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Honest Aviasales review and step-by-step guide for first-time users. Learn how Aviasales works, my booking workflow, money-saving tips
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction
Planning a trip is exciting — but if you’re like me, hunting for affordable flights can also be one of the most stressful parts of travel. I’ve spent countless hours comparing fares, trying different dates, juggling multiple tabs, and hoping I didn’t miss out on a better deal somewhere else.
That all changed a few years ago when I discovered Aviasales, a flight search engine that completely reshaped how I book flights. Today, I’m sharing a detailed Aviasales review, including my personal workflow, tips to avoid hidden fees.
What is Aviasales?
Aviasales is a flight metasearch engine. That means it doesn’t sell tickets itself. Instead, it scans dozens of airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to show you the cheapest available fares, then redirects you to the actual seller to complete your booking.
Think of it as a detective for flight prices. You search once, and Aviasales gathers results from across the internet so you don’t have to open 10 different airline websites.
Launched in 2007, Aviasales has grown into one of the most popular flight search tools, especially in Europe and Asia. It also has a well-rated mobile app that makes quick searches super convenient.
Why I Started Using Aviasales
I first stumbled upon Aviasales while planning a budget backpacking trip across Southeast Asia. I was juggling multiple one-way tickets — Bangkok to Siem Reap, then Siem Reap to Kuala Lumpur — and other search engines kept showing me pricey, inflexible routings.
Aviasales, on the other hand, showed me a combination of low-cost carriers with better departure times and cheaper overall fares. I saved about $80 just on that one trip. Since then, I’ve made Aviasales my first stop for flight research.
Step-by-Step: How I Use Aviasales to Find Cheap Flights
Here’s my exact workflow every time I use Aviasales:
1. Start the Search
- Open the website or app.
- Choose one-way, round-trip, or multi-city.
- Enter your departure and destination airports.
- If you’re flexible, tick “Nearby airports” — sometimes it shows hidden gems.
2. Use the Calendar View
Aviasales has a fantastic monthly price calendar. Instead of locking yourself to one date, you can see fares across 30 days and instantly spot cheaper days to fly.
💡 Example: Flying from New York to Paris on a Saturday might cost $450, but leaving Sunday instead could drop it to $320.
3. Apply Smart Filters
Once results load, I always filter:
- Stops: I usually stick to non-stop or 1-stop only.
- Duration: I set a maximum duration to avoid crazy 30-hour routings.
- Airlines: I exclude carriers I don’t want to fly.
- Baggage info: Expand fare details to check if luggage is included.
4. Set Price Alerts
If I’m not ready to book, I turn on a price alert. Aviasales emails me whenever the fare changes, so I don’t have to check every day.
5. Click Through Carefully
When you click a deal, Aviasales redirects you to the airline or OTA selling the ticket. Before paying, I always double-check:
- Total price with baggage & taxes
- Change/cancellation policy
- Currency (to avoid bank fees)
- Reputation of the seller
If the difference between an unknown agency and booking directly with the airline is small, I almost always choose the airline for peace of mind.
6. Confirm & Save
After booking, I:
- Screenshot the confirmation page
- Save the confirmation email
- Verify the booking on the airline’s official website using the PNR code
Tips to Avoid Hidden Fees & Surprises
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few lessons:
- Know the seller — Aviasales shows many agencies, some better than others. If you’ve never heard of one, research it first.
- Watch for service fees — Some OTAs add change/cancel fees.
- Check baggage — The cheapest fare often excludes checked luggage.
- Currency matters — Double-check whether you’re being charged in your home currency or not.
- Insurance & flexibility — If you’re booking non-refundable fares, having travel insurance is smart.
Pros & Cons of Aviasales
✅ Pros
- Fast and easy comparison across dozens of sellers
- Excellent monthly price calendar
- Great for finding unusual route combinations
- Simple, user-friendly mobile app
❌ Cons
- Doesn’t sell tickets itself — all support goes through the seller
- Some sellers listed are small or less transparent
- Focused mainly on flights (not a full travel package service)
Aviasales vs Trip.com vs CheapOair
So how does Aviasales stack up against other popular platforms?
| Feature | Aviasales (Metasearch) | Trip.com (OTA) | CheapOair (OTA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Search engine, redirects to sellers | Full OTA (flights, hotels, trains, cars) | OTA (flights, hotels, cars) |
| Best for | Fast comparison, flexible dates | Bundled bookings & strong customer support | U.S.-focused deals & promo codes |
| Booking support | Handled by seller (not Aviasales) | Trip.com handles support directly | CheapOair handles, but reviews mixed |
| Fees | Varies by seller | Transparent but watch add-ons | Known for service fees on changes |
| Mobile App | Yes — lightweight and simple | Yes — feature-rich with loyalty program | Yes — deals & rewards |
My Take:
- Use Aviasales for research and price comparison.
- Use Trip.com if you want one platform to handle flights + hotels.
- Use CheapOair if you’re U.S.-based and want app promo codes — but always read the fine print.
Real-Life Examples
- Asia backpacking trip: Aviasales found me a mix of AirAsia + local carriers that cut my total costs by 10% compared to other sites.
- Family trip to Europe: I spotted a great price on Aviasales but chose to pay a little more to book directly with the airline for easier seat selection and customer support.
When to Use Aviasales (and When Not To)
👉 Use it when:
- You’re in the research phase
- Dates are flexible
- You want to explore multiple route options quickly
🚫 Avoid or be cautious when:
- You need strong customer support
- The seller is unfamiliar and the savings are small
Final Thoughts
Aviasales is an excellent tool for discovery and comparison. It won’t hold your hand through cancellations or refunds — that’s up to the airline or OTA you book with — but if your goal is to find the best flight at the lowest price with minimal effort, Aviasales should definitely be part of your toolkit.
For me, the strategy is simple:
- Research on Aviasales
- Verify seller details
- Book direct if the price difference is small
That approach has saved me money and stress on dozens of trips, and I hope this guide helps you use Aviasales confidently for your own adventures.
👉 Ready to try it?
Search flights on Aviasales now and see how much you can save on your next trip.
=> Suggested post: Trip.com Review & Guide (2025): My Honest Experience Using Trip.com for Flights, Hotels, and More