We compare more than 700 airlines: full-service flag carriers, hybrid carriers, low-cost airlines, and regional operators. Search by route and we surface every airline that flies it - cheapest first.
The three carrier types you’ll see
- Full-service carriers - the legacy national airlines (British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways). Bag, seat, and meal are usually included on long-haul. Higher base fare, fewer surprises.
- Low-cost carriers - Ryanair, easyJet, AirAsia, Wizz Air, Spirit, Frontier. Stripped-down base fare, with bags, seats, and meals priced separately. Cheaper if you travel light, often more expensive once you add what you need.
- Hybrid carriers - JetBlue, Norse Atlantic, Aer Lingus, TAP Portugal. Sit in the middle: some inclusions, optional fare bundles, often the best value on transatlantic routes.
Alliances and codeshares
The three big alliances - Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam - let you earn and burn miles across member airlines. Codeshares let one airline sell tickets on another’s flight. We show the operating airline, not just the marketing one, so you know who actually flies the plane and whose lounge and baggage policy applies.
Baggage and add-ons differ wildly
Two airlines on the same route can quote a $50 difference in base fare and a $100 difference in total once you add a checked bag. Always confirm what your fare includes before you book - our results show fare-class details and link straight to the airline or agency’s booking page so you can read the fare rules in full.
Direct vs connecting
A direct flight is usually faster and lower-risk: a missed connection on a self-built itinerary can leave you stranded. A connecting itinerary on a single ticket transfers that risk to the airline. We mark each result with stops, layover times, and whether the legs share a single ticket so the trade-off is visible.
How we rank airlines
We don’t. We rank fares. The cheapest qualifying fare for your route and dates appears first, regardless of carrier. Affiliate fees from partners are flat - they never move the order. Read our affiliate disclosure for the long version.
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