Skyscanner Affiliate

The Skyscanner affiliate program allows partners to earn commissions by promoting flight, hotel, and car rental searches through their websites or apps. Affiliates can integrate Skyscanner's search tools, such as flight search boxes and banners, to offer users a seamless booking experience. With access to a global network and competitive commissions, the program is ideal for travel-focused content creators and marketers looking to monetize their audience.

Category
Travel and Hospitality
Rating
9.3
Commission
20% of Skyscanner's commission
Commission Model
RS
E-Mail
affiliatesupport@skyscanner.com
Software
Impact
Licenses
Travel License GDPR General

Review

The Skyscanner affiliate program operates on a revenue share model, where affiliates earn a percentage of the revenue that Skyscanner receives from bookings made through their referral links. The program is ideal for websites or content creators in the travel niche, with affiliates earning commissions from a wide range of travel services. Skyscanner has a global reach, targeting travelers across major markets including Europe, North America, and Asia, making it suitable for affiliates with international audiences. The platform is well-regulated and complies with industry standards, ensuring legal and data protection requirements are met. With a strong brand reputation and robust tracking tools, Skyscanner provides affiliates with a reliable and profitable opportunity in the travel affiliate space.

Positive Aspects

  1. Comprehensive Travel Search Platform
    Skyscanner provides a full suite of travel services, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. Affiliates can attract a broad audience by promoting all-in-one travel search functionality that simplifies travel planning.
  2. High Brand Recognition and Trust
    As one of the world’s most recognized travel search engines, Skyscanner enjoys high credibility and user trust. Affiliates benefit from promoting a well-known brand, which can positively impact conversion rates.
  3. Competitive Commission Rates
    Skyscanner offers competitive commissions based on partner bookings made through referrals. Although the rates can vary, affiliates promoting high-value bookings—such as long-haul flights or extended hotel stays—stand to earn significant commissions.
  4. Long 30-Day Cookie Duration
    With a 30-day cookie window, Skyscanner’s program provides ample time for referred visitors to complete their booking. This extended timeframe benefits affiliates by increasing the potential for conversions, even if users don’t book immediately.
  5. Global Reach and Multi-Language Support
    Skyscanner operates in over 30 languages and supports multiple currencies, making it an ideal choice for affiliates targeting international audiences. The platform’s broad reach enables affiliates to promote travel options to customers worldwide.

Negative Aspects

  1. Highly Competitive Travel Sector
    Travel is a highly competitive affiliate space, with other leading platforms such as Kayak, Expedia, and Google Flights offering similar services. Affiliates may need to employ strong SEO and differentiation strategies to compete effectively.
  2. Commission Varies by Partner
    Skyscanner’s affiliate earnings depend on the travel partners who complete the bookings. Since Skyscanner works with a range of suppliers, commission rates can vary and may be lower for certain providers or bookings.
  3. No Recurring Commissions
    Affiliates earn only on the initial booking and do not receive commissions for any future transactions from the same user. This limitation restricts long-term earning potential compared to programs offering lifetime or repeat commissions.
  4. Strict Advertising and Brand Guidelines
    Skyscanner enforces specific guidelines on how affiliates can promote the brand, including restrictions on paid search bidding and direct linking. Affiliates need to follow these guidelines carefully to avoid penalties or removal from the program.
  5. Booking Variability Based on Seasonality
    Like many travel affiliate programs, earnings can vary due to seasonal travel trends. Affiliates may experience fluctuations in income based on travel seasonality and changing demand for flights and hotels.

Target Market

Skyscanner's geographical target market is broad, reflecting its global presence as a leading travel search engine. Here's a breakdown of its primary, secondary, and other target markets:

Primary Target Market: Europe

  • Europe is Skyscanner's core market, with a significant volume of traffic coming from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain. The platform's strong reputation in this region makes it a go-to search engine for travelers across a wide range of budget levels, from low-cost flights to premium options. The ease of use and extensive travel options make Skyscanner a preferred choice for European users planning both short trips and longer vacations.

Secondary Target Market: Asia and the Pacific

  • Asia and Oceania represent a rapidly growing market for Skyscanner, with countries like India, China, Japan, Australia, and Singapore showing increasing demand for affordable travel solutions. These regions are particularly appealing to Skyscanner affiliates because of the growing middle class and the rise of budget-conscious travelers and digital nomads who rely on the platform for competitive flight and accommodation prices.

Other Target Markets: North America and Latin America

  • North America, particularly the United States and Canada, is another important market, where Skyscanner caters to travelers seeking the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals. In Latin America, countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina are seeing rising interest in online travel search tools, providing affiliates with opportunities to tap into a diverse range of emerging travel markets.

This broad geographical reach allows Skyscanner affiliates to engage with an international audience, offering promotions that cater to various travel preferences and budgets across regions.

Commission Structure

Skyscanner offers a revenue share commission plan for its affiliates. Instead of a flat commission, affiliates earn a percentage of the revenue that Skyscanner receives from bookings made through their referral links. The exact percentage varies depending on the market, but it typically reflects the revenue generated by the airline, hotel, or car rental bookings that come from the affiliate's traffic. Affiliates can earn ongoing commissions as long as users continue to make bookings, providing them with the potential for recurring income. The revenue share model aligns affiliates' earnings with the performance of Skyscanner’s services, creating an incentive to drive high-quality traffic.