Google Flight’s Newest Feature Got Me Ultracheap Plane Tickets on Bucket List Trips
Christmas is just a few weeks away, which means millions of Americans are getting ready to travel this month. In fact, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China report, a total of 606,218 domestic flights were scheduled in December 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation –2024 is expected to be even busier.
If you’re one of the millions of people planning to fly during the year-end holidays, you’re probably looking for the cheapest airfares – and a feature from Google Flights can help.
On October 16, Google launched a new “Cheapest” tab on Google Flights to help travelers save money and easily find super-cheap flights. Here’s how it works, and how it provides super cheap flights for that trip I’ve been dying to book.
Read more: Southwest Airlines flights now available on Google Flights
How do I find the cheapest flights on Google Flights
First, I opened Google Flights, which you can do by going to www.google.com/travel/flights Or search “Google flights.”
The “Cheapest” tab aggregates flights strictly based on price.
Now you simply enter your travel details and click on the ‘Cheapest’ tab to browse the lowest price options available.
During my testing period, I tried to book a flight from Charlotte to Philadelphia for Friday, January 17, through Tuesday, January 21, to visit an old college friend. The platform first took me to the “Best” tab, which showed flights ranked by convenience and price. I then switched to the “Cheapest” tab, which displays flights strictly by price. On the “Best” tab, American Airlines flights start at $219. On the “Cheapest” tab, direct flights to Frontier start at $76. But be aware that border flights require an additional fee to bring carry-on luggage.
To get an idea of ​​how cheap domestic flights can be, I tried itineraries from Charlotte, NC to Tulsa, Okla., Atlanta to Boston, and New York to Denver, and found many flights priced under $400 Below, some flights are priced around $400. Or less than $200.
I’m also curious how this new feature will affect the cost of international flights. Visiting Vienna is at the top of my travel bucket list, and I’ve always dreamed of booking a trip during the city’s ball season (which peaks in January and February). I simulated a trip from Charlotte to Vienna from Monday, January 20th through Monday, January 27th, with nearly 150 flights available on these dates. The highest-end tickets range in price from $850 to more than $1,000, but the cheapest is $504. For someone who regularly tracks flights to Vienna, the $500 ticket is a great deal.
While a $500 flight to Europe is definitely affordable, the problem is that the flight itinerary includes three stops on the return flight, including an overnight layover. Departure and return flights are also self-transfers, i.e. booking two or more separate flights from different airlines. This can save a lot of money, but requires more planning and research.
How does the “cheapest” feature work?
To aggregate the cheapest options, Google Flights amplifies flights offered by third parties, such as online travel agencies, and offers flight itineraries that may be less convenient, such as flights with longer layovers or different itineraries booked with different airlines Flight or booking provider.
The “Cheapest” label feature launched globally in October and November ahead of the holiday travel season. we have already introduced Cheapest time to book flights Depending on the destination and time of year, Google Flights now offers new upgrades to maximize your travel budget when cost is more important than convenience.
