If you want to find cheap flights and save money on your next trip, Kiwi.com is a tool worth knowing. It uses a unique search method that combines flights from different airlines, even those that don’t usually work together. This lets you uncover flight options and prices that you might miss on other sites.
Using Kiwi.com can help you plan trips that include flights, buses, and trains, all in one place. It’s designed to give you more choices and better deals by searching over 750 carriers. While some travelers find it useful, you should be careful if your travel plans change since booking through Kiwi.com can be less flexible than booking directly with airlines.
In this review, you’ll learn how Kiwi.com works, what makes it different, and tips on how to use it to get the best deals on flights. Understanding its features will help you decide if it’s the right flight booking platform for your travel needs.
What Is Kiwi.com and How Does It Work?
Kiwi.com is an online travel agency that helps you find low-cost flights by combining options from many airlines. It uses a special system to mix routes that you normally wouldn’t see together, giving you more ways to travel at a lower price.
Overview of Kiwi.com’s Platform
Kiwi.com acts as both a search engine and a booking site for flights and ground travel. It gathers data from over 750 carriers, including airlines and buses. You can search for flights across whole regions, not just specific cities, which helps you find more options.
You book directly through Kiwi.com, which updates you with real-time information about seat availability and prices. It also provides customer support 24/7. Since its launch in 2012, it has served millions of travelers worldwide.
Unique Features and Innovations
Kiwi.com’s key tool is the Kiwi-Code, a proprietary algorithm that scans all possible flight, train, and bus routes. It then identifies combinations other sites often miss because many airlines do not cooperate openly.
This allows you to create travel plans that mix carriers, even if they don’t normally share schedules. Kiwi.com also offers “travel hacks” for complex trips, helping you save money on multi-city or one-way journeys that would otherwise be expensive or unavailable.
How Kiwi.com Differs from Other Flight Booking Sites
Unlike popular sites like Skyscanner, Kiwi.com goes beyond simple flight listings and includes ground transport options. It builds unique itineraries by linking separate carriers, which other platforms usually don’t do.
You accept a bit more risk with connections not officially guaranteed by airlines, but this opens up many cheaper or faster travel paths. You get access to real-time prices and updates, making Kiwi.com a useful tool if you want cheap flights that are hard to find elsewhere.
How to Find and Book Cheap Flights on Kiwi.com
You can save money by carefully searching for flights, checking prices often, and using Kiwi.com’s helpful filters. Adjusting your travel dates and using alerts will also help you spot the best deals. Here’s how to use these features step-by-step.
Searching for Flights and Flexible Dates
Start by entering your departure airport and destination. Kiwi.com lets you search one-way, round-trip, or multi-city routes. Use the flexible dates option to see prices for days before and after your chosen dates. This helps you find cheaper flights if your schedule allows some flexibility.
You can also select nearby airports as alternatives to widen your search. This can unlock lower fares that other search engines might miss. The search results will include options with mixed airlines and connections, giving you a broader selection of affordable flights.
Using Price Alerts for Better Deals
Set up price alerts on Kiwi.com to track flight prices over time. Alerts notify you by email or app notifications when prices drop. This feature is valuable if you have fixed dates but want to wait for a better deal.
You can create alerts for specific routes and adjust how often you receive updates. Monitoring prices regularly through alerts can help you book flights when rates are at their lowest.
Filters and Tools for Affordable Flights
Kiwi.com offers filters to narrow down results by criteria like the number of stops, departure times, airlines, and flight duration. Use these to avoid undesired long layovers or expensive carriers.
You can also set a maximum price limit to only see flights within your budget. The site’s “Best” filter sorts flights by a balance of price and travel time, helping you find affordable options without sacrificing convenience.
These tools make it easier to find and book the cheapest flights that fit your needs quickly.
Traveler Experience and Review Insights
When using Kiwi.com, your experience depends heavily on how the service handles customer support, flight changes, and complex trips. You can expect tools that help manage self-transfers and multi-city bookings, along with travel tips designed to save money.
Customer Service and Support
Kiwi.com offers customer support that you can contact if you encounter issues during booking or travel. Many travelers find the support helpful when you need quick answers or changes. The team is reachable by phone and email, though wait times can vary.
If you get stuck, it’s important to keep your booking reference handy. Clear communication and polite persistence help when resolving problems. Reviews show that while customer service usually meets expectations, sometimes it can be slow or less responsive during high-demand periods.
Handling Flight Changes and Self-Transfers
When your flight plans change, Kiwi.com helps by allowing you to adjust your itinerary directly through their site. They do more than just book flights; Kiwi.com combines flights from different airlines, which means you might need to manage self-transfers.
Self-transfers require you to collect and check in bags between flights on your own. Kiwi.com provides notifications but does not always cover missed connections caused by self-transfer delays. Being proactive and planning extra time between flights is crucial to avoid problems.
Multi-City Trips and Travel Hacks
The multi-city feature lets you build custom trips with stops in several cities. This tool helps you find affordable and creative flight paths, often combining carriers that don’t usually cooperate. You can save money by mixing flights, trains, and buses in your itinerary.
Kiwi.com also offers travel hacks such as flexible date searches and alternate airports. These options let you discover cheaper routes and reduce overall travel costs. Using these hacks requires some flexibility but can significantly lower your expenses.
Things to Consider Before Booking with Kiwi.com
When using Kiwi.com, keep in mind that their booking process focuses on finding the cheapest flight combinations, sometimes with risks. You will need to weigh potential savings against customer service and flexibility limits.
Pros and Cons Based on User Reviews
Many users praise Kiwi.com for finding unique and low-cost flight routes. The site mixes flights from different airlines that don’t usually cooperate, giving you cheaper options. This can save you money, especially on multi-city trips.
However, some travelers mention challenges like having to check in again during layovers or flights from separate airports. The booking process can feel complex and sometimes confusing.
Customer service receives mixed reviews. If issues arise, getting fast and helpful support may be difficult. You should prepare for possible extra effort managing your itinerary after booking.
Refunds, Guarantees, and Limitations
Kiwi.com offers a “Kiwi.com Guarantee” that can cover missed connections if you booked through them. But this applies only in specific cases, and you must follow their rules closely.
Refunds and cancellations can be tricky. Many users report strict policies, and changing or canceling flights isn’t always easy or free. You might lose money if your plans change.
Before booking, check terms carefully. Understand what kinds of changes are allowed and how support works. This will help you avoid surprises, especially if flexibility is important to you.
If you’re even a little unsure about your plans, it’s smart to dig into their terms before you book. Know exactly what you’re getting into so you don’t end up frustrated if you need flexibility later.
All in all, Kiwi.com isn’t the most forgiving when it comes to changing your mind, so double-check everything before you click “buy.”
