Google has multiple utilities and one of them is exploring flight options to wherever your destination is.
For the unversed, Google has a functionality for this precise utility called Google Flights.
What is it?
As mentioned earlier, this is an online service provided by the search engine behemoth.
With this users can conveniently check out flights and book the same via third-party sites.
Just input the desired route and you will receive a bunch of results from top rated travel websites.
Google flights
Here’s where Google steps in.
As explained before, Google Flights is your new guide.
When you search for a flight on the site, it lists all available options.
Click on any of those which will send you to the relevant third-party booking website.
This functionality also provides a bunch of filters to assist the user with highly specific preferences.
For eg., one can select ‘low emissions only’ option or sort by the number of carry-on bags that is allowed.
Speciality
All things considered, Google Flights stands out among its peers with its ‘Explore’ feature.
This displays a map that shows popular travel destinations worldwide along with data on how much a trip would cost you.
This should be useful for to-be travelers who have not settled on a location yet.
This feature helps with the budgeting aspect of the vacation planning phase.
Budget-friendly
Google helps with economic planning for your next vacation.
A new update to the functionality introduces several features that can help you save massively on flights.
Google Flights has access to the user’s historical data which it uses to provide real-time flight ticket prices along with the best time to book a particular route.
For example, it might tell you that booking three weeks in advance will save you 20% compared to booking later.
Price tracking
If you are undecided, you can turn on price tracking which will give you email alerts when a specific route becomes cheaper.
You can do this by clicking the Track Prices button near the top-left of the search results page.
“You can set up tracking for specific dates, like your best friend’s destination wedding in February. Or, if you’re more flexible, you can turn on “Any dates” price tracking to receive emails about deals anytime in the next three to six months. To enable this feature, make sure you’re logged into your Google account,” it said.
Christmas planning
According to the search engine it is advisable to book tickets around early October.
“Average prices tend to be lowest 71 days before departure — a big change from our 2022 insights, which found that average prices were lowest just 22 days before departure. And the typical low price range is now 54-78 days before takeoff”, as it says.
Price guarantee
Some flight results will show a price guarantee badge alongside.
This indicates that the fare will not go down before departure.
What makes this special is that users who opt for this and book their flights at this fare will receive a reimbursement of the difference in case the price actually goes down.
“We’re launching upgraded insights to make that choice a bit easier. For searches with reliable trend data, you’ll now see when prices have typically been lowest to book your chosen dates and destination,” said James Byers, Group Product Manager, Google.
