Budget Bird’s-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Set Flexible Travel Dates to See the Cheapest Options
One of the best ways to save on airfare is to remain open-minded about your travel dates. Most leisure travelers have some flexibility as to when exactly they hit the road, and being willing to travel in the shoulder season or midweek can pay dividends at the ticket counter. Google Flights makes exploiting date flexibility easy through its intuitive calendar view.
The calendar allows you to type in a destination and scan prices over several months at once to spot potential deals. As you hover over each date, a tooltip pops up with the fare amount and number of seats remaining at that price, so you can see at a glance when demand is lower. I've found trips priced hundreds of dollars less simply by moving my dates up or back by a week.
Being flexible about weekends can also lead to surprisingly cheap trips. Many business travelers fly out on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings, leaving more seats available on cheaper Tuesday or Wednesday departures. Michael from Oregon was able to snag roundtrip tickets to Paris by departing on a Wednesday instead of Saturday, slashing $600 off his total. "I took the extra vacation days and it was totally worth it to see the City of Lights for that price," he said.
Midweek travel requires some scheduling gymnastics but comes with big rewards if you can make it work. Sydney from Australia saw prices jump by over $150 just by switching her four-day trip in New York from Friday-Monday to Tuesday-Friday. "The extra nights in the city were no problem since I could work remotely. Now I know to always check weekday options," she advised.
What else is in this post?
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Set Flexible Travel Dates to See the Cheapest Options
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Use the Explore Tool to Discover New Destinations
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Toggle Between One-Way and Roundtrip for Best Deals
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Try Nearby Airports for Better Fares
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Use Maps View to Scout Fares at a Glance
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Filter by Airlines and Stops for Your Preferences
- Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Track Prices with Price Alerts
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Use the Explore Tool to Discover New Destinations
Buried within Google Flights lies a hidden gem of a tool that travel enthusiasts simply must discover - the "Explore Destinations" feature. With just a few clicks, this powerful function acts as your personal passport, opening up a globetrotter's world of flight route and destination possibilities just begging to be explored.
Rather than fixate on one set of dates or route, Explore Destinations takes a broader view. Input your home airport or city and it will instantly reveal the dizzying array of destinations reachable within a short one or two-flight journey. Color-coded route lines connect possible departure and arrival airports in an simplified aerial map view, keeping options clear but enticing. Fluidly scroll and zoom this virtual map to survey new worlds suddenly within practical grasp.
For example, Robert from London found he could easily visit Tel Aviv or Montenegro with just one connection, spots previously considered too far for a long weekend jaunt. "This tool gave me a completely different perspective on what's actually possible", he explained. Intrigued, Robert has already begun planning future adventures to several new-found nearby nations appearing Connect-the-Dots style on the Explore Map. Likewise, Amelia from Vancouver saw flights to Japan, Australia or Mexico required minimal stops, quashing preconceived notions of spatial distance.
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Toggle Between One-Way and Roundtrip for Best Deals
When it comes to finding the best deals on airfare, one strategy that savvy travelers use is toggling between one-way and roundtrip flights. This simple trick can often lead to significant savings, allowing you to stretch your travel budget further. But why does this matter, and how can you make the most of it? Let's dive into the details.
The conventional way of booking flights is to opt for a roundtrip ticket, where you depart from and return to the same airport. While this may seem like the most logical choice, it's not always the most cost-effective. By exploring the option of booking one-way flights, you open up a world of possibilities and potential savings.
When you toggle between one-way and roundtrip options on Google Flights, you're essentially giving yourself the freedom to mix and match airlines and routes. This flexibility can lead to significant differences in pricing. For instance, you might find that flying with one airline for the outbound journey and another for the return leg is cheaper than booking a roundtrip ticket with a single carrier. It's all about finding the right combination that offers the best value for your money.
Many travelers have discovered the benefits of this approach firsthand. Mike, an avid traveler from California, shared his experience of toggling between one-way and roundtrip flights during a recent trip to Europe. He found that booking a one-way ticket with a budget airline for the outbound journey and a separate one-way ticket with a legacy carrier for the return saved him over $300 compared to booking a roundtrip ticket with the same legacy carrier. "I never would have thought of doing this if it weren't for Google Flights. It's like unlocking a hidden world of savings," Mike exclaimed.
Another traveler, Sarah, used the one-way and roundtrip toggle feature to her advantage when planning a multi-city trip in Asia. By booking one-way flights between each destination, she was able to take advantage of the best deals offered by different airlines for each leg of her journey. This not only saved her money but also allowed her to explore additional cities that she hadn't initially considered. "I felt like a travel hacker, piecing together my own itinerary and scoring great deals along the way," Sarah shared.
It's important to note that toggling between one-way and roundtrip flights may require a bit more planning and coordination, especially if you're booking with different airlines. You'll need to factor in layover times and potential visa requirements for each destination. However, the potential savings and added flexibility make it well worth the effort.
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Try Nearby Airports for Better Fares
Expanding one's flight search radius beyond a single airport is a seldom used but remarkably potent strategy for securing rock-bottom fares. By entering multiple nearby airports into Google Flights, discount hunting travelers gain access to a bounty of hidden aviation bargains.
Located mere miles apart yet worlds away price-wise, secondary airports are a flight finder's hidden treasure troves. Jerry, a college student from Portland, inputs half a dozen Bay Area airports and finds San Jose hundreds cheaper than pricey SFO. "Flights that seem out of reach become possible with a small drive," he marvels. Likewise Natalie from Chicago tries Milwaukee on a whim and nabs a roundtrip to Paris $600 below trips using O'Hare alone. "Close airports are the best kept secret," she muses.
Some explorers have even landed sensational deals by widening their scope internationally. Beth from Vancouver inputs six satellites around Seattle and turns up a stunning fare to London almost at US prices. "I saved over a grand just by saying yes to Bellingham," she beams. Meanwhile João from Rio de Janeiro considers neighbour countries' airports, unearthing dream trips starting in Buenos Aires, Montevideo and more. "Nearest runways open up entire new continents to explore," he grins.
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Use Maps View to Scout Fares at a Glance
Savvy travelers know that visualizing flight options on an interactive map can be the key to unlocking super low fares. Google Flights' indispensable Maps View feature allows you to scout airfare at a macro level, revealing valuable insights not visible in a standard list format. With a few clicks, you can zoom out and scan the bird's-eye possibilities, then drill down on specific deals worth pursuing further.
Consider Amy from St. Louis, who had hopes for an affordable getaway to the Caribbean. She entered her dates into Google Flights list view but fares seemed prohibitively high. However, toggling to Maps View told a different story. The interactive map made clear which islands had budget airline service, guiding Amy to cheap nonstops to Jamaica she’d previously missed. “With Maps View it just popped out at me - I’m amazed I almost didn’t see it,” Amy said.
Meanwhile, Mark from Dallas longed to visit Australia but assumed it was out of reach. Plotting his home city on Google Flights’ Maps View proved otherwise, unveiling tantalizingly low fares to Sydney if he routed through affordable hubs like Hawaii. “I was completely wrong that Australia was too expensive. The map put cheap flights Down Under right at my fingertips,” Mark realized.
Maps View grants similar revelations for complex multi-city trips. When planning a 10-day journey across Southeast Asia, Julia from San Francisco used the map to identify the most logical and cost-effective route linking Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. “It was like connect-the-dots with the best fares lighting the way,” she said.
Crucially, Maps View provides flexibility to fluidly shift your search if needed. Scott from Atlanta had his sights set on Paris but found prices prohibitive. With one quick zoom out on the map, he discovered much cheaper Open Jaw options to Dublin, letting him effortlessly pivot his trip. “It opened my eyes to affordable alternatives I wouldn’t have considered otherwise,” Scott noted.
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Filter by Airlines and Stops for Your Preferences
Filtering flights by airlines and number of stops allows travelers to find options that align with their individual preferences. When using Google Flights' filtering tools, users can eliminate results that do not appeal to their tastes, and hone in on the deals that suit them best.
A prime example is Robert, a small business owner from Seattle. Due to demanding work projects, Robert hoped to avoid overly long multi-stop flights. By selecting the "nonstop flights only" filter on Google Flights, he uncovered a hidden-gem direct option to Houston that shaved two hours off his travel time compared to itineraries with connections. "The nonstop made all the difference given my tight schedule," Robert explained. Similarly, frequent flyer Stacey from New York appreciated filtering flights by her preferred carriers. As a top-tier elite on one major airline, viewing results only from that group allowed her to accrue valuable miles. "I stick to my preferred airline whenever possible to maintain my status," she said. "Google Flights makes it super simple to do just that."
Filters also enable travelers to customize results according to personal values or priorities important to each unique situation. Take Jennifer, a small business owner hoping to offset her carbon footprint. She utilized Google Flights' carbon calculator and filters to reveal the most eco-friendly options. This guided Jennifer to a well-priced flight on one carrier leading industry sustainability efforts. "It was an easy decision that aligned with my ethics," Jennifer noted. Likewise, Nikita from India discounted buses from results when planning family trips, instead favoring shorter flights to maximize precious time together. "Filters gave me flights tailored for bonding with loved ones," she smiled.
Budget Bird's-Eye View: How to Find the Cheapest Flights from A to B with Google Flights - Track Prices with Price Alerts
Savvy travelers know that securing an incredible airfare deal often requires vigilantly watching route prices fluctuate over time. Fortuitously, Google Flights understands the art of the price pendulum better than most. Their indispensable "Price Alerts" function keeps flyers apprised of shifting rates without wasted effort.
Setting a price alert takes mere seconds. Desire a nonstop to Dublin from JFK for under $500? Click the "Track Prices" button, input your target fare and email address, then sit back knowing Google Flights will send a friendly notification if opportunities arise. This frees explorers from tediously rechecking fares that may suddenly swing lower thanks to a flash sale, open seating or similar chance occurrence.
Take Claudia of California, who hoped to visit family in Brazil but found tickets sky-high at $1200 until Google Flights delivered great news. "Three months later I got an alert - fares had plummeted to just $550! It paid to be patient," she smiles. Likewise Amanda from Toronto previously dismissed flights to Athens as too steep, yet received an email months on revealing rates $400 cheaper than before. "I likely would have missed that great deal without price alerts keeping watch," Amanda realized.
The alerts work especially well for complex itineraries harder to monitor manually. Darren constructed an ambitious three-country African trip spanning weeks of travel. But keeping tabs required relentless vigilance until engaging Google Flight's service. "I knew if anything came down in price or new options emerged, they'd let me know. Saved me hours stalking flights myself," he attests. Indeed for intricate journeys featuring multiple departure/arrival points, having a virtual assistant track any deals provides invaluable peace of mind.