Finding cheap flights is one thing — actually booking them at the right price is another. That’s where Skyscanner price alerts come in. I wanted to test whether they really help save money, so I ran a real-world experiment over a month.
Here’s what I did — and how much I saved.
Experiment Setup
Route Tested: Mumbai (BOM) → London (LHR)
Travel Dates: Flexible dates within a 2-week window in December
Passenger: 1 Adult, Economy
Filters: Max 1 stop, layovers <3 hours
Alert Duration: 4 weeks
I set up a Skyscanner price alert to notify me whenever fares dropped, and I tracked the price trend daily.
Step 1: Setting Up Alerts
- Logged into Skyscanner → selected route and travel dates
- Clicked “Get Price Alerts” → email & mobile notifications enabled
- Started tracking December flights
💡 Tip: Price alerts are route-specific, so create one per route for maximum savings.
Step 2: Daily Tracking
Here’s a snapshot of the price changes over 4 weeks:
| Date Alert Received | Price (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 56,500 | Initial alert |
| Week 2 | 54,900 | Slight drop |
| Week 3 | 52,700 | Biggest drop observed |
| Week 4 | 53,100 | Minor increase |
Observation: The lowest fare appeared in week 3 — 3 weeks before departure.
Step 3: Final Booking & Savings
- Booked at lowest fare: ₹52,700
- Initial fare when alert started: ₹56,500
💰 Total savings: ₹3,800
Not huge for one passenger — but for a family of 4, that’s ₹15,200 saved!
Step 4: Insights From the Experiment
1️⃣ Alerts Work Best With Flexibility
- Flexible travel dates give you more chances to book at a low fare.
2️⃣ Early Alerts Capture Price Drops
- Set alerts at least 6–12 weeks before travel for international flights.
- Most significant drops occur 4–6 weeks before departure.
3️⃣ Don’t Wait for Last-Minute Fares
- Last-minute fares are unpredictable and usually higher, especially during peak seasons.
4️⃣ Compare OTA & Airline Prices
- Alerts can show both OTA and airline fares, helping you pick the best total cost.
Step 5: Practical Tips
- Set alerts immediately when your travel dates are decided.
- Track prices daily, but don’t panic over minor fluctuations.
- Use flexible date view on Skyscanner to spot cheaper alternatives.
- Book immediately when your alert shows a fare within your budget — don’t wait too long.
