In an age when travel is increasingly accessible and demand for budget-friendly options is soaring, finding cheap flight tickets has become both an art and a science. With the aviation sector in India witnessing exponential growth, travellers, whether budget-conscious tourists, business professionals, or frequent fliers, are constantly on the lookout for platforms that offer the best deals on airfares. The good news is that numerous websites in India specialise in aggregating or directly booking cheap flights, and understanding which of them best suits your travel needs can make all the difference in your experience.
Understanding the Flight Booking Landscape
Before listing the best sites, it's important to understand the basic types of platforms available for flight bookings:
-
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): These platforms allow users to search, compare, and directly book flights. They usually provide bundled offers, deals, cashback, and sometimes hotel + flight combinations.
-
Aggregators (Meta-search Engines): These websites don’t handle the booking directly but compare airfares across multiple OTAs and sometimes the airline's own site, giving a wide-angle view of pricing options.
While both serve the same primary purpose — helping you book flights — OTAs are usually more straightforward for end-to-end booking, while aggregators are excellent for fare comparison.
Top Booking Sites in India for Cheap Flights in 2025
1. MakeMyTrip (MMT)
One of the most dominant players in India’s online travel space, MakeMyTrip continues to be a go-to destination for booking affordable flights in 2025. Established in 2000, MMT has built strong relationships with domestic and international airlines.
Why it's popular:
-
Daily flash sales and seasonal deals
-
Easy user interface with filters like layovers, travel duration, baggage rules
-
Bundled offers on hotels and cabs
-
Wallet cashback and discounts via credit card partnerships
Bonus Tip: Users booking flights through MMT often benefit from its loyalty program MyCash, which can be redeemed on future bookings.
2. Cleartrip
Another long-standing travel booking website in India, Cleartrip is known for its clean user interface and transparency in pricing. Now part of Flipkart, the platform has seen significant upgrades in 2024 and 2025 to enhance customer experience.
Highlights:
-
Displays a fare calendar to help users spot the cheapest travel days
-
Price alert features to monitor fare changes
-
Offers both airline-direct and OTA pricing
-
Integration with Flipkart SuperCoins for added discounts
Unique Feature: Cleartrip’s “Expressway” login for faster checkout is a boon for frequent travelers.
3. Ixigo
Initially started as a travel planning tool, Ixigo has evolved into one of the most intuitive flight-booking platforms in India. As of 2025, it's backed by AI and machine learning algorithms that suggest optimal booking windows and cheapest days to fly.
Best for:
-
Flexible travel dates
-
Predictive fare insights (whether fares are expected to go up or down)
-
Seamless mobile app experience
User Tip: Ixigo Money, their wallet system, lets you get instant discounts and cashback on bookings, often making it cheaper than competitors.
4. Goibibo
Goibibo, part of the same parent group as MMT (MakeMyTrip), has retained its individuality and discount-centric branding. The platform thrives on offering GoCash — a virtual wallet currency that can be used for flight and hotel bookings.
Why it stands out:
-
Real-time fare trends and predictive analytics
-
Goibibo Prime for added discounts and exclusive deals
-
Allows hotel and bus bookings in the same interface
-
Fast refunds and rescheduling
Goibibo’s strength lies in frequent promotional campaigns and bank tie-ups, offering cashbacks and instant discounts.
5. Skyscanner
One of the leading global flight aggregators, Skyscanner is increasingly favored by Indian users seeking cheap international and domestic flights. The website does not process bookings but redirects users to the cheapest OTA or airline site.
Notable advantages:
-
Shows a wide array of international low-cost airlines
-
Month-view calendar for spotting the lowest prices
-
Filters for carbon emissions, stopovers, and flight duration
-
No hidden costs — redirects to official OTA or airline sites
Pro Tip: Ideal for those with flexible travel dates and destinations looking to save big.
6. Google Flights
A powerful tool rather than a booking platform, Google Flights aggregates flight pricing from various sources including airline websites, OTAs, and travel portals. It doesn't earn commissions, making its recommendations unbiased.
Advantages:
-
Lightning-fast interface
-
“Date grid” and “price graph” for smarter decisions
-
Option to book directly with airlines or OTAs
-
Useful travel insights like flight delays or COVID restrictions (if any)
Best Used For: Cross-referencing prices before making the final booking.
7. EaseMyTrip
This lesser-known but rapidly growing OTA has built its reputation on zero convenience fees — a standout feature in an industry where hidden charges are rampant.
Key Benefits:
-
No hidden charges or service fees
-
Loyalty rewards and frequent offers
-
Partnership with IRCTC and airlines for exclusive discounts
-
Easy refund and customer support policies
Why Choose It? If you’re tired of hidden service fees that inflate your fare at checkout, EaseMyTrip is your best bet.
8. Yatra
Yatra has remained a consistent performer in India’s travel booking market, offering comprehensive travel packages and robust flight booking services.
Strengths:
-
Real-time fare comparison across airlines
-
Frequent promotions and coupons
-
Offers “Yatra eCash” for future use
-
Partner credit card deals
Their 2025 revamp now includes AI-based fare predictions and WhatsApp-based customer service, improving usability.
Pro Tips: How to Book Cheap Flights Smartly
Even with the best booking sites at your fingertips, making the smartest flight booking requires strategic decisions. Here’s how to ensure you get the best deal:
1. Compare Multiple Sites
No single website guarantees the cheapest fare every time. Inventory, discounts, and commission margins differ. It’s wise to check at least 3-4 websites — a combination of OTAs and aggregators — before confirming.
2. Book During Sales and Off-Peak Hours
Most OTAs host sales during major Indian festivals, Republic Day, Independence Day, or financial year-end. Booking late at night or early morning also tends to yield slightly lower fares.
3. Use Flight Search Tools
Features like flexible date searches, price alerts, and fare calendars help track trends and snag bargains. Tools from Skyscanner, Ixigo, and Google Flights are particularly effective.
4. Check Alternate Airports
India’s major cities often have secondary airports. For example, flights into Pune might be cheaper than Mumbai, and traveling by road for the remaining distance can save both money and hassle.
5. Understand Your Risk Tolerance
Some aggregators display “self-transfer” tickets where separate bookings are stitched together for cheaper rates. While money-saving, these are risky — missed connections won’t be covered by airlines. Stick to single PNRs if your travel plan is inflexible.
6. Use Reward Credit Cards
Even when not paying with miles, booking flights using airline or travel credit cards like Axis Vistara, HDFC Diners Club, or SBI Air India cards can offer free lounge access, complimentary meals, checked-in baggage benefits, or extra reward points.
Final Thoughts
Booking cheap flights in India has become a streamlined process, thanks to the proliferation of intelligent booking platforms, advanced fare prediction tools, and competitive pricing by airlines and OTAs. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or an occasional flyer, having the right tools and strategies can mean the difference between overpaying and scoring a great deal.
Platforms like MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Ixigo, and Skyscanner serve diverse traveler needs — from speed and simplicity to predictive intelligence and fare comparison. But the smartest move is combining them strategically: check an aggregator, compare OTAs, and then verify directly with the airline. Layer in travel card perks and date flexibility, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering budget air travel in India.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
