I am currently attempting to integrate the SkyScanner Flights Scraper API via Express.js and Axios. The intention is to retrieve flight details using the endpoint for searching flights everywhere. Here’s a summary of my progress so far:
- I successfully received the
departureLocationId from the flights auto-complete endpoint.
- I tried using this
departureLocationId to query flight information through the relevant searching endpoint.
While the query works perfectly in the RapidAPI Playground and provides the desired flight details, my local server setup in Postman consistently returns the following response:
{
"message": "No flights available"
}
Observations:
- When using RapidAPI, I obtain valid flight information.
- In Postman, the response is always “message”: “No flights available”.
I suspect there might be an issue with how I am submitting the departureLocationId or a potential mishandling by Axios, but I am not certain.
Attempts to Resolve:
- Confirmed that my API key and host settings are accurate.
- Reviewed headers and parameters to match those used in the RapidAPI playground.
- Logged
departureLocationId to verify it is correctly set on the server.
/* server.js */
app.post('/query-flights', async (req, res) => {
const { departureLocationId } = req.body;
try {
const result = await axios.get(`https://${API_HOST}/flights/search-everywhere`, {
headers: {
'X-RapidAPI-Host': API_HOST,
'X-RapidAPI-Key': API_KEY,
},
params: {
query: departureLocationId,
},
});
const flightOptions = result.data?.data?.results || null;
if (!flightOptions) {
return res.json({ message: 'No flights available' });
}
res.json(flightOptions);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Issue retrieving flights:', error);
res.status(500).json({ message: 'Issue retrieving flights. Please retry.' });
}
});
// Launch the server
app.listen(PORT, () => {
console.log(`Server is live at http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
Despite this setup, Postman isn’t yielding results, but the API from the web works as expected.
Firstly, ensure correct parameter naming and formatting in Axios:
params: {
"location": departureLocationId, // Verify the exact parameter key expected by API
}
Next, compare headers between RapidAPI and Postman. They must be identical:
headers: {
'X-RapidAPI-Host': API_HOST,
'X-RapidAPI-Key': API_KEY,
'Content-Type': 'application/json' // Add if missing
}
Also, the URL must match RapidAPI exactly. Consider encoding issues in the URL or params.
Finally, check network requests with tools like Postman Interceptor to ensure they match RapidAPI's sent requests.
It seems you’ve encountered a common challenge when integrating external APIs in a local Express.js environment. Let’s explore potential causes and solutions:
Check Your Request Parameters
- Parameter Names: Double-check the parameter names and structure. In RapidAPI, you may be using a more detailed parameter structure compared to your local server setup.
- Data Types: Ensure the type of
departureLocationId and other query parameters matches the expected type by the API. Mismatch types might lead to unsuccessful searches.
Inspect API Request and Response:
- Use Postman Interceptor: If discrepancies exist between Postman and RapidAPI, consider using the Postman Interceptor or another proxy tool to capture and examine requests. This way, you can analyze the exact requests sent from both environments.
- Response Structure: Ensure your server-side code correctly interprets the API response structure. Debugging the returned data can provide insights if certain properties differ from expectations.
Adjust Your Axios Configuration
- URL Construction: Ensure that your URL and parameters are correctly constructed. Any discrepancies here could lead to unintended API requests. For instance, if the API expects query strings in a certain format, ensure they are properly appended:
params: {
departureLocationId: departureLocationId, // Ensure the exact key expected by your API
}
Review Caching and Rates
- Caching and Rate Limiting: Some APIs might return empty results if accessed too frequently or cached. Verify usage limits or implement pause logic between requests, if necessary.
Debugging Techniques
- Error Logs: Your server logs might contain error messages that the API response lacks. Logs provide essential details to trace misconfigured or failed requests.
- Example Data: If possible, isolate cases by using static, example data from RapidAPI for identical requests to both environments. It might reveal inconsistencies.
By systematically addressing these aspects, you can narrow down the root of the discrepancy and resolve your integration issue efficiently.
Hi Ethan,
It sounds like you're on the right track, but there's a common issue when integrating APIs locally. Let's focus on efficiency and get this solved:
1. Verify Parameter Keys:
- Make sure
departureLocationId matches exactly what the API expects. You mentioned "query", but the actual required key might differ. Check the exact parameter format used in RapidAPI.
2. Check Headers:
3. Analyze Requests:
- Use tools like Postman Interceptor to compare requests sent from Postman with those sent via RapidAPI to spot differences.
4. Debug Response Handling:
- Review how your server code handles the response. The field
result.data?.data?.results should match the exact structure of the API's response.
5. Understand API Limitations:
- Sometimes, APIs have rate limits or caching mechanisms that may affect cheap flights data. Check API documentation for advice on handling repeated calls.
By ensuring the exact replication of parameters and headers from RapidAPI, and analyzing each aspect of the call, you'll streamline the process and resolve the issue. Feel free to reach out if any specific details arise!