Do flight compaison websites save you money? Read more to find out.

Flight comparison websites, like any other data source, are dependent upon in-the-minute information, accuracy of data and the limits of their own scope. What flight comparison websites attempt to achieve is a broad-stroke comparison of airline ticket prices so that readers can compare virtually before they book and pay for a flight.

The fact is that no one source exists that can provide a fully comprehensive listing and comparison chart of all flights for any given destination on any given day. Why? Because airlines’ information changes so fast, and not all airlines make their schedules and fares available via data feed. The flight comparison websites are dependent upon the availability of information.

How Can You Handle Your Own Flight Comparisons?

Unless you are planning a flight to one of the busiest destinations in the world (think Paris, London, New York, Toronto, Chicago, etc.), odds are there are a handful of airlines that service the airport you’ll be departing from and the one where you are going. Use Affordable Travel’s website data for a complete list of airlines and airports, or go to the website of your local airport and you’ll find a list of airlines that fly from there. Review each airline’s list of flights and compare. That’s the slow, perhaps more methodical way. And maybe you don’t have time for that approach.

The number of airlines servicing your airport can have a major impact on the cost of flights to your destination.

But some travelers like to see a chart that enables them to scan quickly and find the cheapest airfares all on one page. If you accept that such a chart may not include every possible option, then flight comparison websites might offer enough information for you to make and execute your plans.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you do decide to employ flight comparison websites as part of your search for cheap airline tickets:

• Don’t be surprised if what the flight comparison website has posted differs when you go to book the actual airline tickets. Things can change in seconds.
• Don’t use flight comparison websites to find out flight status or flight tracking; that’s not their mandate or intention, and if they offer that service, you may find inaccuracies.
• Be flexible as to the dates and times you fly so that you can take advantage of the airlines that offer reduced fares on specific days and at certain times that are less popular. Most reliable flight comparison websites will have facts to help you figure out the various alternatives.
• Always compare apples to apples. If a flight comparison website shows a certain fare for a flight from, for example, Vancouver to Los Angeles, you need to dig deeper to find out why the cheapest fare is so low; is there a stopover or some other restriction, or maybe an extra charge for checked luggage?
• Make sure the flight comparison website quotes all fares in the same currency. Most use U.S. dollars, but not all.
• Once you have found what you believe is the best available fare for your travel destination through a flight comparison website, confirm it through the airline’s own website before you automatically book it, whether directly or through a consolidator.

Is There an Alternative?

There’s always an alternative, and anything or any service that enables you to do your homework very quickly should be regarded with some level on sense. It’s fast and easy, but not comprehensive. Still, if you’re tight for time and want to get a good grip on what flights are available at what price, it’s a start. And don’t forget to check out a travel agency; they mostly charge a fee, but it might save you more than their fee and then some in savings.

Flight comparison websites can be a good tool for a general examination of comparable flights and airfares, but don’t take any of the data as gospel. This is a pretty decent place to start your flight price comparison research, but the onus is on you, not the flight comparison websites, to ensure the information is correct. They mostly have published caveats that ensure they are not liable for your decisions (read: mistakes). Once you’ve bought and paid for your ticket, there may be no option for changes.

The alternative? Good old-fashioned detective work! But you have to be quick; this changes fast in the world of cheap airline tickets and last minute packages. If you find one that’s what you want and within your budget, jump on it!

Popular Flight Comparison Websites

• Kayak
• Flight Compare
• Skyscanner

Cavendish Beach (click image to enlarge)
image courtesy of Mr. Moss

• Where is Cavendish Beach? centrally situated on the north shore of Canada’s smallest province, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Atlantic Ocean)
• Coordinates: latitude» 46.4993°
  longitude» -63.3947°
• Water Type: saltwater
• Climate: maritime
• Development: small resort town with beachfront area
• Length of Beach: .7m/1.1km
• Type: beige sand and red sand, with dunes

Cavendish was settled in the early 1800s by three families from Scotland who opted to farm because there was no workable harbor. Not much else happened until the world-class, record-holding clipper, Marco Polo, ran aground and broke apart on Cavendish Beach. The locale became famous the world over thanks to local writer Lucy Maude Montgomery. Now the area is treasured for its charm and exceptional, unusual beach.

Close to the water, the sand on this sunny beach is beige, but as it draws back from the water’s edge, it turns increasingly red to the point where it matches the red sandstone cliffs that protect it from winds off the land. Atop the cliffs are lush tufts of greenery and some visitors have noted its similarity to a “chia pet”. All jokes aside, this is a beautiful beach in a lovely part of the Canadian maritimes, with plenty of attractions, or the ideal spot to relax and savor a lobster sandwich.

Cavendish and surrounds are a haven for golfers and fans of deep-sea fishing, but there are dozens of other activities depending on your energy levels on any given day. For a lazy sort of visit, check out the many antique shops and galleries featuring local artisans, or tour historical sites, and Green Gables House and Avonlea Village. For the sports-minded, there is horseback riding, parasailing, kayaking and camping.

Or pick your month to vacation here and check out the rock music concerts at the annual Cavendish Beach Music Festival, four days in early July. Perhaps the rustic Provincial Exhibition and Old Home Week, held for 10 days in mid-August, is more laid-back and to your taste; it offers a midway, dog shows, agricultural displays and tourism treats. A highlight of the festival season in Cavendish Beach is Acadian Harvest in late September, featuring Acadian food, crafts, arts, music, dance, stories and songs. It celebrates the French side of Canadian maritime culture that has existed in these provinces since around 1604.

Cavendish is a great spot to vacation with children of all ages. There are two amusement parks, all the fun of Green Gables, and a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “Odditorium”. The Sandspit amusement park has miniature golf, a rollercoaster and go-karts. The entire area is part of Prince Edward Island National Park that runs 37 miles (60 kilometers) along the north coast of the island, every part of it worth exploring.

Peak season here is May to September, but the beach is accessible for walking all year round, providing the snow isn’t too heavy (which in the winter it can be). A happy place full of fun and a quiet place for total rest and relaxation; Cavendish Beach is both.