Program Details
| Commission | 20% revenue share (up to 50% for top performers) (Cost Per Sale) |
| Cookie Duration | 30 days |
| Network | Impact |
| Payment Methods | PayPal, Bank Transfer, Wire Transfer |
| Min. Payout | $10 |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (Net 30) |
| Category | Travel |
| Countries | Global (30+ languages) |
| Website | www.skyscanner.net |
Skyscanner is one of the world’s largest travel search engines, helping hundreds of millions of travelers compare prices on flights, hotels, and car rentals every year. Founded in 2003 and now owned by Trip.com Group, the platform operates in over 30 languages and covers virtually every route globally. Its business model is metasearch – it aggregates results from airlines, OTAs, and booking platforms, then redirects users to complete their purchase on the partner’s site.
Skyscanner Affiliate Program Overview
The Skyscanner affiliate program pays a 20% revenue share on the commission Skyscanner earns from each completed booking referral, with top-performing partners eligible for up to 50%. The program runs through Impact, with a 30-day cookie window and a low $10 minimum payout threshold.
One thing to understand upfront: your commission is calculated on Skyscanner’s cut of the booking, not the total ticket or hotel price. Skyscanner earns a small referral fee from airlines and OTAs, and you get 20% of that. For high-traffic travel sites with strong click-out volumes, this model can still generate solid monthly income – but set your expectations correctly before applying.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Massive global brand recognition – users already trust Skyscanner, which helps conversion
- 30-day cookie is competitive for the travel metasearch niche
- Wide range of promotional tools: widgets, banners, white-label search, and a full Travel API
- Deep linking via Impact lets you send traffic directly to specific route search results
- Low $10 payout threshold means faster access to earnings
- Global program in 30+ languages – works for international travel content sites
Cons:
- Revenue share is on Skyscanner’s cut, not the booking value – commissions are smaller than they first appear
- Minimum 5,000 monthly visitors required for website applicants – newer sites won’t qualify
- No commission on canceled bookings or failed redirects
- Attribution can be unpredictable since earnings depend on the downstream partner’s payout to Skyscanner
How to Join
The Skyscanner affiliate program is managed exclusively through Impact. To apply, you’ll need an Impact publisher account – if you don’t have one yet, sign up at Impact first, then search for Skyscanner in the marketplace. Website applicants need at least 5,000 monthly unique visitors and a valid HTTPS site; social media applicants need 1,000+ followers with travel-focused content.
Once approved, you can access Skyscanner’s full creative library including search widgets, banners, and deep links to specific flight routes. Approval typically takes a few business days. The official affiliate signup page is at partners.skyscanner.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Skyscanner’s revenue share model actually work?
You earn 20% of the commission Skyscanner collects from airlines, OTAs, or hotels when a user you referred completes a booking. For example, if Skyscanner earns $10 on a transaction, you receive $2. Top partners can negotiate up to 50% revenue share based on traffic volume and quality.
What is the minimum traffic requirement to join?
Website applicants need at least 5,000 unique monthly visitors and a valid SSL certificate (HTTPS). Social media creators can apply with 1,000+ followers, provided the content is clearly travel-focused. Skyscanner reviews applications manually, so thin or low-quality sites are unlikely to be approved regardless of traffic numbers.
Can bloggers and influencers join, not just large websites?
Yes – Skyscanner explicitly accepts social media creators with at least 1,000 followers through the Impact platform. Travel bloggers with smaller but engaged audiences are also eligible if their site hits the 5,000 monthly visitor threshold. The key requirement is that the content is genuinely travel-related.
Does Skyscanner support deep linking to specific routes?
Yes. Through the Impact platform, you can build deep links that send users directly to a specific flight, hotel, or car hire search on Skyscanner. This is particularly useful for travel content that targets specific routes or destinations, as it reduces the number of steps between your article and the search results.
How and when do affiliates get paid?
Payments are processed monthly on a Net 30 basis through Impact, with a low minimum payout of $10. Available payment methods include PayPal, bank transfer (BACS/ACH), and wire transfer. The low threshold is one of Skyscanner’s stronger points – most travel programs require $50-$100 before you see a payment.
When is the best time of year to promote Skyscanner?
Summer travel planning (June through August) and the New Year period (January) are peak conversion seasons, as users search for holiday flights and plan the year ahead. Black Friday and Cyber Monday also generate strong spikes in travel search activity. Publishing route guides or flight deal content ahead of these windows consistently outperforms evergreen content published at random times.
Is the Skyscanner affiliate program available worldwide?
Yes, the program is open globally. Skyscanner operates in over 30 languages and supports multi-currency search, so affiliates targeting non-English travel audiences can still participate. There are no specific country restrictions listed, though Impact’s own publisher requirements may apply depending on your region.
What promotional tools does Skyscanner provide to affiliates?
Skyscanner offers a range of integration options including embeddable search widgets, standard banners, white-label travel search, and a full Travel API for technical publishers. The API gives developers the ability to build custom search experiences powered by Skyscanner’s data. Most content affiliates will find the widgets and deep links sufficient, while larger publishers may find the API integration worth the setup effort.
