What is Metasearch?

A metasearch site compares prices across providers and hands the traveller on to an airline or agency to complete the booking.

Also called: Comparison site.

How it works#

The contract is formed with the provider, not the comparison site, so during disruption it matters to know where the purchase actually happened. Metasearch also never shows everyone, because visibility depends on distribution deals and click payments. Displayed prices are snapshots from cached data and can change on the click-through.

Not to be confused with#

Metasearch is not the same as an online travel agency: metasearch passes the click on, an agency signs the contract itself.

In German#

The German term is Metasuche. German version of this term

Related terms#

• Online travel agency: An online travel agency is an intermediary that sells flights and hotels in its own name, sitting between the traveller and the airline or hotel.
• Global distribution system: A global distribution system is the technical platform travel agencies and booking sites use to search flights, price them and send bookings to airlines.
• Drip pricing: Drip pricing is a sales practice in which mandatory costs only become visible step by step during the booking process.

Articles that use this term#

• Book direct or through an online travel agency?
• When is the best time to book a flight?
• What is an error fare, and can the airline cancel it?
• What is a merchant category code and why does it decide your points?
• Does travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
• What is basic economy and what’s missing?