With the summer travel season in full swing, the pressure is on for flight booking platforms to deliver fast, accurate, and hassle-free experiences. To see how well the top names stack up, software development specialists at Propel Tech conducted an in-depth usability review of five of the most popular online flight booking platforms: Skyscanner, Google Flights, Kayak, Expedia, and Opodo. Best flight booking sites

From casual holidaymakers to frequent flyers, today’s users demand more than just cheap fares — they expect intuitive interfaces, fast load times, clear pricing, and precise filtering options that help them book flights efficiently and with confidence. Propel Tech’s expert testers evaluated each platform using real-world criteria such as page speed, search accuracy, price transparency, and overall booking journey to identify which sites truly cater to modern user expectations. Each site was tested for speed, search accuracy, price transparency, and overall user experience to earn an overall score out of 10.

The test revealed clear winners — and some surprising setbacks. Skyscanner and Google Flights shared the top spot with a score of 8/10, praised for their streamlined interfaces and transparent, user-first design. Kayak followed closely behind, while Expedia and Opodo lagged due to slower speeds and more complicated navigation.

Flight Booking Sites Ranked: The Best — and the Rest

Here’s a detailed look at how each platform performed, what stood out, and what still needs improvement.

Top of the leaderboard were Skyscanner and Google Flights, both scoring 8/10. Skyscanner stood out for its simple, accurate filtering and transparent pricing, allowing users to compare options clearly across airlines.

Google Flights performed similarly well, with fast load speeds and a streamlined booking journey taking just over a minute to complete.

Kayak followed closely with 7/10, thanks to detailed search tools and a “compare with other sites” feature. While effective, its slower desktop load speed, around 30 seconds, and a slightly longer booking process meant it didn’t quite match the front-runners.

Expedia and Opodo scored 6/10, both hampered by more complex navigation and pricing displays. Expedia showed early promise with strong filters, but delays during flight selection and unclear final costs impacted its rating. Opodo’s simple interface was let down by limited filtering and a less intuitive comparison layout.

Key testing areas included:

• Time to booking confirmation: Skyscanner and Google Flights both allowed users to complete a search and booking in around one minute.
• Search accuracy and filters: Platforms were assessed on how well they let users refine results by key criteria like baggage, flight time and stops.
• Price transparency: Sites that clearly displayed full fares upfront and made comparisons easy scored higher.
• Page load speed: Mobile and desktop load times were measured to reflect real-world user expectations. Kayak’s mobile speed was the fastest (approx. 12 seconds), while all platforms performed within a competitive range.

Iain MacFadyen, test manager of Propel Tech, said: Best flight booking sites

“Summer is peak travel season, and the pressure on booking sites is immense. Consumers expect speed, accuracy and transparency when booking flights online.

“Skyscanner and Google Flights have clearly invested in user-first design that supports fast decision-making and minimal friction.”