When it comes to booking flights, finding the best deals can feel like a daunting task. Fortunately, Google Flights offers a comprehensive and user-friendly platform to help you snag great prices on airfare. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, here’s how to use Google Flights to save money on flights and get the most out of your travel budget.
Key Takeaways
- Google Flights is a powerful tool for finding affordable airfare, thanks to its comprehensive search capabilities, flexible options, and insightful data
- Google Flights provides data-driven insights on the best times to book flights
- Google Flights shows options from various airlines, including budget carriers that might not appear on other search engines
Start with a Flexible Search
One of the biggest keys to saving money on flights is flexibility with your travel dates. Google Flights allows you to see a calendar view with fare prices for different dates, making it easy to identify the cheapest days to fly.
How to Do It
If you’re open to exploring different destinations, use the “Explore” feature. This allows you to see flight prices to various destinations around the world, helping you find affordable and interesting travel options.
Set Up Price Alerts
Google Flights lets you track prices for specific routes and dates, sending you email alerts when prices change. This feature is invaluable for monitoring fare fluctuations, cheap flights and booking at the right time.
How to Do It
After searching for a flight, toggle the switch that says “Track prices.” You’ll need to be logged into your Google account to receive notifications.
Use the Best Time to Book Insights
Google Flights provides data-driven insights on the best times to book flights. This feature can help you determine the optimal time frame to purchase your tickets, potentially saving you a significant amount of money.
How to Do It
After selecting your flight options, Google Flights might display messages such as “Prices are unlikely to decrease” or “Prices are high for your dates.” Pay attention to these insights to guide your booking decisions.
Leverage the Multi-City Search Feature
Sometimes booking separate legs of a journey can be cheaper than booking a round trip. Google Flights’ multi-city vacation search option allows you to piece together an itinerary that can save you money.
How to Do It
Click on the “Multi-city” tab on the Google Flights search page. Enter each leg of your trip to see how different combinations affect the price.
Utilize Filters to Refine Your Search
Google Flights offers a variety of filters to help you narrow down your search based on your preferences and needs, such as number of stops, airlines, flight duration, and more. This ensures that you find flights that not only fit your budget but also your travel preferences.
How to Do It
Use the filter options on the left-hand side of the search results page. You can filter by stops, airlines, times, and more to customize your search.
Check Nearby Airports
Flying into or out of nearby airports can sometimes be cheaper than your main destination. Google Flights allows you to include nearby airports in your search to compare prices.
How to Do It
When you enter your departure and destination cities, click on the “Nearby airports” checkbox to see prices for airports within a certain radius.
Consider Alternate Airlines and Alliances
Google Flights shows options from various airlines, including budget carriers that might not appear on other search engines. Additionally, looking at flights operated by airline alliances can sometimes reveal cheaper options.
How to Do It
Simply enter your route and check the airlines listed in the results. Use the airline filter to include or exclude specific carriers as needed.
Final Word
Google Flights is a powerful tool for finding affordable airfare, thanks to its comprehensive search capabilities, flexible options, and insightful data. By taking advantage of these features, you can significantly cut the cost of your next trip. Remember to stay flexible, set up price alerts, and consider all options to maximize your savings. Happy travels!
