Planning a trip usually means a dozen open browser tabs: one for flights, a few for hotels, another for rental cars, one for the game or concert you want to catch, and a couple of travel guides you meant to read. TicketScanner was built to pull those steps into one place. You search flights, hotels and rental cars through our travel partners, browse event tickets from the TicketNetwork exchange, and read destination, airport and planning guides, all on the same site. This guide explains how each part works, how to search smartly with flexible dates, how to read the fares and calendars you will see along the way, and how to combine a flight, a room and a car into a trip that fits your plans and your budget. It is a practical manual, not a sales pitch: we explain what the site does, what it does not do, and what to check before you pay anyone.
The short answer
TicketScanner is a search and comparison site. You search once, compare options from our travel partners, then book directly with the airline, hotel, rental company or ticket provider you choose, under their terms and customer support. The best way to use it is in order: find the flight first, using flexible dates and nearby airports on our flight search; choose a hotel in the neighborhood where you will spend your time on our hotel search; add a rental car only for the days you need one on our car rental search; then browse concerts, sports and theater for your dates. Before you book, always check the final price, the fare or rate rules, and the entry and security requirements for your trip.
How TicketScanner works
It helps to understand what happens behind the search box, because it shapes how you should use the results.
- You search once. Enter your route or destination, dates and travelers. Our partner search checks airlines, hotel suppliers and rental companies for you.
- You compare. Results show options side by side, so you can weigh price, schedule, stops, location and conditions.
- You book with the provider. When you choose an option, you complete the booking with that airline, hotel, booking partner or rental company. Your contract, payment, changes and customer support are with them, not with TicketScanner.
Two points follow from this. First, the provider’s checkout page is the final word on price and conditions, so read it carefully. Second, the prices you see on our destination and route pages are recent fares that other travelers found, shown to help you plan. They are not live quotes. Always run a search for your exact dates to see the current price.
Searching for flights, step by step
The flight search lives on the home page and on our flights page. Here is how to get the most from each field.
1. Choose round trip or one way, and your cabin
Pick Round trip or One way, and Economy or Business. For trips where you will arrive in one city and leave from another, compare two one-way searches with a round trip; sometimes separate one-way tickets are cheaper, and sometimes a round trip is.
2. Enter where you are leaving from and going to
Type a city or an airport and choose from the suggestions. If your city has more than one airport, choosing the city lets you compare them all at once. Toronto, New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Houston and several other cities have more than one major airport, and fares can differ noticeably between them. If you are flexible, also try a larger hub within driving distance of home. The swap button flips your origin and destination in one tap, which is handy for checking the reverse direction.
3. Pick your dates
The date picker shows a calendar so you can see weekdays at a glance. Departing on a Tuesday or Wednesday is often cheaper than a Friday or Sunday, so if your plans allow it, try a few combinations.
4. Add travelers
Set the number of adults, children and infants. On our search, children means ages 2 to 11 and infants are under 2, traveling on an adult’s lap, one per adult. Airlines apply their own rules on ages and seating, so check them if you are traveling with young children.
5. Compare the results
Results come from our flight partner and list options from different airlines and booking sites. Before you pick the cheapest line, compare:
- The number of stops and the connection times. A short connection can be risky; a very long one wastes a day.
- Departure and arrival times. An early departure might mean an expensive taxi to the airport.
- What is included. Basic fares may exclude a carry-on, checked bags or seat selection. Add those costs before comparing.
- Who you are booking with. Booking directly with the airline can make changes and disruptions simpler to handle; some travelers are happy to use a booking site for a lower price.
6. Check everything on the provider’s page
When you select a flight, you move to the airline or booking partner to finish. Confirm the total price, the fare rules for changes and refunds, the baggage allowance and the names on the booking before you pay. Our guide to reading your flight details explains the fine print.
When to use flexible dates
Being flexible is the single most reliable way to lower the cost of a flight. It is most useful when:
- You are planning a leisure trip without fixed commitments at either end.
- Your dates touch a holiday or long weekend. Leaving a day earlier or returning a day later can move you out of the peak.
- You are flying a busy business route. Monday morning and Friday evening flights fill with business travelers; midday and midweek flights are often cheaper.
- You are going long-haul. International fares can vary significantly from one day to the next.
Flexibility matters less when you are going to a fixed event, such as a wedding or a game, or when your dates are dictated by school holidays. In those cases, book early instead. Our guide to the best time to book cheap flights and hotels covers booking windows, and each of our city guides, such as the best time to fly to New York, explains that destination’s seasons.
How to read fare calendars and recent fares
Many travel sites, including some of our partners’ results pages, show fares for a range of dates in a calendar or chart. On TicketScanner, destination and route pages also show recent fares that travelers have found. Here is how to read them without being misled.
Understand what the number means
- One way or round trip? A calendar may show one-way fares, round-trip fares, or the lowest fare departing that day. Check the label.
- Cached or live? Calendar prices and “recent fare” figures are usually based on searches that were run earlier. On our route pages, recent fares are prices other travelers found in roughly the last 48 hours. They are a good guide to what is typical, but the live price for your dates can be higher or lower.
- What is included? The lowest calendar fare is often a basic fare with no bags. Compare like with like.
Look for patterns, not a single cheap day
A calendar is most useful for spotting patterns: cheaper weekdays, a price jump around a holiday, or a season when fares fall. Use it to pick a window of a few days, then run a full search for those dates.
Run a few searches around your ideal dates
If you do not see a calendar, the same approach works manually. Search your ideal dates, then move the departure a day or two earlier and later, and do the same for the return. Five or six searches usually show you the shape of the market.
Using destination, departure and route pages
Beyond the search box, TicketScanner has planning pages for the cities we cover.
- Destination pages, such as flights to New York or flights to Vancouver, list the cities with nonstop routes to that destination, recent fares where we have them, and a search box ready to go.
- Departure pages, such as flights from Toronto or from Montreal, show every route we cover from that city, with recent fares where available. They are ideal when you know when you want to travel but not where.
- Route pages for popular city pairs combine a live search with recent fares and nonstop details, and you can reach them from the destination and departure pages.
- Airport guides, such as our Toronto Pearson guide, cover terminals, ground transportation and practical tips.
On the flights page, the search is also prefilled with a major airport near you, based on your approximate location, so you can start from home with one less step.
Searching for hotels
Switch to the Stays tab on the home page, or go to our hotels page.
Fill in the search
- Where to? Enter a city or destination.
- Check-in and check-out: pick your dates on the calendar.
- Travelers: set adults, children (ages 0 to 17) and the number of rooms.
Compare more than the nightly rate
Hotel results come from our hotel partner. When comparing, look at:
- Location. A cheaper hotel far from where you will spend your days can cost more once you add transit or taxis.
- The total price. Taxes, resort or destination fees and parking vary widely; compare the total the provider shows at checkout.
- Cancellation terms. Non-refundable rates are often cheaper but lock you in. A refundable rate gives you room to change plans or switch if prices fall.
- Recent reviews. They tell you more about cleanliness and noise today than a star rating.
Use our neighborhood guides
For many cities, we publish neighborhood guides that explain what each area is like and who it suits, such as hotels around Times Square, Yaletown in Vancouver and Old Montreal. City hotel pages also show recent hotel prices where we have them. For more, read our hotel booking tips.
Searching for rental cars
The Cars tab, and our car rental page, use our rental partner’s booking engine. Enter your pickup location, dates and times, and compare suppliers and vehicle types.
- Airport or city pickup: airport counters are convenient but often carry location fees. A city branch a short ride away can be cheaper for longer rentals.
- One-way rentals: dropping off in a different city is possible with many suppliers, sometimes with a fee. Our one-way route pages, such as Toronto to Montreal or Seattle to Vancouver, show real distances and drive times.
- Insurance and fuel: check what your credit card or auto policy already covers before pickup, and choose a full-to-full fuel policy where possible.
- Do you need a car at all? In many big cities, transit is faster and cheaper. Each city in our series has a guide to the question, such as Toronto: rent a car or use transit?
Our rental car booking tips cover the rest.
Finding concerts, sports and theater tickets
The events section lists tickets for concerts, sports, theater, comedy and family shows in cities across Canada and the US. Listings come from the TicketNetwork exchange, a resale marketplace, which means sellers set the prices. Tickets can be above or below face value depending on demand.
- Browse by city: city pages such as events in Toronto and events in New York show what is on sale there.
- Browse by category or performer: go straight to concerts, sports, theater, comedy or family shows from the events hub, or search for a specific artist, team or show.
- Filter by date and price to find seats that fit your trip.
Before you buy, check the event date, time and venue, the seat location, the total price including fees, and the delivery method for the tickets. For events far from home, buy the tickets first if they are the reason for the trip, then book travel around them.
Attractions, tours and travel guides
Many city pages also feature attractions, museums and tours from Tiqets, our activities partner. These are priced in Canadian dollars and booked directly on the partner’s site. They are useful for timed-entry sights that sell out.
The TicketScanner blog is where our travel guides live. For each major city we cover, you will find a trio of guides: things to do, the best time to fly, and whether to rent a car. Our planning series, starting with the pillar guide to budget travel destinations, helps you choose where to go and how to pay for it.
Putting it together: how to combine flights, hotels and cars
A trip comes together most smoothly when you book in a sensible order.
| Step | Where on TicketScanner | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pick the destination and window | Departure pages, destination pages, travel guides | Season, events, recent fares, nonstop options |
| 2. Lock in any fixed event | Events section | Date, venue, seats, total price |
| 3. Book the flight | Flight search | Total price with bags, fare rules, connection times |
| 4. Book the hotel | Hotel search and neighborhood guides | Location, total price, cancellation terms |
| 5. Add a car if needed | Car rental search and city car guides | Pickup location, insurance, fuel, one-way fees |
| 6. Add attractions | City pages | Timed entry, opening hours |
Why the flight comes first
Flights have the least flexibility and the biggest price swings, and they determine your arrival and departure times. Once they are fixed, you know exactly which nights you need a room and which days you might need a car.
Match the hotel to your plans
Choose the neighborhood before the hotel. If you are going to a game or concert, staying near the venue can save transit time and late-night taxis. If you are arriving late, a hotel near the airport for the first night can make sense.
Rent the car only for the days you need it
For a city break with a day trip, you might go without a car for most of the stay and rent one for a single day. For a road trip, pick up at the airport on arrival.
An example: a weekend in Chicago for a game
Say you are in Toronto and want to catch a game in Chicago. Start with events in Chicago to find the date and seats. Then search flights from Toronto to Chicago, comparing O’Hare and Midway. Book a refundable room near the venue or in the Loop, skip the car because Chicago’s trains cover the city, and read our guide to things to do in Chicago for the rest of the weekend.
Planning for families and groups
Group trips add a few wrinkles. For flights, search with the full number of travelers, since the price per person can change when fewer seats are left in a fare class; if the result looks high, try searching for a smaller group to see whether splitting the booking helps, and make sure everyone can still sit together. For hotels, set the number of rooms in the search rather than assuming a single large room will fit everyone, and check the property’s occupancy rules for children. For cars, count luggage as well as people: a family of four with checked bags may need a larger vehicle than the seat count suggests. For events, buy seats together in one order where you can. Our guide to car rentals for family vacations covers car seats and vehicle sizes.
Book with confidence
- Know your passenger rights. Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations and US Department of Transportation rules cover delays, cancellations and refunds in different ways. See the Canadian Transportation Agency’s air passenger protection page and the US DOT’s aviation consumer protection page.
- Check security rules. Liquids, batteries and carry-on items are regulated. See CATSA for Canadian airports and the TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” list for US airports.
- Check entry rules and advisories. Passport validity, visas and electronic travel authorizations change. Canadians should check the Government of Canada travel advice and advisories.
- Arrive on time. Our guide to airport arrival times for international flights explains how early to get there.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating a recent fare as a quote. Always run a live search for your dates.
- Comparing base fares instead of totals. Bags, seats and fees can reverse the order of the results.
- Booking the hotel before the flight. Unless the room is refundable, you risk mismatched dates.
- Renting a car for a city trip by default. Check the city’s car-or-transit guide first.
- Skipping the fine print. Change rules, cancellation terms and ticket delivery details are on the provider’s page. Read them before you pay.
- Forgetting names and documents. The name on your booking must match your passport or ID exactly.
Frequently asked questions
Does TicketScanner sell flights, hotels or car rentals?
No. TicketScanner helps you search and compare. You book with the airline, hotel, booking partner or rental company you choose, under their terms, pricing and customer support.
Are the prices on TicketScanner live?
The search checks our partners live when you run it. Fares and prices shown on destination, route and city pages are recent prices other travelers found, so always run a search to confirm today’s price.
How do I find the cheapest dates to fly?
Use flexible dates: search your ideal dates, then shift the departure and return by a day or two in each direction. Check destination and departure pages for recent fares, and look for patterns such as cheaper midweek days.
Can I search flights from more than one airport?
Yes. Choosing a city rather than a single airport lets you compare all of its airports. You can also run separate searches from nearby hubs.
Where do event tickets come from?
From the TicketNetwork exchange, a resale marketplace covering concerts, sports and theater across North America. Sellers set the prices, so they can be above or below face value.
Who do I contact if my flight is changed or canceled?
The airline or booking partner you booked with, since your booking and customer support are with them.
Can I plan a whole trip on TicketScanner?
Yes. You can search flights, hotels and rental cars, browse event tickets and attractions, and read destination and planning guides, then book each part with the provider you choose.
More guides in this series
This article is part of our destinations and planning series. Start with the pillar guide to budget travel destinations, then read how to save money for a trip, New York on a budget, the best cities for Christmas in the USA and how to travel Europe on a multi-city itinerary.
Ready to plan your next trip? Start with a flexible-date search on our flight search, choose a room in the right neighborhood on our hotel search, and add a car on our car rental search only if your plans need one.
Keep planning with TicketScanner
- Budget travel destinations: the best-value picks
- How to save money for a trip
- How to travel Europe on a multi-city itinerary
- New York on a budget
- Best cities for Christmas in the USA
- Search flights — try a few dates either side of your ideal trip
- Search hotels
- Search rental cars
- Concert, sports and theater tickets
- Best time to book cheap flights and hotels