Help topic: Booking with partners

Cheaplyfly helps you find and compare flights, but it doesn’t sell tickets. When you are ready to book, you continue on the website of one of our partners: an airline or a travel site. This article walks you through that hand-off.

Step by step

1. On a results page, press View deal on the flight you like, or See live prices to open the partner’s live search for your dates.
2. The partner’s website opens, usually in a new tab, with your route, dates, travelers and cabin already filled in. Cheaplyfly stays open in the first tab so you can come back and compare.
3. The partner shows the live price and the flights available right now.
4. You choose your flight and any options, such as bags or seats, and enter the travelers’ details.
5. You pay the partner directly. They send your booking confirmation and tickets by email.

Who does what

Cheaplyfly

• Searches and compares flights and shows recent prices.
• Sends price alerts and keeps your saved searches and history if you have an account.
• Does not take payment, issue tickets or hold your booking.

The partner

• Shows the final price, including taxes and any fees, before you pay.
• Takes your payment and issues your booking and tickets.
• Handles changes, cancellations, refunds, check-in questions and baggage questions.

Why the price may look different

Our prices were found in recent searches. The partner’s price is live. It can be higher or lower, and the partner may offer extras that change the total. Read why the price is different on the partner’s site in the help center for the details.

What we pass to the partner

To save you typing, the link includes your search details: the route, dates, number of travelers and cabin. Anything you enter on the partner’s site, such as names and payment details, goes straight to the partner. Cheaplyfly never sees your card details.

If this, then that

• If nothing opens, your browser may have blocked a new tab. Allow pop-ups for Cheaplyfly or press the button again.
• If the partner shows different dates or places, check the search form on their site before you continue. Correct it there if needed.
• If the flight is no longer available, go back to Cheaplyfly and try the next result or a nearby date.
• If you are signed in, the deal appears in your dashboard under Deals opened, so you can find it again later.

Before you pay

Take a minute to check the traveler names, the total price and currency, what bags are included and the fare rules. Our help article on what to check before you pay has a full checklist.

Learn more about the whole process on how Cheaplyfly works.

Still stuck? Contact us and tell us what you saw. For questions about a booking you have already made, the partner you booked with can help fastest.

It can be frustrating to see one price on Cheaplyfly and another on the partner’s site. There are a few common, honest reasons for the difference. Knowing them helps you decide quickly whether to book.

Our prices come from recent searches

The prices on Cheaplyfly were found in recent searches across partner sites. They show what the route has cost recently, and they are usually a good guide. But they are not a live quote.

The partner’s site checks live availability at the moment you arrive. That live price is the one you pay.

Why fares move

• Limited seats at each price. Airlines sell a small number of seats at the lowest fare. When those are gone, the next fare is higher.
• Frequent updates. Airlines change fares many times a day, based on demand and how full the flight is.
• Number of travelers. Our prices are per adult. If you search for several people, there may not be enough seats at the lowest fare for everyone, so part of the group is priced higher.
• Currency. The partner may show the price in a different currency, and exchange rates move.

Extras that change the total

Some partners show a base fare first and add options as you go. Common extras include:

• Checked bags or a larger cabin bag.
• Seat selection.
• Flexible tickets or travel insurance.
• Payment or card fees on some sites.

Look for what is already included and remove anything you don’t want before you pay.

What you can do

1. Check that the dates, airports, number of travelers and cabin on the partner’s site match your search.
2. Compare the total with the bags and options you actually need.
3. If the price has gone up, return to Cheaplyfly and look at the nearby dates strip or other flights in the list.
4. If you are not ready to book, set a price alert and we will email you if the fare drops.

If this, then that

• If the partner’s price is lower, great: a cheaper fare has appeared since our price was found.
• If the partner shows “no availability”, the fare has probably sold out. Try another result.
• If the difference is large on every result, check the currency and the number of travelers first.

Our guide to the true cost of a cheap fare explains how extras add up, and when to book flights covers how prices move over time.

Still stuck? Contact us and tell us what you saw. For questions about a booking you have already made, the partner you booked with can help fastest.

Plans change. Because you book and pay with a partner, the partner holds your booking and decides what can be changed or refunded under your fare rules. Cheaplyfly can’t access, change or cancel bookings, but this guide shows you where to go and what to prepare.

Who to contact

• If you booked on an airline’s website, contact the airline.
• If you booked on a travel site, contact that travel site first, even if the flight is run by an airline. They issued your booking and usually need to make the change.

The partner’s contact details are in your booking confirmation email. If you are signed in to Cheaplyfly, the Deals opened tab in your dashboard can remind you which partner you visited.

Before you contact them

1. Find your booking confirmation email and your booking reference.
2. Check your fare rules. They say whether changes are allowed, whether there is a fee and whether you can get a refund.
3. Decide what you want: a new date, a new name spelling, a cancellation or a refund.
4. Use the partner’s “manage booking” page if they have one. It is often the fastest way.

Changes

Many fares allow date changes for a fee plus any difference in fare. The cheapest fares may not allow changes at all. Name corrections are often possible for small spelling mistakes; a change to a different person usually isn’t.

Cancellations and refunds

What you get back depends on the fare rules and, in some cases, the law where you fly. Some fares are refundable, some give a travel credit, and some only refund certain taxes. Some places have rules that let you cancel within a short time after booking. Our guide to refunds and the 24-hour rule explains this.

If the airline changes or cancels your flight

If the airline cancels your flight or changes the schedule a lot, you may be entitled to a new flight, a refund or, in some regions, compensation. Rules vary by airline and country. Read your rights when a flight is delayed or canceled.

If this, then that

• If you can’t find the confirmation email, search your inbox and spam folder for the partner’s name, then contact the partner with your name, route and travel date.
• If the travel site sends you to the airline and the airline sends you back, ask each one in writing to confirm who holds the ticket. Keep copies.
• If you paid by card and a promised refund doesn’t arrive, contact the partner first, then ask your card provider what options you have.
• If you only set a price alert and didn’t book, there is nothing to cancel. Just stop the alert.

Still stuck? Contact us and tell us what you saw. For questions about a booking you have already made, the partner you booked with can help fastest.

Cheaplyfly is free to use. You don’t pay us to search, save trips or set price alerts. Here is how the site is paid for, in plain words.

Affiliate commission

Some links on Cheaplyfly are affiliate links. When you press View deal and then book on the partner’s site, the partner may pay Cheaplyfly a commission. The link includes a reference so the partner knows you came from us.

The commission comes out of the partner’s own price. It is not added on top.

What this means for you

• You pay the same price as you would if you went to the partner directly.
• We don’t add booking fees. Any fees you see are the partner’s, and the partner shows them before you pay.
• You choose the order of results. You can sort by Best, Cheapest or Fastest. Commissions don’t decide which flights appear first.

What we don’t do

• We don’t sell tickets or take payment for flights.
• We don’t sell your personal data.
• We don’t hide fees in our prices.

Guides and links

Our travel guides are written to help travelers. Where they link to partners, it is because the link is useful for the topic. Some of those links may be affiliate links.

How partner tracking works

1. You press a deal link on Cheaplyfly.
2. The link passes through a short redirect so the partner can record that you came from us.
3. The partner, or its tracking provider, may set its own cookie on your device to remember this.
4. If you book, the partner credits the booking to Cheaplyfly.

This tracking happens on the partner’s side and is covered by their privacy and cookie policies. Our cookie policy explains which cookies Cheaplyfly itself uses.

Common questions

Would I get a better price going to the partner directly?

No. The commission doesn’t change the partner’s price. Prices can differ between partners, which is why comparing is useful.

Do you earn more from some partners than others?

Commission terms are set by each partner and can differ. That is one reason we let you sort results yourself, and why the sort order isn’t for sale.

Is my booking with Cheaplyfly?

No. Your booking, payment and tickets are with the partner. For any booking question, contact them.

Read the full affiliate disclosure and how Cheaplyfly works.

Still stuck? Contact us with your question about how we work, and we will explain.

The partner’s checkout is where your booking becomes real. A few minutes of checking here can save a lot of trouble later. Use this checklist every time you book.

1. Who you are booking with

Look at the top of the page and the terms. Are you booking with the airline itself or with a travel site? This decides who you contact later about changes, refunds and problems.

2. The flights

• Departure and arrival airports. Cities with several airports are easy to mix up.
• Dates and times. Check overnight flights carefully: arrival may be the next day.
• Connections. Note how long each one is and whether you change airports.
• Whether the trip is one booking or several separate tickets joined together.

3. Traveler details

1. Enter names exactly as they appear in each traveler’s passport or ID.
2. Check dates of birth, especially for children and infants.
3. Use an email address you check often. Your confirmation and any schedule changes go there.

Name mistakes can be expensive to fix, and some fares don’t allow name changes.

4. The total price

• Check the total for all travelers, not the price per person.
• Check the currency. If it is not your own, your bank may add a fee.
• Look for card or payment fees on the payment page.
• If the payment page offers to charge you in your own currency, compare the rate with your card’s. Our guide to paying for flights explains dynamic currency conversion.

5. What is included

• Cabin bag size and weight.
• Checked bags: how many, how heavy, and whether they are included.
• Seat selection, meals and other extras.

Low fares often include less. Add only what you need, and compare the total with other options. See what low-cost airlines include.

6. Fare rules

Find the fare conditions and check whether you can change dates, cancel or get a refund, and what it costs. Our guide to fare classes and fare families explains the common types.

7. Travel documents

Make sure every traveler has the passport, visa or travel authorization needed for every country on the trip, including connections. Rules vary by nationality and country. Read our travel documents checklist.

If this, then that

• If the total jumped during checkout, look for added extras or insurance and remove what you don’t want.
• If something looks wrong or unclear, don’t pay yet. Contact the partner or go back and choose another option.
• If you see an error at payment, check with your bank before trying again, so you don’t pay twice.

Still stuck? Contact us and tell us what you saw. For questions about a booking you have already made, the partner you booked with can help fastest.

After you pay, the partner you booked with sends your confirmation. Cheaplyfly doesn’t receive a copy of your booking, so this guide explains where to look and what to do if something is missing.

What you should receive

• A booking confirmation email from the airline or travel site, usually within minutes.
• A booking reference, a short code of letters and numbers. You use it to manage your booking and check in.
• An e-ticket number for each traveler, sometimes in a second email once the ticket is issued.

Some travel sites send a confirmation first and the tickets a little later. Read the email to see whether your booking is confirmed or still being processed.

If the email hasn’t arrived

1. Wait a short while. Some partners take longer to issue tickets.
2. Check your spam, junk and promotions folders, and search your inbox for the partner’s name.
3. Check the email address you entered at checkout for typing mistakes.
4. Log in to the partner’s site or app, if you created an account there, and look for your trips.
5. Contact the partner with the travelers’ names, the route and the travel date. They can resend the confirmation.

Which partner did I book with?

If you are not sure which site you booked on, check:

• Your card or bank statement. The payment usually shows the partner’s name.
• Your dashboard on Cheaplyfly, if you were signed in. The Deals opened tab lists flights you opened with a partner, with the route, dates and price shown at the time.

Deals opened only shows that you visited a partner. It doesn’t confirm that a booking was made.

Why Cheaplyfly can’t look up your booking

Your contract is with the partner. They hold your booking and personal details, and we don’t have access to their systems. For anything about your booking, the partner can help fastest.

Keep your booking safe

• Save the confirmation email and a copy of the e-tickets where you can reach them offline.
• Add the booking to the airline’s app if they have one, so you get schedule change messages.
• Check the booking again a few days before you fly. Schedules sometimes change.

If this, then that

• If your card was charged but there is no confirmation, contact the partner before trying to book again, so you don’t pay twice.
• If the confirmation has a mistake, contact the partner straight away. Fixes are easier early.
• If the airline can’t find your booking, ask the travel site for the airline’s own booking reference. It is often different.

Getting ready to fly? Our guide to carry-on rules helps you pack.

Still stuck? Contact us and tell us what you saw. For questions about a booking you have already made, the partner you booked with can help fastest.