How to Fetch Flight Prices Using Skyscanner API in JavaScript

Install Required Packages

• Ensure Node.js is set up on your machine as it's fundamental for running JavaScript applications and managing packages.

 

• Use npm or yarn to install Axios or any other HTTP client library you prefer for making API requests. Axios is straightforward and efficient for such tasks.

npm install axios

Understand Skyscanner API Documentation

• Navigate through Skyscanner's API documentation to get a thorough understanding of retrieving flight prices. Pay attention to endpoints related to browsing flight prices, setting parameters, and required response formats.

 

• Note any authentication requirements such as API keys that you’ll need to include in your HTTP requests.

Write a JavaScript Function to Fetch Flight Prices

• Create a new JavaScript file where you'll write your function to interact with the Skyscanner API. Use Axios to make HTTP requests.

 

• Implement a function to construct the necessary API request URL, send the request, handle the response or errors appropriately, and parse the data to extract relevant flight price information.

const axios = require('axios');

async function fetchFlightPrices(origin, destination, departureDate, returnDate) {
  const apiKey = 'YOUR_API_KEY'; // Replace with your API key
  const endpoint = `https://partners.api.skyscanner.net/apiservices/browseroutes/v1.0/US/USD/en-US/${origin}/${destination}/${departureDate}`;
  
  try {
    const response = await axios.get(endpoint, {
      params: {
        apiKey
      }
    });
    
    if (returnDate) {
      // Adjust the request if a return date is specified
    }
    
    const prices = response.data.Quotes.map(quote => ({
      price: quote.MinPrice,
      direct: quote.Direct,
      departureDate: quote.OutboundLeg.DepartureDate,
      carriers: quote.OutboundLeg.CarrierIds
    }));
    
    console.log(prices);
    return prices;

  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching flight prices:', error);
  }
}

Handle API Response

• Inspect the API response object to extract and transform the required data, such as minimum price, direct flight status, and carrier details.

 

• Implement error handling by catching potential exceptions from the HTTP request and displaying error messages or logging them for debugging purposes.

Invoke the Function with Sample Data

• Create a test call within the script to ensure the function executes correctly. Use known origin and destination codes like "SFO" for San Francisco and "LAX" for Los Angeles, alongside specific dates for testing purposes.

 

• Analyze the console output to verify it matches expected values from the API query. Adjust parameters or error handling based on the test results.

// Example invocation
fetchFlightPrices('SFO', 'LAX', '2023-12-01', null);