How Does Skyscanner.com.au Work?

Skyscanner.com.au operates on a meta-search model, which is distinct from an Online Travel Agency (OTA) or a direct airline website. Understanding this model is key to appreciating how it functions and how you, as a user, interact with it. In essence, it acts as a colossal digital librarian for travel information, gathering data from hundreds of sources to present it in one digestible format.

The Meta-Search Engine Concept

At its core, Skyscanner is an aggregator, not a seller.

• Data Collection: Skyscanner’s sophisticated algorithms constantly crawl and collect data from a vast network of sources. This includes direct airline websites (e.g., Qantas, Emirates, Jetstar), major global Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Expedia, Booking.com, and smaller, regional agencies, as well as car rental companies and hotel booking platforms.
• Real-time Queries: When you initiate a search on skyscanner.com.au (e.g., for skyscanner.com.au flights from Sydney to Melbourne), Skyscanner doesn’t just display cached data. It sends out real-time queries to its network of partners to retrieve the most up-to-date prices and availability. This is why prices can fluctuate as you search.
• Comparison and Display: The retrieved data is then compared, organised, and presented to you in a user-friendly format. This allows you to quickly see different price options, flight times, layovers, and booking providers side-by-side.
• User Filters: You then apply filters (e.g., number of stops, airline preference, departure time, price range) to refine the results according to your specific needs. This interactive filtering happens on Skyscanner’s platform.
• Redirection to Booking Site: Once you select a deal that suits you, Skyscanner doesn’t process your payment. Instead, it generates a direct link that redirects you to the website of the airline or OTA that is offering that particular deal. This is where the actual booking transaction takes place.

The User Journey on Skyscanner.com.au

Let’s break down the typical steps a user takes on the platform.

• Step 1: Input Search Criteria: You start by entering your desired travel details on the skyscanner.com.au homepage. For flights, this involves departure and arrival airports (or “Everywhere” for inspiration), dates (specific, flexible, or “Cheapest Month”), and the number of passengers. The skyscanner com au multi city option is selected here for complex itineraries.
• Step 2: Initiate Search: Click the “Search” button. Skyscanner’s engine immediately begins querying its extensive database of partners. This process is usually very fast, often taking only a few seconds.
• Step 3: Review Results: The results page displays a comprehensive list of options. For flights, you’ll see different airlines, departure and arrival times, durations, number of stops, and the price offered by various booking providers (airlines themselves, or OTAs).
• Step 4: Filter and Refine: On the left-hand side or top of the results page, you’ll find various filters to narrow down the options. This might include filtering by airline, alliance, number of stops, departure/arrival times, and price range. You can also sort results by cheapest, fastest, or “best” (a combination of price and speed).
• Step 5: Select a Deal: Once you’ve identified a suitable option, you click on it. This action often reveals more details about the fare, including baggage allowances (though these can vary and require checking the booking site) and the different providers offering that specific flight or service.
• Step 6: Redirection: Upon clicking “Select” or “Go to site” (or similar phrasing), you are seamlessly redirected from skyscanner.com.au to the external website of the airline or OTA. It is crucial to note that the URL in your browser will change at this point.
• Step 7: Complete Booking: On the third-party website, you will re-confirm your travel details, provide passenger information, enter payment details, and complete the booking. Skyscanner’s role ends once it has successfully transferred you to the booking provider.

Revenue Model

Skyscanner’s business model is primarily commission-based, similar to many referral services.

• Referral Fees: When a user clicks through from Skyscanner and successfully completes a booking on a partner’s website, Skyscanner earns a commission or a referral fee from that airline, hotel, or car rental company. This is a standard practice in the affiliate marketing and travel industry.
• Advertising: While less prominent than its referral model, Skyscanner may also generate some revenue through targeted advertising, though this is integrated subtly to avoid disrupting the user experience.
• No Markups: Skyscanner does not typically add a markup to the prices it finds. The prices you see on Skyscanner are the prices it receives from its partners. Any discrepancies (as discussed earlier) usually arise from dynamic pricing changes by the third party, or additional fees added by the booking site itself (e.g., credit card processing fees, specific baggage charges not initially factored in).

In summary, skyscanner.com.au works as an incredibly efficient search and comparison tool, gathering travel data from hundreds of sources and presenting it to you. Its primary function is to save you time and potentially money by showing you the best deals available, before redirecting you to the actual booking provider to finalise your purchase.

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