Travel planning used to mean clicking through endless tabs, comparing prices across a dozen websites, and hoping you didn't miss a deal. Skyscanner is betting that artificial intelligence can change that calculus entirely. The flight search platform has launched two new beta AI tools designed to strip away the friction from trip planning and let you search the way humans actually think: by asking questions.
The first tool, called Explore with AI, works almost like texting a friend who knows travel. You can type something casual like "help me find cheap flights to Japan in December" and the system fires back personalized recommendations tailored to what you're actually looking for. Beyond just listing flights, it surfaces supporting details like price trends, weather forecasts, and local travel tips that matter when you're deciding between destinations. You can even compare two places side-by-side and see AI-generated insights like "September is typically 24% cheaper than December" or "Best of both: beaches and family trips."
Early testing showed real traction. Skyscanner reported a 60% click-through rate to flight options among people using Explore with AI, suggesting the approach resonates with actual travelers. That's not a trivial number. It means more than half of users who started asking questions actually moved forward to book or compare flights.
The second tool, Road Trip Planner, zooms in on a specific kind of adventure. Tell it what you're after (cultural sites, relaxation, outdoor activities, whatever appeals to you) and the tool maps out a full itinerary with suggested stops and car rental options. For anyone planning to explore new regions by car, this could save hours of research and reveal stops you wouldn't have thought to include.
Bryan Batista, Skyscanner's CEO, framed these tools as part of a bigger shift in how the company thinks about travel. "For more than 20 years, we've put innovation at the core of what we do," he said. "We're experimenting with how AI can make every stage of planning simpler and more natural." The company is also testing live flight tracking, mapping price insights, and expanding its accommodation database to five million options (up from 3.5 million).
The AI wave in travel search was already building. Plenty of travelers have started asking ChatGPT for destination ideas and itinerary suggestions. Skyscanner is now betting it can win that conversation by having deeper travel data and real-time pricing baked into the AI experience. When you ask for cheap flights to Japan in December, the system doesn't just brainstorm; it checks actual fares and compares them.
Beyond the new AI tools, Skyscanner upgraded its existing features in ways that matter for budget-conscious travelers. DROPS, which flags price cuts of 20% or more, now shows up to 822% more offers than before by running more frequent scans. The Flight Tracker tool now delivers real-time information on gates, terminals, and baggage details. For travelers checking modern transport options, these kinds of live details have become table stakes.
These tools are still in beta and rolling out first in English-speaking markets, so there's room for refinement. But the direction is clear. The company sees travel planning as a space where AI can actually solve a real problem rather than just sound clever. You'll know within a few months whether this approach sticks or just adds another layer of confusion to a process that's already pretty complex.
