag" which helps passengers know if their carry-ons are within the specified airline standards. All you have to do is to scan your bag and the app will do the math for you.

It's not super foolproof, but at least you have a general idea if you will be able to bring your carry-on with you or not.

Momondo

Personally speaking, Momondo is one of the apps that I often run to if I am in need of a flight. This is because the best feature I've discovered with this app is its ability to find the quickest yet cheapest flight options to my destination.

Their "Best" option is great because it helps me choose good flights without the absurd pricing.

Momondo is pretty and colorful, so it will draw you into using the app. The website is no different, and both platforms are easy to use even for app-challenged individuals.

When you search for a flight, it will automatically give you options of airports where you can land. This helps in choosing better rates because prices do change depending on the airport.

Another great feature I enjoy on Momondo is the variety of booking services you can use for your travel. Unlike other apps that can only book hotels and car rentals, Momondo also has booking options for trains and buses.

You can also search for travel packages if you want everything done for you. With this option, all you have to do is pack your bags and enjoy!

Hopper

For travelers who are looking to get the best deals and you're quite flexible with dates—this cute bunny app is perfect for you.

Hopper will find the cheapest flights for you by curating the cheapest flight dates with a color-coded calendar for the month. With this feature, you can adjust your departure and arrival with the best flight deals you can find.

Hopper also has a predictive feature that tells its users when it is the best time to buy tickets. Generally, the bunny can predict price fluctuation and it will tell you if you can save more by waiting.

You can also set up alerts and notifications to let you know when the price suddenly changes so you can book your flights in a snap.

Expedia

If you are a seasoned traveler, you've probably used Expedia at least once for your travels. This app has been on the market for quite some time and a lot of people find this to be one of the most stable and useful travel apps for smartphones.

Although not particularly groundbreaking, Expedia does its job well by giving you the best deals for your preferred flight dates. If you are also looking into accommodations, you can book your hotel or stays in the app itself.

Unfortunately, unlike other apps, Expedia is about as basic and simple as booking apps go. However, a lot of travelers also like this because it doesn't have hyped-up features that can complicate app usage.

Depending on your style of traveling, Expedia can be your basic but very efficient travel partner.

Bonus! Google Flights

I know, it's not an app. But this particular Google service is one of the best booking options you have out there. Google Flights is probably one of the most underrated services (in my opinion) because I honestly feel like not a lot of people know about it.

When you go to Google Flights' website, you'll see your standard Google layout that asks you to search for a flight by inputting your point of departure and your destination. Set the date, the fare class you want, and how many people you are booking for.

It's pretty much the same as with any other booking app or website.

However, one of the best things I've discovered with Google Flights is the treasure trove of information you can get from their "Things to Do" and "Explore" tabs.

Their "Things to Do" tab is great if you're going to a place you've never been to before. If you're still in the planning stages of your trip, you can bookmark points of interest and spots that you want to visit.

This will really help you plan out your itinerary because you can see their locations on the map.

The "Explore" tab is fantastic if you're an adventurer seeking to find a new place to visit. Google aggregates different flight options to different places, mostly based on your searches or where people find it interesting to visit.

This option is great if you want to explore someplace new even if you don't know much about the place.

Tips On Finding The Best Flights

Finding the best flights for your vacation can be challenging by itself. Not only do you want to get the best value-for-money flights out there, but you also want to book the best dates to enjoy your vacation.

It's a time-consuming (and very frustrating) process, which is why a lot of travelers often end up booking whatever flight there is so they can get this task out of their hair. That's a valid reason to book that flight as soon as you see a good one.

But it also comes with the frustration of seeing a cheaper flight after you've received your details.

Mastering the art of booking flights takes a lot of practice (and patience) but fortunately, I've listed down my best online booking tips to get your desired flight schedule.

These tips should give you better chances of getting better flight deals.

1. Get Your Hands Off The Cookie Jar

I'm pretty sure you've seen this pop-up window come up every time you visit a website. "We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience," it would say, and it will typically ask you if you wish to accept or reject these preferences.

If you've been searching for flights online, you've probably noticed that the prices seem to be increasing every time you refresh the site.

While there is no actual analysis that says these cookies are really the culprit to fluctuating prices, these gathered data may affect the prices one way or the other.

There are other factors that can also affect price changes, like availability and demand of the flight.

Still, it won't hurt if you try to look for ways to lower your flight cost. You can always try searching for a flight on a regular browser, and compare it with a flight search in your browser's incognito mode.

Sometimes, the prices will vary, so this will help you book the more affordable option.

2. Compare, Compare, Compare

If you're on the lookout for the lowest tickets available, the best way to do this is by comparing it with other booking apps or sites. I know, it's very time-consuming and tedious, but all booking apps have different prices for the same flight.

If I'm being honest, this is the best way for you to get the best deals out there.

Every time I have to travel, I take my time and compare prices from different apps and websites. Sometimes, flights can have a difference of anywhere from $10 to $80, and if you're a thrifty traveler, this can mean a lot of savings!

Comparing flights will also give you a general idea of which times are best to fly economically. It will give you the chance to plan your trip with this as your basis.

You'll be able to balance the cost of how much your tickets cost, how much you'll be spending on hotels, as well as other travel costs.

3. Collect Points And Fly Miles

More often than not, airlines will have a mileage point system that rewards you with "miles" every time you fly. This is their way of getting travelers to be loyal to the airlines, so you'll always choose them ahead of all their competitors.

It's a pretty straightforward way of saying "we'll reward you for the love," and I admit, it does reap many good rewards.

Depending on the airline that you usually fly with, you'll find your mileage points on your online profile. A lot of people often get surprised when they open their profiles and discover how many miles they've accumulated through the years.

If you are one of these people, it might be high time to check on them—maybe you already have enough for a trip to Europe or Asia.

Another great way to collect these mileage points is through a credit card. Airlines often have partnerships with certain banks and credit card companies wherein you can collect mileage points based on the spending that you do.

If you're a shopaholic, this is one of the best ways to accumulate those points. Ask your bank or credit card if they offer this service.

Ready For Take-off!

Unlike before, traveling is now a breeze with all the advancements in technology. With a touch of a button on your phone, you can now be on your way to your destination in minutes.

Next time you're planning for a vacation or a business trip, check out these great apps, and hopefully, they can make booking flights easier for you.