--- source_url: "https://pagetraveller.com/kiwi-com-review-cheap-flights/" title: "Kiwi.Com Review: How to Get Cheap Flights" mirrored_at: 2026-08-05T01:39:29.491Z host: pagetraveller.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/pagetraveller.com/kiwi-com-review-cheap-flights/index" --- > **Original source:** https://pagetraveller.com/kiwi-com-review-cheap-flights/ I usually use Skyscanner to book flights, but when I was checking for Tbilisi to Birmingham, UK, for Christmas, I saw the same Pegasus flights advertised cheaper with Kiwi.com. The reason for this is that Kiwi books the tickets separately, rather than as one booking. So, I tried out this “hack” to see how it would go. Here is my honest review of my flights with Kiwi.com. **Pin this post for later:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/pagetraveller.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/how-to-book-cheap-flights-with-kiwi.png?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1) Kiwi.com Review [image] 21 – 24 NOVEMBER 2025 ## Madrid Literary Retreat From the legacy of Cervantes to the bookshop/cafés of the famed Barrio de las Letras, Madrid is a city steeped in literary history. Plus, churros. Lots of churros. _Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using this link, but at no cost to you._ Yes, I’ve used it and can confirm that it works. [image] I booked a return flight from Tbilisi, Georgia to Birmingham, UK, with [Kiwi.com](https://www.kiwi.com/en/). The flights were with Pegasus Airlines, with stopovers in Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW). [image] ### First Flight - TBS 04:20 > SAW 05:05 - Self-transfer in the airport (4h40m layover – protected by airline carrier) - SAW 10:30 > BHX 11:55 [image] [image] ### Return Flight - BHX 13:00 > SAW 19.47 - **Self-transfer in the airport (short layover of 1h30m – not protected)** - SAW 21:35 > TBS 00:50 (+1) [image] [image] #### What is self-transfer? A [self-transfer](https://www.kiwi.com/en/cheap-flights/travel-hacks/) means **you’re responsible for making your connecting flight**. If you need to exit through immigration and check-in again, that’s your responsibility. If you already have your boarding pass and don’t have checked-in luggage, you can transfer within the airport without passing through immigration. Kiwi have a very weird analogy explaining this here: ### Audible Free Trial Limited Time Offer: Grab your free trial of Audible. [Claim Offer](https://amzn.to/4wnIlF7) So, the biggest risk with this booking was the **short layover on the second flight**, which was **not protected by Kiwi or Pegasus**. This meant that if there was a delay with the first flight or a delay during the transfer (SAW is a super-busy airport and I needed to go through security again), I would **risk losing my second flight** and would have to book another out of my own pocket. I also **could not have check-in baggage** for this flight. I was happy to take the risk because a) I was travelling with carry-on luggage, and b) there are many affordable flights between Tbilisi and Istanbul. Worst case scenario I would stay 1 night in Istanbul. As a digital nomad, I can be flexible, so it’s not a problem for me. In my case, all the flights were on time (more on that in a minute…), and the journey was smooth. I wouldn’t hesitate to use [Kiwi.com](https://www.kiwi.com/en/) again. * * * ### Things to Know About Booking with Kiwi.com However, there are some things that make a booking with Kiwi.com slightly different and some important things you need to know: #### 1\. You Need the Kiwi App As each flight is a separate booking, you need to check-in online and have access to your boarding passes ahead of time. Kiwi.com prompts you to **download their app** ([Play S](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skypicker.main&utm_source=kiwi.com&pli=1)[t](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skypicker.main&utm_source=kiwi.com&pli=1)[ore](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skypicker.main&utm_source=kiwi.com&pli=1) /[Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kiwi-com-book-cheap-flights/id657843853)). The boarding pass has a QR code so you can skip airport check-in and make quick transfers easily. [image] [image] I advise that you **download the boarding passes** in case you can’t use data or find Wifi during your journey (see image above: SAW had terrible Wifi). #### 2\. Double-Check Any Reported Delays from Kiwi On the morning of my return flight, Kiwi sent me an email saying that my first flight was delayed 3 hours (which would make me miss the connecting flight). However, it prompted me to check at the airport in case anything changed. I checked BHX departures information and saw nothing there. Even though I didn’t really want to be stuck at the airport for 3+ hours, I went ahead to the airport anyway. [image] [image] **There were no delays.** However, even now, on my past trips info on the Kiwi app, the flight is recorded as departing 3 hours late (yet, impossibly, arriving on time in Istanbul?!). Thank goodness I didn’t stay at home and turn up to the airport 3 hours late. Also, when writing this post, I noticed that my flight into BHX is also recorded as landing 3 hours late, which isn’t true. Bizarre. ### Top Tip You should never travel without travel insurance. I personally use [Genki](http://www.genki.world/with/page-traveller), which offers coverage for digital nomads and long-term travellers at an affordable price. In the past, I have used [World Nomads](http://www.worldnomads.com/Turnstile/GetCJTurnstileQuote?destinationurl=https://www.worldnomads.com), which is good for backpackers and shorter trips. [Learn More About Genki](http://www.genki.world/with/page-traveller) #### 3\. No Carry-On Luggage, Only a Personal Item My tickets **did not include a cabin bag, only a personal item**. I’ve never seen that before and don’t remember seeing this option on booking, so maybe it’s a default option due to the short layover and self-transfer. [image] The personal item should only be 15x30x40cm and weigh 3kg. My small backpack was definitely over, plus I had a shopping bag with Christmas presents. I was worried because the boarding pass quite clearly said **No Cabin Baggage** right above the QR code, but no one stopped me or said anything about my bags on any of the four flights. [image] Then again, this may be a Pegasus thing, rather than a Kiwi thing. I’ve not flown with Pegasus before either. * * * ## More Cheap Flight Hacks with Kiwi.com There are also other ways to hack cheap flights with Kiwi: ### 1\. Don’t Book Through Kiwi Since booking these flights, I’ve heard other travellers say that they use Kiwi to see the prices of separate flights, then **book those themselves directly with the airlines**. This doesn’t always work, but it can help save you even more money, plus you don’t have to book through a third party like Kiwi. ### 2\. Use the Multi-City or “Nomad” Search Feature Kiwi has a [“Nomad” search tool](https://www.kiwi.com/en/cheap-flights/travel-hacks/), which helps you find the cheapest routes for multi-destination travel. If you’re planning to visit multiple cities or countries, this tool allows you to input several destinations and find the most cost-effective way to visit them. Here’s another quirky video about it: This is a great option for travellers looking to explore more locations without paying for individual one-way flights. I’d love to try this in the future. ### 3\. Set Up Price Alerts If you don’t have an urgent need to book your flight, setting up [price alerts on Kiwi.com](https://www.kiwi.com/en/cheap-flights/travel-hacks/) is an excellent strategy. You’ll receive notifications when flight prices drop for your desired route. By tracking the prices over time, you can book your tickets at the best moment before prices rise again. I often use Google Flights for this feature, so it’s great to know that Kiwi has it too. * * * ## Conclusion: Should You Book with Kiwi.com? Before finalising your booking, take a moment to check the terms and conditions of your ticket to make sure you’re comfortable with them. While Kiwi.com offers cheap fares, some tickets may have strict terms regarding changes, cancellations, and baggage policies. ### Top Tip For the best currency exchange rates and lowest fees, I recommend using [Revolut](https://revolut.com/referral/?referral-code=amyq5kp5!JUL1-26-AR-H2&geo-redirect) and/or [Wise](https://wise.com/invite/arhc/amyp219). I have physical cards and e-wallet for both. Revolut is especially helpful in Europe, as Revolut transfers with QR codes are common in some countries. [image] [image] I was happy with mine and it turned out fine, minus the confusion with the delay information. **Let me know if you’ve booked flights with Kiwi and please share your experience in the comments below.** * * * [image] read around the world ## Travel Book Journal **One page per country**, so you can record the books you’ve read, review them in detail, and customise the page. ## Travel Essentials Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.  **FLIGHTS:** The best deals can be found on [Skyscanner](https://www.skyscanner.net/), [Google Flights](https://www.google.com/travel/flights) and [Kiwi](https://www.kiwi.com/en/). **TRAVEL INSURANCE:** I recommend [World Nomads](http://www.worldnomads.com/Turnstile/GetCJTurnstileQuote?destinationurl=https://www.worldnomads.com) for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use [Genki](http://www.genki.world/with/page-traveller) (learn more about [Genki digital nomad health insurance here](https://pagetraveller.com/genki-insurance-review-for-digital-nomads/)). ### Top Tip I recommend buying an eSIM, so you have data no matter which country you're travelling to, without having to figure out getting a local SIM. Outside of the UK and EU, I use Airalo. Get £2.50 off (or your currency equivalent) with the code AMY9621. [Claim the Airalo Discount](https://www.airalo.com/) **E-SIM:** For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with [GoMobile](https://www.go.com.mt/), which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up. **ACCOMMODATION:** I use [Booking.com](https://rstyle.me/+6z20ZHSe3X-J9TR8BQMzqw) for hotels and [Airbnb](https://www.airbnb.com/) for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but [Coliving.com](https://coliving.com/?i=page-traveller) is a good place to start. **FINANCE:** I use [Revolut](https://revolut.com/referral/?referral-code=amyq5kp5!FEB1-25-AR-H1) for the best rates on currency exchange with no or minimal fees, as well as payments and cash withdrawals while travelling. I’ve also found that many places in mainland Europe accept transfer by Revolut as a standard payment method. **THINGS TO DO:** I use [Viator](https://rstyle.me/+RhuSQG_gAlQesTNhUsaKaQ) or [Get Your Guide](https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/?partner_id=KG72TTR&utm_medium=online_publisher) for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on [TripAdvisor](https://rstyle.me/+xbRuq1yH_OkS4xWTwbLseA) too.