A flight search engine that combines flights from different airlines? (2014)
Flight search tools that combine separate tickets from different airlines—often called “virtual interlining”—promise cheaper or more flexible itineraries, but expose travelers to major risks if connections are missed or plans change. Commenters compare services like Kiwi, Hopper, Skiplagged, Skyscanner, Google Flights, and legacy GDS-based systems, noting that these can surface creative routings yet often rely on fragile data pipelines, scraping, and complex partnerships with airlines. Many conclude that while such tools are useful for searching and for very price‑sensitive or flexible travelers, booking directly with airlines and sticking to official interlined tickets is still safer in most cases.
What the OP Is Really Asking About
- OP wants a flight search engine that combines flights from different airlines on separate tickets to create cheaper or more flexible itineraries.
- This is widely referred to as “virtual interlining” or “self-transfer,” distinct from traditional interlining on a single ticket.
Virtual Interlining & Example Tools
- Kiwi.com, Hopper’s “Mix & Match,” Skiplagged, and Tripstack’s tech are cited as implementing virtual interlining with some form of connection insurance/“layover protection.”
- Users report big savings (sometimes hundreds of euros/dollars, or large percentage discounts), especially within Europe and for budget carriers.
- Several people say they’d still avoid using it for “important” or time‑critical trips due to risk.
Risks of Separate Tickets & Third‑Party OTAs
- Key risk: if one leg is delayed, the onward airline has no obligation to rebook or refund; traveler is on their own financially and logistically.
- Checked baggage and irregular operations (IRROPS) become much more stressful; stories of being stranded, losing money, or stuck between airline and OTA blaming each other.
- Many contributors strongly prefer booking directly with airlines, using OTAs only for search; others in Europe report routinely booking through third parties with few issues and significant savings.
- Some describe particularly bad experiences with certain OTAs (e.g., hostile airline relationships, inability to use mobile check‑in, terrible support).
Search Engines, GDS, and Data Access
- Traditional Global Distribution Systems (Sabre, Amadeus, Travelport) were meant to be single sources of truth, but airline opt‑outs and fragmentation create gaps.
- Calls for an “uber‑GDS” / meta‑meta‑search are tempered by claims that economics don’t work: low commissions, high scraping/API costs, and users bypassing aggregators to book direct.
- ITA Software (now underpinning Google Flights and ITA Matrix) is praised for powerful search; Google Flights is widely liked but sometimes surfaces OTA‑only prices.
- Data access is hard: scraping low‑cost carriers is brittle and legally contested; comprehensive, up‑to‑date global inventory remains elusive.
Desired Features & Market Reality
- Users want: multi‑city optimization, “explore from this airport” views, multi‑origin searches, and better points/loyalty optimization.
- Several note that many sophisticated pre‑COVID “tricks” matter less now due to route changes, higher or restructured prices, and generally tighter networks.