Help topic: Searching & prices

Cheaplyfly is a flight search and comparison site. You tell us where and when you want to fly, we show you flight options and prices from our partners in one list, and you choose which one to book. This article explains each step so you know exactly what you are looking at.

What happens when you press Search

1. You enter a departure city or airport, a destination, your dates, the number of travelers and a cabin.
2. Cheaplyfly looks up flights for that route and those dates from partner data and builds a results page.
3. The results page shows a summary of your trip, a strip of nearby dates, filters, sort options and a list of flights.
4. When you find a flight you like, you press View deal and continue on the partner’s site, where you see the live price and book.

Where the prices come from

The prices on our results pages were found in recent searches across partner sites. They are a strong guide to what a route costs, but they are not a live quote. Airlines change fares many times a day and only have a limited number of seats at each price.

That is why the partner always shows the final, live price before you pay. A short note under the results reminds you of this. If the site is running in preview mode, you will also see a clear note that the prices are examples.

Reading a result

Each result card shows:

• The airline, departure and arrival times, and the airports.
• How long the trip takes and how many stops it has, or Direct if there are none.
• The price, labeled per adult, return or per adult, one way. If you search for several travelers, the total on the partner’s site will be higher.
• Tags such as Best, Cheapest or Fastest on the flights that lead in each category.

Sort and filter

You can sort the list by Best (a balance of price and travel time), Cheapest or Fastest. Filters let you narrow the list by stops, departure time, maximum price, maximum travel time and airline. Our article on sorting and filtering results covers each one in detail.

When there are no results

Sometimes we have no recent prices for your exact dates. That does not mean there are no flights. Try one of these:

• Tap a day in the nearby dates strip above the results.
• Search a city (for example, all airports in a city) instead of a single airport.
• Press See live prices to open the partner’s live search for your exact dates.
• Check that the dates are in the future and that From and To are different places.

Tips for better searches

• If your dates are flexible, open the date picker first: many days show a recent price, so you can spot cheaper days before you search.
• Use the Save button on the results page to keep a search in your account, or Price alert to have us watch the fare.
• Use Share to send the results page to someone you are traveling with. On devices that support it, your phone’s share menu opens; otherwise the link is copied.

For a deeper look at how comparison sites find fares, read our guide how flight search engines work.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.

If your dates are even a little flexible, the price calendar is one of the quickest ways to save money. It shows the lowest recently found fare for each day, so you can see at a glance which days tend to cost less on your route.

Where you will find it

• In the date picker. Once you have chosen From and To, open the dates field. Many days show a price under the date.
• On results pages. The strip above the results shows the days around your departure date, with a price for each one where we have it.
• On route pages. Each route page has a fare calendar and a chart of the cheapest months to fly.

How to read it

Each price is the lowest fare found recently for a trip starting that day. The lowest price in view is highlighted with a small marker, so it is easy to spot.

Prices on the calendar are a guide, not a quote. They come from recent searches and change through the day. The partner always shows the live price before you pay.

Days without a price

A day with no price is not sold out or unavailable. It only means we have no recent price for that day. You can still choose it and search, or open live prices from the results page.

Step by step: finding a cheaper day

1. Enter your departure city and destination.
2. Open the date picker and look at the prices for the days around your ideal date.
3. Use the arrows to move between months if you can travel later or earlier.
4. Choose the departure day, then the return day. For a one-way trip, choose One way or the option for no return.
5. Press Search, then use the nearby dates strip on the results page to compare a few days on either side.

If this, then that

• If a whole month looks expensive, check the cheapest months chart on the route page, or set a price alert for the whole month.
• If the calendar shows a low price but the results show a higher one, the low fare may have sold out since it was found. Try the days next to it.
• If you only see a few prices, the route may be searched less often. Live prices on the partner’s site will still show every available flight.
• If prices appear in the wrong currency, change it with the currency button in the header.

Good habits

• Compare weekdays with weekends: on many routes, the day of the week makes a difference.
• Look at the trip length too. A return a day earlier or later can change the price.
• When you see a good price, act on it or set an alert. Cheap seats can go quickly.

Our guide to flexible dates and reading a price calendar goes further, and peak, shoulder and off-season travel explains why some months cost more.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.

Cheaplyfly is one site for travelers everywhere. To save you time, it tries to show prices in your currency and to start your search from your nearest airport. Both are only a starting point, and you can change them at any time.

How we choose your currency

When you first visit, we look at the approximate location of your internet connection to work out which country you are in, and show prices in that country’s currency. We never use your device’s GPS.

If we cannot tell where you are, or your currency is not offered on the site, we use the site’s default currency.

Changing the currency

1. Open the currency button in the header (it shows prices in your current currency).
2. Choose the currency you want from the list.
3. The page updates and your choice is remembered on this device.

If you are signed in, the choice is also saved to your account, so it follows you to other devices. You can change it later in your dashboard under Profile.

Things to know about currencies

• The currencies in the list are chosen by the site. If yours is missing, pick the closest one you are comfortable with.
• The partner may show the final price in a different currency, often the currency of the airline or the travel site. Always check the currency on the partner’s payment page.
• Price alerts keep the currency they were created in. If you change currency, existing alerts do not change; create a new alert if you want it in the new currency.

How we choose your departure city

The From field is usually filled in with an airport or city near you, based on the same approximate location. If you are signed in and have set a home airport in your profile, we use that instead.

Changing the departure city

• For one search: click the From field, type a city or airport and choose it from the suggestions.
• Every time: sign in and set your home airport in your dashboard under Profile.
• On the deals page: use the Departing from picker to see deals from any city.

If this, then that

• If you use a VPN or a work network, your connection may appear to be in another country. Change the currency once and it will be remembered.
• If you are traveling, the site may suggest the airport where you are now. Set a home airport to keep your usual one.
• If your choice is forgotten, your browser may be clearing cookies. Sign in so the choice is saved to your account.

Paying in a foreign currency can add card fees. Our guide to paying for flights, currencies and card fees explains what to watch for.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.

The search box looks simple, but each field has a few options that can make your results more useful. Here is what each part does.

Trip type

Choose the kind of trip before you pick dates:

• Return: you fly out and back. You choose a departure and a return date.
• One way: you choose only a departure date.
• Multi-city: several flights in one trip. These are built on our partner’s site; see multi-city trips in the help center.

From and To

1. Click the field and start typing a city name, an airport name or a three-letter airport code.
2. Choose a place from the suggestions. Places you searched recently on this device may appear at the top.
3. Use the swap button between the fields to turn the trip around.

City or airport?

Many cities have more than one airport. Choosing the city searches all of them, which often finds more and cheaper options. Choose a single airport only if you need to fly from or to that exact one.

If you see “No matching city or airport”, check the spelling or try the main city nearby. Very small airfields may not be listed.

Dates

1. Open the dates field. Once From and To are set, many days show a recent price.
2. Choose your departure date, then your return date.
3. Use the arrows to move between months, and Done to close the picker.

Past dates can’t be chosen. Airlines don’t always publish fares far ahead, so a date many months away may show fewer results.

Travelers

Open Travelers and cabin to set who is flying:

• Adults: 12 years and older.
• Children: 2 to 11 years.
• Infants: under 2, traveling on an adult’s lap. Each infant needs an adult, so you can’t add more infants than adults.

You can search for up to 9 travelers in total. For larger groups, search for part of the group, or contact the airline directly about group bookings.

Cabin

Choose Economy, Premium economy, Business or First. Not every route has every cabin. If you see few results for a premium cabin, try economy to check that the route has flights at all.

Common messages and what they mean

• “Choose where you are flying from.” The From field is empty or the text wasn’t matched to a place. Pick one from the suggestions.
• “From and To are the same.” Choose a different destination.
• “Choose your travel dates.” Add a departure date (and a return date for a return trip).

Tips

• Prices on results are per adult. Children and infants are priced by the partner when you book.
• If you are not sure where to go, try Explore or Deals instead of a fixed destination.
• Nearby airports can be cheaper. Our guide on nearby airports and alternative routes shows how to use them.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.

A busy route can return many flights. Sorting and filters help you get to the right one quickly. Everything here happens on the page, so you can change your mind as often as you like.

Sorting

Above the list you will find three sort options. Each one shows the leading price, and for Best and Fastest the travel time too.

• Best: a balance of price and travel time. A good default if you want a sensible flight without paying much more.
• Cheapest: the lowest price first, whatever the travel time.
• Fastest: the shortest total travel time first.

The sort order is always your choice. Partners do not pay to change it.

Filters

On a computer, filters sit beside the results. On a phone, press Filters to open them, make your choices and press Show results.

Stops

Choose Direct, 1 stop or 2+ stops. Each option shows the lowest price for that group, so you can see what a direct flight costs compared with one stop.

Departure time

Pick one or more parts of the day: Night (00–06), Morning (06–12), Afternoon (12–18) and Evening (18–24). Check the exact times on each card before you choose.

Max price

Drag the slider to hide flights above a price.

Max travel time

Drag the slider to hide trips that take too long, including time spent at connections.

Airlines

When more than one airline flies the route, you can untick the ones you’d rather avoid. Each airline shows its lowest price.

Resetting

If the list says “No flights match these filters”, press Reset filters to start again. The Reset link at the top of the filters does the same.

If this, then that

• If the cheapest flight has a very long connection, sort by Best and compare. A slightly higher fare can save hours.
• If you need to arrive by a certain time, filter by departure time and check the arrival time on each card.
• If you travel with only a carry-on, remember that some low fares don’t include bags. Check what’s included on the partner’s site before you pay.
• If you change the dates, filters reset with the new results.

Using the nearby dates strip

Above the results, a strip shows the days around your departure date with the lowest recent price for each. The cheapest day is highlighted. Tap a day to search it; for return trips, we keep the same trip length.

Saving what you find

• Press the heart on a flight to save it, or Save at the top to save the whole search. Saving needs a free account.
• Press Price alert (or Watch price in the list) to get an email when the fare drops.

Want to understand connection times before you choose? Read how long a layover should be.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.

The trip type you choose changes which flights you see and how they are priced. This article explains the three options and what happens with each.

Return trips

A return trip takes you out and back between the same two places. You pick a departure date and a return date, and results show the price per adult, return.

On results pages, the nearby dates strip keeps your trip length the same when you move the departure day, so you can compare like with like.

One-way trips

A one-way trip has only a departure date, and prices show per adult, one way. In the date picker, you can also switch to one way with the option for no return.

Two one-ways or one return?

On some routes, two one-way tickets cost about the same as a return, and they give you more freedom to mix airlines and times. On others, a return is clearly cheaper. It is worth comparing both. If you book two separate tickets, remember that each one is its own booking: if the first flight is delayed, the second airline doesn’t have to help.

Multi-city trips

A multi-city trip has several flights, for example from one city to a second, then on to a third, and home from there. These trips are built on our partner’s site, which supports several flights in one booking.

How it works

1. In the search box, choose Multi-city. A short note explains what happens next.
2. Fill in your first flight: From, To, date, travelers and cabin.
3. Press Search. We open the partner’s site with your first flight filled in.
4. On the partner’s site, add the rest of your flights and search.
5. Compare the options there and book with the partner.

Because the rest of the trip is built on the partner’s site, multi-city searches don’t appear with our filters, price calendar or nearby dates, and they can’t be saved as a search on Cheaplyfly.

Which should you choose?

• If you are going and coming back between the same two places, start with Return, then compare with two one-ways.
• If you fly into one city and out of another, use Multi-city. It is often simpler and safer than separate tickets.
• If you don’t know your return date yet, a one-way may suit you, but check the price of a flexible return too.
• If your plan has several stops on your own, think about connection times and what happens if one flight is late.

Price alerts and trip types

Price alerts work for return and one-way trips. For a multi-city trip, you can set an alert for each leg separately to see when parts of the trip get cheaper.

Our guide one-way, round-trip or multi-city compares the costs in more detail, and self-transfer flights explains the risks of joining separate tickets.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.