Flappy Score: what a cheap flight is really worth
The lowest price isn't always the best flight: one that leaves at 6am and comes back at 9am eats two days of your trip. The Flappy Score combines price, times and comfort in a single number from 0 to 100.
The three parts
- Price 55%
How far below that route's usual price it is, based on the fares we read every day. 100 at the lowest ever seen, 50 at the typical price, 0 when it's more than a third above typical.
- Times 25%
How much usable time the flights leave you: landing in the morning and leaving in the evening beats landing at midnight and leaving at dawn.
- Convenience 20%
No flights in the middle of the night (between 11pm and 5am) and a sensible number of nights: a single day is doable, but rushed.
Try the simulator
Change price and times and watch the score move. It's the same calculation we run on every deal, with one simplification: the route's all-time low is set at 30% below the typical price.
How to read it
- 85+ excellent
- 70+ good
- 55+ average
- 0+ below average
FAQ
What is the Flappy Score?
A 0–100 rating FlyDown gives every deal: 55% price versus that route's usual fare, 25% flight times, 20% comfort. It tells you at a glance whether a cheap flight is also a good one.
Where does the “usual price” come from?
From the fares we read ourselves, every day, on the airlines' websites for that route. Until the history is long enough the score doesn't appear: better nothing than a made-up number.
Does the Flappy Score rate the airline?
No: it doesn't measure punctuality, service or baggage. It only looks at the price, times and comfort of that specific trip.