An alternative to Kayak?
 

I have frequently used Kayak to plan for flights and especially liked not only the various filters but also the possibility to see variations in prices over a number of days. Maybe I did not follow the booking link but it gave me input to change my schedule to get better prices especially for long trips to the US or the Far East.

However, Kayak has now eliminated the price differential over a number of days. Some airlines still show variations in price over a number of days (British Airways, Swiss etc) but obviously this is a single airline.

Is or are there alternatives to Kayak which show multiple dates?

Use ITA, which is the engine behind Kayak. http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ . You can do month-long searches, or given days plus/minus 2 days. If you learn ITA's "syntax" you can specify preferred routes or airlines, stopovers or connections, alliances, arrival times and departures... many, many variables. It's well worth the effort to learn how to use this very powerful tool.

ITA got bought by Google a couple of years ago, and have linked it (sort of loosely) with Google Flights. You can't book directly through ITA like you can with Kayak, but using Google flights you can. So you use ITA to see the full breadth of your options, then use Google flights (or better, just go to the airline's website or call them) to book the trip.

Kayak redesigned fairly recently. Hate it.

https://www.google.com/flights/

Amazing website.

bvh - but how does multiples dates work on this site?

Gardyloo - this looks promising. Thanks.

I too always use ITA and have very successfully found great airfares since we normally have some flexibility. One issue though is that sometimes (not too often) it finds routings I can't find elsewhere. The site can be slow at times, but I can wait a bit.

I assume by multiple dates you mean multi-city? They provide a tab for that option.

bvh - by multiple dates I mean multiple dates as Gardyloo and julies obviously understand.

Yes, I have no idea what you mean by multiple dates. I don't need to know. If the matrix page works for you, good. The website is slow, that's all. The Google link works much faster.

I use Google flights.

bvh - kayak was able show the prices over a number of days whereas now they limit the price to one day only. do you now understand?

In Googleflights, if you click on the depart date window and put in the 1st of any month, the calendar window will open. Click on Flexible dates. A price for every day of the month should appear.

Skyscanners was, in my opinion, by far the most effective flight search site around. Spent years booking flights with them.

However, after selling out and changing their software I wouldn't even bother to log on. Just a waste of time.

I have found flights directly the airlines' own sites which don't appear on search engines.

Delta offered us The Bahamas next EASTER with one stop for £550 which is just unbelievable. The best price on on search engines was £2000 per ticket, economy.

Still finding 8 months out is the best time to book.

Bookmarking

I beg to differ about 8 months out being the best pricing. IF you are flexible, a month or so beforehand can get you fabulous prices. I have consistently had success with this. I use ITA software flexible dates search. Last winter we did a complicated USA midwest into Yangon in Myanmar and out of Kuala Lumpur back to the US for around $750. We just arrived in Italy on flights I booked a month ago using ITA's flexible search. Midwest USA roundtrip to Rome $610.