momondo.com

What is momondo.com

momondo is a travel meta-search engine. That means: you go to momondo, pick flights/hotels/car rentals (or a combination), and it shows you listings from lots of travel suppliers (airlines, OTA’s, car hire firms), but momondo itself doesn’t sell the tickets or rooms. (momondo)
In their words: “We don’t sell flight tickets, hotel rooms or car rental deals – we show you an overview of available travel options and let you choose the offer you prefer.” (momondo)
It’s free for users: you don’t pay momondo to use it, and they say they do not add extra booking fees. (momondo)
It has global reach: it operates in over 30 international markets. (momondo)

Brief History & Ownership

  • Founded in September 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Wikipedia)

  • At launch it was only for flight search; later expanded to hotels and car rentals. (Thrifty Traveler)

  • In 2011, it was acquired by Cheapflights Media Ltd (a UK/US-based company) though momondo continued to operate under its brand. (Wikipedia)

  • Later, the parent company was part of a deal with Booking Holdings Inc. (via Kayak) which now owns momondo. (Wikipedia)

  • Over its lifespan, momondo has expanded features (apps, price tools, global markets) and has been recognised by travel media. (momondo)

How it works – and the business model

Search & comparison

  • When you enter a flight/hotel/car search, momondo scans a large number of travel providers and agencies (hundreds) and returns results you can compare. (momondo)

  • It shows you price, duration, provider, stop-overs (for flights), etc. Then if you pick a result you are redirected to the provider (airline, OTA, etc.) to book. (momondo)

  • They emphasise “100% price transparency” and say that your prior search history (cookies) doesn’t impact the price you see via momondo. (momondo)

Revenue model

  • momondo earns money by being paid when a user clicks through to a supplier and/or when advertisements appear. They clarify: “When you’ve chosen your preferred deal … the provider … pays us for either redirecting you to their site or helping you to book with them.” (momondo)

  • It’s not a travel agency. They don’t manage the booking, the payment, the ticketing. If there are issues, you deal with the provider. (momondo)

Key Features & Strengths

  • One-place “shop” across many airlines and OTAs, so you can catch deals you might miss by searching each airline/agency separately. (Going)

  • Additional helpful tools: For flights, features like “Mix & Match” (outbound & inbound with different suppliers) can surface savings. (momondo)

  • Flexibility filters: number of stops, airports, airlines, rental car types, hotel features. According to reviews, the interface is easy to use. (Forbes)

  • Mobile app: On iOS/Android. The app includes extra perks like mobile-only hotel rates, price alerts, trip management. (Google Play)

  • Good reputation among travel experts: e.g., Forbes called it “one of the best travel search engines for getting the cheapest fare possible”. (Going)

Limitations & Things to Watch

  • Because momondo lists many providers including smaller/less-well-known OTAs, the cheapest fare is often via a lesser-known seller. That means you’ll want to check how reputable the provider is (cancellation policy, customer support, etc.). Reddit users point this out. (Reddit)

  • It is a metasearch, not a single booking platform: you’ll leave momondo to complete booking via third-party, so you must check their conditions. Some smaller agencies may have weaker consumer protection.

  • Flexibility searches: While it has good filters, some users say it lags behind other tools when it comes to showing fare changes over many weeks/months or multiple destination options. (Going)

  • “Live” price issue: In forums some users say that the price shown on momondo may change when you click through (because supplier changed or seats sold) so it’s wise to act quickly. (Tripadvisor)

Use Case: How to Get the Most Out of momondo

Here are practical tips:

  1. Start with your route & dates: Enter your departure and arrival, travel dates.

  2. Use filters: Limit number of stops, airlines you don’t like, preferred times of day, etc.

  3. Compare providers: When you find a good fare, check whether it's via a major airline/OTA or a small unknown one. Read terms (baggage, change fees, cancellation).

  4. Set up Price Alerts: If you’re flexible with dates, you can track price on your route and get notified when it drops.

  5. View alternatives: Use features like “anywhere” or “flexible dates” (if available) to discover cheaper options; though momondo may have some limitations here vs competitors.

  6. Book quickly when deal’s good: Because these fares often change.

  7. Check after booking: Because momondo does not handle ticketing/customer support; ensure the booking provider is reliable.

  8. For hotels/car rentals: Use the same approach—compare many offers, pick the one that gives best value with acceptable risk.

  9. Use in conjunction with other tools: It’s often wise to cross-check fares with another search engine (e.g., Google Flights or Skyscanner) to make sure you’re really seeing best value. (Going)

Is momondo Right for You?

If you are comfortable doing a bit of due diligence and want to find flight/hotel/car rental deals, then yes: momondo is a very strong tool. It’s especially useful if:

  • You are price-sensitive and willing to check many providers.

  • You have flexibility on dates or airports.

  • You don’t need to book directly with an airline (for e.g., frequent flyer programme reasons) or you are okay booking via an OTA.

If your priorities are instead:

  • Booking only directly with major airlines/hotels for loyalty points.

  • Needing very advanced flexible-date searches or multi-city combinations.

  • Wanting full customer support via the search platform.

Then you might want to supplement momondo with other platforms.

Key Takeaways

  • momondo is a free travel meta-search engine (flights, hotels, car rentals) – it doesn’t sell directly but redirects you to providers.

  • Founded in 2006 in Denmark; today under Booking Holdings via Kayak.

  • Searches hundreds of providers at once, giving you wide visibility of deals.

  • Pros: wide coverage, strong reputation, good filters & mobile features.

  • Cons: cheapest fares may come via smaller providers (so some risk), less strength for broad flexible searches, booking support not via momondo.

  • Best used as a major “deal-finding” tool, combined with your own awareness of booking provider reliability.

FAQ

Q: Does momondo guarantee the lowest price?
A: No guarantee. It gives access to a broad set of offers and often finds very good fares, but because prices change and not every supplier may appear, you should still compare and act quickly.

Q: Can I book directly on momondo?
A: No — momondo is not a travel agent. When you pick an offer, you’re redirected to the provider for booking. (momondo)

Q: Are the prices shown always final?
A: Generally yes for the moment you view them, but price can change while you move to the booking site. Also baggage/ancillary fees may be added by the provider. Some users report discrepancies. (Tripadvisor)

Q: Is it safe to book via the smaller providers that momondo shows?
A: Many are legitimate, but you should check: booking terms, refund/change policy, reviews of the provider. If you feel uncomfortable, you might pay a bit more for a provider you trust.

Q: Does momondo show hotel rentals and vacation-homes too?
A: Yes — in addition to hotels and car rentals, they also include alternative accommodation types in some markets. (Forbes)

Q: Is momondo good for finding flights in Asia / from Asia?
A: It has global coverage including Asian markets (they mention “more than 30 international markets”). But the extent and depth may vary region to region. It’s wise to cross-check locally as well.

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