FlightBid — how to place a bid or buy now and get notified when your offer wins

How to place a bid on FlightBid: bid or buy now, get notified, then complete booking

FlightBid gives you two clear choices: buy now through our affiliate partners, or place a bid and let us monitor the market on your behalf. Place a bid, and FlightBid will notify you when your offer is met so you can book via one of our partners at that price.

Laptop showing FlightBid search results and bidding options

What FlightBid does today — bid, monitor, notify, book

FlightBid blends immediate buy-now affiliate fares with a bid workflow. You can buy instantly through a partner link or submit an offer and let us watch the market. When your bid is accepted, we notify you with clear booking instructions so you can complete the purchase through our partners.

Current model: bids are monitored on your behalf. You are notified only if your bid is matched—then you move to booking with a partner. No payment is taken at bid placement.

How to place a bid — step-by-step

1) Search and evaluate

Enter origin, destination, dates and passenger count. FlightBid shows buy-now affiliate fares alongside the option to place a bid. Use filters to shortlist itineraries you’d accept if your bid wins.

2) Choose buy now or place a bid

If an immediate fare matches your needs, follow the buy-now affiliate link and book. To try a lower price, select the bid option, pick an itinerary, and enter your offer within the allowed range.

3) Place a bid and let us monitor

When you place a bid we do not charge you. FlightBid monitors inventory and price signals for the duration of the response window. If inventory holders accept your offer or the market matches it, you receive a prompt notification with next steps.

4) Notification and booking

If your bid is met, we send clear instructions and a link to complete booking through one of our partner providers. If it isn’t met during the window, you keep the option to buy now or submit a revised bid.

When you place a bid, record your highest acceptable price before submitting. Bids are non-binding until accepted; keeping a ceiling prevents impulse responses if the market shifts.

Best picks — three places to use bidding wisely

These curated strategies are where placing a bid most often adds value. Try them selectively rather than on every search.

  1. Midweek, short-haul trips: Low-demand midweek flights frequently respond to bids. Small routes with flexible schedules are a good testing ground.
  2. Shoulder season long-haul: For transatlantic or intercontinental flights outside peak months, early conservative bids can be accepted as carriers manage load factors.
  3. Nearby airports and date windows: Allow a day or alternate airport in your search. Slight flexibility widens the pool of inventory where bids are effective.
  4. Groups of 2–4: Bid per passenger at a modest discount to individual fares and expect a longer response window; partners will confirm availability if matched.

What to expect — limits and strengths

  • Strength: A simple, monitored bid flow that notifies you when your price is available—no charge until acceptance and instruction to book via partners.
  • Limit: Bids are offers; acceptance depends on inventory controllers and partner systems. Not every bid will be accepted.
  • Practical: Use bidding alongside buy-now links. If time is tight, buy-now remains the fastest path to guaranteed travel.

Real examples you can test

Short-haul: buy-now $180; try a bid at $120–140 for midweek departures. Long-haul: buy-now $850; a conservative bid might be $550–650 depending on season. Group of four: add a small buffer per passenger and allow extra response time.

Final thoughts — use bidding as a managed option

Placing a bid on FlightBid gives you a managed way to try for lower fares without immediate payment. We monitor market movement and notify you if your offer is met; booking is then completed through our partners. Use both buy-now and bid tools to balance speed and savings.

FAQ

Will I be charged when I place a bid?

No. Placing a bid does not charge your card. Payment is required only if the bid is accepted and you follow the booking instructions from our notification.

How will I be notified if my bid is accepted?

We send an email and in-app notification with exact booking instructions and the partner link. The message includes timing to complete the purchase before the quoted inventory expires.

What happens if my bid isn’t accepted?

If a bid is not matched during its response window, you are free to submit a revised bid or choose a buy-now option that appears in the same search results.