Short answer: no single website is always cheapest. Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the lowest fare, then compare it against the airline's own site and one or two Indian booking platforms before you pay. That three-way check takes about ten minutes and catches most of the price gaps. If you'd rather search everything in one place, start with our flight search and use it as your baseline.

I get asked this a lot, usually right after someone has paid ₹2,000 more than they needed to for a Delhi–Goa ticket. The website matters less than how you use it. Below are the sites worth your time, where each one helps, where each one falls short, and the habits that save you more money than switching platforms ever will.

The short list I actually use

Here's what I check when I'm booking flights out of India.

Google Flights is where I start. It's fast and clean, and the date grid and price graph show you right away whether shifting your trip by two days saves ₹800 or ₹8,000. You can't book on Google itself. It sends you to the airline or a travel agent. For working out when to fly, though, nothing beats it.

Skyscanner does a similar job but often pulls in smaller agents and odd international combinations Google misses. Its "Everywhere" search is good fun if you have a week off and no fixed plan. The catch is that some of those very low prices come from little-known agents with poor customer service. Read the reviews before you click through.

Then there are the Indian booking sites: MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, ixigo, EaseMyTrip and others. They earn their place through bank offers and coupon codes. A 10–12% instant discount on an HDFC, ICICI or Axis card can make an agent cheaper than booking with the airline directly. ixigo is also handy for fare alerts and PNR tracking.

Finally, the airline websites and apps. IndiGo, Air India, Akasa and Air India Express sometimes run app-only sales or members-only fares that never appear anywhere else. Always check them.

Booking direct vs. going through a booking site

People argue about this one a lot, so here's my honest take.

Booking direct with the airline is usually better when things go wrong. Cancellations, refunds, name corrections and rescheduling all tend to be smoother because you're dealing with the company that runs the plane. If your flight is cancelled and you booked through an agent, the airline may tell you to sort it out with the agent, and the agent may point back at the airline. That back-and-forth is exhausting at 11 pm in an airport.

Booking sites win on price more often than you'd think, mostly because of bank discounts and cashback. They're also handy when you want to bundle things. If you're booking a flight and a room together, it's worth seeing whether holiday packages come out cheaper than booking each separately. For popular routes like Goa, Kerala, Bali or Dubai, they often do.

My rule is simple. If the price gap is under ₹300–400, I book direct for the easier support. If the agent is clearly cheaper, I book there and screenshot everything, including the fare breakdown and refund policy.

The hidden costs that ruin a "cheap" fare

This is where most people get caught out. The fare you see first is rarely the fare you pay.

Watch for these:

  • Convenience fees: Some sites add ₹200–₹500 per passenger at checkout. On a family booking, that adds up quickly.
  • Baggage: Budget domestic fares sometimes include only a cabin bag. Adding 15 kg of check-in luggage at the airport costs far more than adding it while booking.
  • Seat selection: Want to sit with your partner? That's often extra. Free web check-in seats are usually middle seats.
  • Pre-ticked add-ons: Insurance, meals and "fare lock" options are sometimes selected by default. Untick what you don't want.
  • Cancellation charges: The cheapest fare class is often almost non-refundable. You may get back little more than the taxes.

On insurance: I don't think every short domestic hop needs it. For international trips, or anything expensive and non-refundable, proper travel insurance is worth having. Just buy a policy you've actually read, not whatever add-on is pre-ticked at checkout.

Compare the final price on the payment page, not the headline price. A ₹3,999 fare with no baggage can easily cost more than a ₹4,499 fare that includes it.

Timing, dates and airports matter more than the website

Here's the thing nobody wants to hear: when you book and which dates you pick will save you more money than any website will.

For domestic flights in India, the best prices usually show up roughly three to six weeks before departure. Within the last week, fares on busy routes can double. International trips from India reward booking earlier, around two to three months out. For peak periods like Diwali, Christmas, New Year and summer holidays, book earlier still. Fares to Goa in late December are painful whatever site you use.

Flexible dates make a big difference. Midweek flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often cheaper, and so are very early morning departures nobody wants. Use the calendar view on Google Flights or Skyscanner and look for the cheaper days.

Nearby airports are worth checking too, especially for international travel. Flights to the Gulf or Southeast Asia from Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai or Hyderabad can differ a lot in price. Sometimes taking a cheap domestic flight or an overnight bus to a bigger hub saves real money. If you try this, leave plenty of time between flights on separate tickets. Self-transfers are risky, and if your first flight is delayed, the second airline owes you nothing.

About the incognito-mode trick: I've never seen solid proof that prices go up because you searched twice. Fares change because seats sell and demand shifts. Use incognito if it makes you feel better, but don't count on it saving you anything.

A few more things that help:

  • Special fares: Many Indian airlines offer discounted fares for students, senior citizens and armed forces personnel. You'll need valid ID at check-in.
  • Fare alerts: Set one on Google Flights or ixigo and let the deal come to you.
  • Sale seasons: Airlines run sales a few times a year, often with very low base fares. They sell out quickly and come with strict date limits.

My actual booking routine

Here's exactly what I do, step by step:

  1. Search Google Flights with flexible dates to find the cheapest window.
  2. Run the same search on Skyscanner to see if any agent beats it.
  3. Check the airline's own site or app for app-only deals.
  4. Check one or two Indian booking sites for bank offers that match the cards I have.
  5. Compare the final prices, including baggage and fees, then book.

It takes about fifteen minutes. On a family trip, it has saved me anywhere from a few hundred rupees to well over ₹10,000.

Once the flight's sorted, don't leave the rest to the last minute. Hotel prices near popular spots climb fast too. I usually lock in hotels soon after booking flights, or look at private villas and stays when travelling with a group, since splitting a villa often costs less per person than several hotel rooms. Booking an airport cab in advance also saves you from haggling at arrivals after a long flight.

So, which site should you use?

Honestly? Use a few. Google Flights and Skyscanner help you find the cheapest dates. Airline sites are best for support and occasional exclusive deals. Indian booking sites are where bank discounts can bring the price down further. Comparing them takes ten minutes, and that's where the savings are.

If you want a simpler option, you can compare fares and book on our flights page. If you're still deciding where to go, browse our travel ideas first. A destination you hadn't thought of may have much cheaper flights right now.

One last thing: the cheapest ticket isn't always the best one. A slightly pricier fare that lands at a reasonable hour, includes your bag and doesn't involve a risky self-transfer is often the better deal. Save money where it's easy, and don't make the trip miserable just to save ₹500.