Use Google Flights to Save Money: Tips from a Google Employee

Google Flights is an exceptional tool for researching flights. Here’s what you should know before planning your next trip.

Google Flights Search Features

Google Flights boasts an exceptional array of search features, paired with an intuitive interface for effortless navigation.

Search

The basic search feature allows you to find flights by simply entering your departure city, destination, and travel dates. Consequently, it lists available flights, which can be sorted by price, duration, and other characteristics.

Explore

If your travel plans are flexible, take advantage of the Explore tool. Just enter your home airport and leave the destination field blank to visualize where in the world you can travel to find the best deals. You can filter by specific dates or choose the flexible option to see the cheapest flights.

Date Grid and Price Graph

These tools help you determine the best time to travel. The Date Grid shows how prices fluctuate based on minor adjustments to your departure or return dates, while the Price Graph illustrates price changes over time for trips of various lengths.

Insights

Google Flights provides insights into the price history of various routes. This feature helps you determine whether prices are low, typical, or high, allowing you to book with confidence based on historical data.

Price Alerts

Once you’ve identified a specific route, it’s possible to set flight price alerts to monitor changes over time.

How to Search for Flights

If you’ve previously used regular Google services, you will find adjusting to Google Flights quite seamless due to its easy navigation. Enter the required details — departure city, destination, and travel dates — to receive a list of potential flights sorted by various factors, including price and duration.

Specific preferences, such as certain airlines, can be filtered effectively, and setting a price range is also possible. However, remember that Google Flights redirects you for bookings since it doesn’t function as an online travel agency.

Exploring Alternate Airports and Routes

Flexibility in departure and/or arrival airports is an excellent way to save on flights. Google Flights permits the inclusion of multiple airports in a single search, especially beneficial for major cities with more than one airport.

Additionally, you can customize your search further by selecting the “multi-city” option, aiding those with flexible itineraries on both ends of their journeys.

How to Set Price Alerts and Track Flight Prices

Google Flights facilitates monitoring flight prices, allowing you to book as soon as you see a drop. By toggling on price tracking for your selected destination and dates, email notifications will alert you if prices decrease significantly.

More Tips for Using Google Flights

To optimize your experience and save money, consider the following tips:

Keep Your Travel Dates Flexible

If possible, target off-peak travel periods, such as midweek dates. Google Flights provides insights to help identify low-cost travel windows.

Basic Economy Fares

Be aware that the lowest displayed fare might be a basic economy fare, which is often restrictive. Therefore, it’s advisable to filter for higher fare classes if necessary.

Check Baggage Fees

Some airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, may charge high fees for luggage, potentially increasing overall travel costs significantly.

Consider Carbon Emissions

For the environmentally conscious traveler, Google Flights indicates the approximate carbon footprint of each flight. When comparing similar options, you can factor in emissions as part of your decision-making process.

Change Currency Settings

If you are traveling abroad while searching for flights, Google Flights defaults to the local currency for pricing. Changing this setting is straightforward by scrolling to the bottom of the page.