KAYAK is a travel search engine that helps you compare all your flight options in one place. The deals you find come from airlines and our vetted travel partners, this is who you’ll ultimately book with. Here’s how we source those deals and some background on how our partnerships work.
In this article
- Where do flight deals on KAYAK come from?
- Can I trust flight deals on KAYAK?
- What happens if something goes wrong?
- Cheap flight tips from some of our most savvy travelers.
- FAQs
Where do flight deals on KAYAK come from?
Wondering where all those flight options come from? It’s actually quite simple:
- Partners such as American Airlines and Delta, as well as OTAs like Expedia, provide flights.
- These flights are shown in KAYAK search results so you can compare them in one place.
Always my go to! Simple and easy UI, and the filters help you find what fits you best. They show the best prices too, and so far, their partner lists have been reliable. Have been using KAYAK for years now!
Chris Denver, KAYAK Trustpilot Review
How do I know who I’m booking with?
We find the flights, you do the booking. Once you find a flight you like and click it, you’ll see your booking options. If you haven’t already, you can also pick your fare type.
Options usually include direct booking with an airline and some OTAs (which are generally cheaper). Review them carefully and pick what works for you.
Sample listing of providers and airlines, divided into top offers and all other offers.
Can I avoid third-party bookings?
If you’d rather book directly with an airline, you can. All you need to do is filter by “Airlines only”.
If more than one airline serves your route, you can compare prices and choose the flight time that works best for you. Not a fan of 6 am departures? You can filter those out, too.
Once you’ve found your flight, head to the airline’s website to book and collect your loyalty points.
Can I trust flight deals on KAYAK?
Yes. Booking travel online can feel like a leap of faith, so we have a rigorous process to vet every airline and partner that appears on KAYAK. We also have a Search Data & Quality team dedicated to enforcing our partner guidelines and advocating for our travelers.
These guidelines help you book with confidence. They ensure:
- We only work with partners that comply with applicable laws and regulations.
- Flights booked through KAYAK honor a 24-hour free cancellation or booking change period (as per DOT rules in the US).
- No waitlisted bookings for full flights.
- No account creation just to book your trip.
- No hidden charges – prices include all taxes, fees and charges.
- Clear and transparent booking information, including the basics like departure and arrival airports.
If you need help, our guidelines also require partners to respond to your questions within two business days. Here’s a little more about what the Search Data & Quality team does, in their own words:
Our role is to make sure travelers can trust the providers they see on KAYAK. You could think of us as KAYAK’s quality police: when something goes wrong, we listen, investigate, and advocate for the user. We work with providers to fix issues and make sure they meet the standards our travelers deserve.
Ola Markieta, Search Data & Quality
What happens if something goes wrong?
If your flight is canceled or you miss a connection, don’t panic. Booking through KAYAK doesn’t change what happens next.
- If your confirmation email came from the airline, contact them online or at the airport.
- If you booked through an online travel agency (OTA) via KAYAK, contact them first.
If you need more help or aren’t satisfied with the support you receive, get in touch with our team. We’ll do our best to help.
How to get help from KAYAK?
It’s always best to contact whoever you booked with first. Need more help? Our customer support team has your back. Here’s how:
- Check our Help Center. Your go to for our most common support questions & answers.
- Chat with our Virtual Assistant. A quick way to get the answers you need.
- Fill out this form for more detailed support – it’ll go directly to our customer support team
We want you to have a smooth booking experience, so if we spot any complaint patterns, our provider team will investigate on your behalf. This way, we can make sure the experience on KAYAK can improve for everyone.
Cheap flight tips from some of our most savvy travelers.
- Fly often? Use Trips to track all your travel and automatically share it with loved ones.
- If you have no date restrictions, use Explore to find cheap flights to anywhere in the world.
- Sort results by price if saving money is your top priority.
- If you’re flexible, try flexible dates to see all the best available prices around the time you want to fly.
FAQs
Yes! All partners are vetted and must follow provider guidelines.
Check verified online reviews, such as Trustpilot. Having a look at the website's contact page to confirm they have a legit customer support email or phone number is another good idea.
