Google Flights vs Skyscanner:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Skyscanner had more branded searches than Google Flights among travel booking sites in the United Kingdom. Skyscanner had about 6.1 million branded searches, while Google Flights had 1.5 million. Skyscanner made up 61.3% of all travel booking site searches we track, and Google Flights accounted for 15%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about travel booking sites, Google Flights and Skyscanner each appeared in three of the four answers. Google Flights was mentioned before Skyscanner in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Skyscanner, about 4 searches for every 1 for Google Flights
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 4 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Google Flights, named ahead of Skyscanner in 2 of 3 answers
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Top travel booking sites in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Google Flights and Skyscanner were each mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Google Flights was listed before Skyscanner in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Skyscanner3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Google Flights3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Booking.com1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
trivago1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Hotels.com1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Kayak1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Expedia0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
lastminute.com0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Trip.com0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Opodo0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about travel booking sites
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best site to book cheap flights from the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which website has the best hotel deals?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Is it cheaper to book flights through a comparison site or directly with the airline?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cheap flights”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 27, 2026.
Is Google Flights or Skyscanner more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Flights and Skyscanner by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten travel booking sites we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Skyscanner, Google Flights. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Skyscanner | Google Flights | Booking.com | trivago | Expedia | lastminute.com | Hotels.com | Trip.com | Kayak | Opodo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 61.4% | 15% | 10.1% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 1.4% | 0.61% | 0.5% | 0.41% | 0.61% |
| Nov 2025 | 63.8% | 15.6% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.52% | 0.52% | 0.52% | 0.52% |
| Dec 2025 | 63.9% | 15.6% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.52% | 0.42% | 0.52% | 0.52% |
| Jan 2026 | 63.2% | 15.5% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 1.4% | 0.51% | 0.34% | 0.63% | 0.51% |
| Feb 2026 | 61.1% | 15% | 10% | 6.7% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 0.49% | 0.33% | 0.6% | 0.49% |
| Mar 2026 | 59.3% | 17.7% | 9.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 0.48% | 0.59% | 0.48% | 0.48% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.1% | 15.2% | 10.1% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.34% | 0.5% |
| May 2026 | 59.8% | 14.7% | 11.9% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 0.59% | 0.48% | 0.32% | 0.48% |
| Jun 2026 | 59% | 14.5% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.48% | 0.48% | 0.32% | 0.39% |
| Jul 2026 | 58.7% | 14.4% | 11.7% | 7.9% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 0.58% | 0.47% | 0.32% | 0.47% |
| Aug 2026 | 58.2% | 14.3% | 11.6% | 7.8% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.31% | 0.39% |
| Sep 2026 | 61.3% | 15% | 10% | 6.7% | 3.7% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.41% | 0.41% |
How has the Google Flights and Skyscanner comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Skyscanner was ahead of Google Flights in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Flights’ share of searches among travel booking sites in the United Kingdom held steady at 15%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2M to 1.5M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skyscanner’s share of searches among travel booking sites in the United Kingdom moved from 61.4% to 61.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5M to 6.1M.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom travel booking sites in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Skyscanner gained share of searches among travel booking sites in the United Kingdom, from 58.2% to 61.3%.
In September 2026, Google Flights gained share of searches among travel booking sites in the United Kingdom, from 14.3% to 15%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Flights’ and Skyscanner’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Google Flights
1 branded search term
- google flights
Skyscanner
1 branded search term
- skyscanner
Other head-to-heads among travel booking sites
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