Google flights It's trying to make the process of booking a flight – and less stressful – a little easier with some new updates.
Google released a new feature in November to all users who notify them when cheaper flights are available at nearby airports, Google spokesman Craig Ewer told USA TODAY. Google also now offers a similar feature that notifies you if changing travel dates could mean saving a significant portion of the change.
"We want people to trust that Google Flights helps them find the best flights that best meet their needs," said Google TODAY Thijs van As, product leader of the Google Flights team. For example, if you are flying from New York to Washington and a flight is available half price or cheaper than what you are looking for, the site will inform you of changes to your itinerary.
Travelers do not buy tickets from Google (although they may book on the platform). The portal partners with airlines and travel agents to collect flight information. Effectively, it is a one stop shop with information and convenience of purchase.
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(3624)Several other providers, such as Kayak and Cheap flights from Scott, provide similar lists. Expedia, Kayak, Travelocity, and others let you set up email price alerts to stay on top of your flights (just like Google Flights). Some of these services include options to add nearby airports or flexible dates at the time of booking.
Google is looking into the biggest problems travelers face when booking flights. The biggest? "People don't know what a good price is for a flight," nor do they know the right time to book, van van added.
The airport and pricing notification service is part of a series of changes made by Google to better assist travelers. Earlier this year, it launched a new type of price insight which tells you if the price of the flight found is relatively high, low or typical. The service compares trips of similar length and time of year.
Google Flights is also trying to predict whether the price of a flight will remain stable or may increase in the coming days. When the platform has high confidence, either of these will occur, it will inform the user.
Other tips for getting the most out of Google Flights
- Use the To explore feature. Find deals around the world by mentioning your home airport, where you want to go and when, and budget limitations.
- Filter. If you want to avoid morning stops or flights, check it when searching.
- See different fare options. Check out the basic economy or main cabin rates, for example.
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