7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Track Price Drops With Calendar View and Email Notifications

Google Flights has made it much easier to find the best flight deals, especially if you're flexible with your travel dates. A particularly useful tool is the ability to track price changes. You can set up alerts and receive email notifications whenever the price of your desired flight drops. The interface incorporates a calendar view which allows you to visualize how prices vary throughout your desired travel period. This visual representation can be especially helpful for planning trips with flexible dates, where you can scan the calendar to spot the most cost-effective days to travel.

Another valuable feature is the ability to monitor multiple flight options at once, encompassing various departure and arrival airports. By tracking a range of potential travel routes, you broaden the possibility of discovering unexpectedly low-priced fares. You can even track prices for flights that you have already booked – if the price drops, you might be able to make changes to your reservation and potentially save money on your upcoming trip. It's a nifty way to ensure you're always getting the best possible deal, even if you've already committed to a particular flight. These features truly empower you to take a more proactive approach to flight planning and secure truly affordable airfare.

Keeping an eye on airfare fluctuations is key to securing a great deal. Google Flights offers a handy calendar view where you can see how prices change over time. This visual approach, along with the option to receive email alerts, is incredibly useful. Imagine setting up your desired trip details and having Google's system essentially do the heavy lifting for you by tracking price changes. It's a lot like having your own personal flight price detective constantly scouring the web for bargains.

This system relies on Google's algorithms which are constantly analyzing flight price trends to predict future fluctuations, enhancing your chances of spotting a deal. You can set it up so that you're informed via email if the price of a flight you're eyeing drops. This means, theoretically, you are more likely to snag a better price, especially if you're flexible with your dates.

The email notifications are triggered if the price of a tracked flight falls below your set limit, or simply whenever there's a notable change. The beauty is, you can track prices for multiple destinations, or even for flights you've already booked (perhaps you are hoping for a price drop on a flight for a trip you already committed to). What's particularly interesting is that Google Flight seems to nudge users towards using incognito modes, which suggests that their algorithms can potentially be bypassed or manipulated by airlines that engage in dynamic pricing practices. Dynamic pricing - where fares can be adjusted based on factors like time of day, user's browsing history and so on - is something that has become more common. How much this actually impacts prices is a topic for another study.



The idea is that if you regularly track your target destinations, monitor price trends and react promptly to alerts, you may well end up with a better flight price. The price calendar view and alerts essentially help automate a process that most travelers would have to manually do. Whether this automation will lead to you getting a more significant discount is certainly debatable, but it certainly is an exciting step in the ever evolving world of air travel.

What else is in this post?

1. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Track Price Drops With Calendar View and Email Notifications
2. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Use Multi City Search to Find Lower Fares Through Alternative Airports
3. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Filter Results by Alliance to Maximize Your Frequent Flyer Miles
4. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Compare Nearby Airports With the Radius Search Tool
5. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Find Cheaper Dates With the Price Graph Feature
6. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Save Money on Baggage Fees With the New Carry On Filter
7. 7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Mix and Match Airlines With the Separate Tickets Option

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Use Multi City Search to Find Lower Fares Through Alternative Airports

Google Flights' multi-city search is a fantastic tool for uncovering hidden savings when planning your trips. Instead of just focusing on one departure and arrival airport, this feature allows you to input up to seven different airports, effectively opening up a wider range of possible flight combinations. You might find that flying into or out of a slightly less popular airport nearby your actual destination can lead to a much lower fare.

The potential savings are not negligible. By switching from a standard one-way search to a multi-city search, you can sometimes save up to 20% on your flight. This alone makes it worth experimenting with different airport combinations. Additionally, the feature also gives you the control to specify things like cabin class or number of stops, letting you further refine your search and tailor your trip to your own travel style. While it might require a bit more effort to explore the various options, the possibility of substantial cost savings makes it a valuable feature to consider. It's a useful reminder that being flexible can have significant rewards in the often-opaque world of air travel.

Google Flights offers a "Multi-City Search" feature that allows you to input up to seven different departure or arrival airports when planning your trip. This is a great way to find cheaper fares because it allows you to explore options that might not be immediately apparent when searching for standard round-trip or one-way flights.

To use it, simply enter a list of airport codes separated by commas, and Google Flights will generate potential flight options. This can be a surprisingly effective way to save money. For example, I've seen situations where simply changing a standard one-way search to a multi-city search reduced the fare by 20%. It's important to note that airfares change often and algorithms seem to be a big part of that.

The rationale is pretty intuitive. Airlines and booking platforms often use pricing models that attempt to optimize the revenue that they can generate from available seats. When you broaden your search to consider several airports, you essentially broaden your options and potentially see routes that haven't been optimized for your current origin and destination.

One implication is that you might start to appreciate smaller, regional airports more. These facilities, due to their lower traffic and less congested routes, might have more attractive pricing. However, this comes with a few other things to consider. You might need to factor in travel time to these airports and the costs associated with it (fuel, parking and time).

Moreover, the larger airlines often have partnerships with smaller carriers. By searching for multi-city options, you might benefit from these partnerships and discover more affordable prices or schedules.

One thing that becomes apparent is that the distance between airports plays a huge role. For instance, two airports that are only a few miles apart can have very different fares for the same destinations. This makes it crucial to check the fares for all relevant airports. The data suggests that the fares are impacted by search behavior and by how many people are interested in a specific route. If a route is under-utilized, fares can become rather attractive.

If your travel dates are flexible, you might also consider making use of flights with longer layover times. Although seemingly undesirable, longer layover times may translate into lower overall flight fares. This might lead you to consider some travel hacks where you might use these layover times to briefly visit cities. However, make sure to factor in the time this takes before you implement it.



Essentially, searching for flights across multiple cities opens up a world of possibilities. The more flexible you are with your departure and arrival points, the more likely it becomes that you'll stumble upon surprisingly cheap options. While the savings might not always be dramatic, it can certainly pay to do a thorough investigation. However, if the airline industry's dynamic pricing model is really at work, it could impact how you use search features. It is likely a complex and intricate topic that needs further scrutiny.

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Filter Results by Alliance to Maximize Your Frequent Flyer Miles

When searching for flights, consider filtering your results based on airline alliances. This can significantly impact your ability to maximize the use of your frequent flyer miles. Many airlines have partnerships with other carriers, allowing you to potentially earn or redeem miles across a wider network of destinations.

Booking a flight using a partner airline's miles might offer better value than booking directly with the airline you're flying with. It's also possible to find more favorable cancellation and change policies when you book through a major airline's alliance. This tactic ensures you can get the most out of your miles and increases the range of available flights.

This approach can be a particularly useful tool for travelers seeking a greater degree of flexibility in their trip planning. While the actual impact of airline alliances on flight costs is debated, it's certainly a strategy that can unlock a wider range of travel options in 2024.

Filtering your flight search results by airline alliance can be a surprisingly effective way to maximize your frequent flyer miles and potentially snag cheaper flights. Here's why:

1. **Hidden Network Effects:** Many travelers aren't fully aware of the benefits of airline alliances. These partnerships, like Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam, encompass a wide range of airlines, expanding your options for earning and redeeming miles.

2. **Multi-Airline Itineraries and Potential Savings:** Research suggests that strategically combining flights from different airlines within the same alliance can lead to significant discounts, particularly on international routes. These discounts often stem from partner airline pricing structures that are not readily apparent in standard searches.

3. **Mile Transferability**: Some loyalty programs allow effortless transfers of miles between partner airlines within the same alliance. This flexibility allows you to combine airlines on a single trip, potentially reducing costs and helping you reach redemption thresholds faster.

4. **Beyond the Usual Search:** Filtering by alliance can alter your search results. For example, budget carriers within an alliance may not show up in standard searches, highlighting hidden routes or price points that might otherwise be overlooked.

5. **Booking Class Impacts Rewards:** The number of frequent flyer miles awarded can vary greatly depending on the type of ticket you buy. Some airlines within an alliance offer bonus miles for premium booking classes, often during promotional periods. This can be a tactic that many travelers don't think about when maximizing points.

6. **Partnership Perks**: Airlines within an alliance often collaborate on promotional campaigns, providing incentives like bonus miles or discounted fares for particular routes. While these temporary opportunities can yield substantial savings, they are often overlooked by travelers.

7. **Demand and Price Dynamics:** Airlines utilize algorithms to set prices based on demand. Flights offered by partner airlines can be priced more competitively due to fluctuations in demand, especially if it is a codeshare flight.

8. **A Wider View of Perks**: Beyond miles, many alliances offer extra benefits to their elite members. This can include access to airport lounges and priority boarding. These benefits can further reduce overall travel costs when considering the convenience factors.

9. **Complementary Credit Cards**: It's worth considering credit cards that partner with specific alliances. These cards offer the possibility of earning extra points or miles simply by using the card for everyday purchases, accelerating the accumulation of your frequent flyer balances.

10. **Error Fares and Speed:** Filtering your search by alliance might make it easier to spot error fares. These are pricing mistakes that can result in significantly cheaper trips. Airlines within an alliance often alert each other to errors, potentially enabling travelers to jump on a deal much faster, sometimes as much as 70% off standard fares.


While it might take a little extra planning to understand the interplay between airlines and alliances, the potential for significant cost savings and maximum mileage rewards makes this strategy worth exploring. It's a testament to the ongoing evolution of air travel and the power of airline partnerships.

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Compare Nearby Airports With the Radius Search Tool

Google Flights has a hidden gem called the Radius Search Tool, which can help you find cheaper flights by considering airports near your starting point or destination. Essentially, the tool lets you expand your search to include airports within about 70 to 100 miles of your preferred locations. This simple tweak can unlock some significant savings, especially if you're open to using smaller regional airports or even international hubs that are a short drive away.

Often, these lesser-known airports have lower fares compared to the larger, busier ones. It might mean you need to travel a few extra miles, but the potential savings can be substantial. Think of it as a tradeoff: a bit more travel time in exchange for a potentially much lower price. This feature is particularly useful when combined with other Google Flights tools like the Price Insights or Flexible Dates feature. This is because it broadens the possibilities for spotting great deals while highlighting the variations in prices across airports. Given how much airfares fluctuate these days, using such tools is increasingly important if you are looking to optimize your travel budget.

Here are ten interesting facets of using the radius search tool to compare nearby airports, focusing on how it affects flight costs and travel plans:


1. **Fare Fluctuations:** Research suggests that ticket prices can differ significantly—sometimes by as much as 50%—between airports that are relatively close together. This difference is often tied to factors such as competition between airlines and shifting demand, making a radius search a valuable approach for cost-conscious travelers.


2. **Impact of Dynamic Pricing:** Airlines make use of complex algorithms for dynamic pricing. These algorithms consider various factors including booking trends and competitors' pricing. By expanding your search to multiple airports, you might be able to avoid artificially inflated prices related to local demand and gain a better understanding of how pricing structures shift within close proximity.


3. **Exploring Nearby Airport Options:** An investigation of major metropolitan areas reveals that utilizing smaller, nearby airports can lead to considerable savings on airfare. For instance, travelers flying into airports like Long Beach instead of LAX have frequently discovered cheaper options for destinations like New York or Chicago.


4. **Beyond Ticket Prices:** While lower airfare is a plus, it's important to acknowledge potential hidden fees that might arise at smaller, nearby airports. Travelers sometimes overlook things like airport parking fees, transportation to and from the airport, or surcharges, which can eat into the savings of lower ticket prices at larger hubs.


5. **Longer Layovers and Their Potential:** Altering the radius in your search can bring up airports with competing airlines that provide longer layovers for potentially lower overall prices. This might present opportunities to not only find cheaper flights but also perhaps explore other locations during your layover time.


6. **Pricing Trends Over Time:** Historical data shows that the pricing for flights out of alternate airports can vary with the season. For example, at smaller airports, fares might be significantly lower during off-peak travel periods due to diminished competition.


7. **Adequate Flight Frequencies:** People may underrate smaller, regional airports, yet many report that these locations typically have sufficient flight frequencies, allowing for flexible scheduling while offering access to diverse destinations and major airlines.


8. **Understanding Consumer Behavior:** Studies suggest that experienced travelers rely on radius searches more frequently. This signifies a growing awareness of ticket price volatility and a willingness to capitalize on nearby options—potentially altering the traditional fare structures of the main airport hubs.


9. **Balancing Convenience and Savings:** While exploring all airports within a radius can lead to great savings, it's critical to weigh the potential inconvenience or extra travel time required to get to these airports, particularly if connecting flights necessitate longer transfers.


10. **Algorithms and Booking Habits:** Search engines and flight booking platforms are modifying their algorithms to adapt to user behavior in relation to radius search options. As a result of more frequent use of comprehensive searches, airlines will likely modify their pricing approaches accordingly, impacting future fare trends.


By using the radius search tool, not only can you discover potentially great flight deals, you'll also get a better sense of the complex dynamics of air travel pricing in a constantly changing market.

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Find Cheaper Dates With the Price Graph Feature

Google Flights' Price Graph provides a visual representation of flight prices across a two-month timeframe. This feature is extremely helpful in identifying periods with lower fares. By simply observing the graph, you can quickly pinpoint the cheapest days to fly. This visual approach, in contrast to a plain list of prices, makes it easier to understand how prices vary throughout your desired travel period.

This visual insight is particularly valuable for those with adaptable travel plans. You can readily see the price fluctuations and potentially adjust your dates to take advantage of cheaper fares. When combined with the feature called Date Grid, which shows prices for surrounding days, the Price Graph can give you a deeper understanding of price variations.

The Price Graph effectively presents flight pricing trends in a comprehensible manner, making it easier to recognize price patterns and make smarter decisions about your travel dates. It's a powerful feature for cost-conscious travelers willing to adjust their trip a bit for greater savings.

Google Flights' Price Graph is a visual tool that displays flight prices over a two-month period, offering a powerful way to find cheaper travel dates. It's essentially a visual calendar that gives you a sense of the pricing trends for your destination.

One fascinating aspect is how the Price Graph leverages historical data to predict future fare fluctuations. Underlying algorithms appear quite capable of forecasting potential price increases or reductions for specific timeframes. Interestingly, studies suggest that certain days of the week, particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays, tend to have lower airfares, highlighting the influence of booking timing which the Price Graph clearly illustrates.

Seasonal changes can have a substantial impact on flight prices, sometimes resulting in a 30% or more difference between peak and off-peak travel periods. The Price Graph allows you to observe these seasonal patterns, which is especially helpful when you are trying to save money.

Airline pricing strategies can also be discerned through the Price Graph. Since airlines frequently react to competitor pricing, the Price Graph can be used to understand how fares change around events like holidays or important industry announcements. This visual representation allows you to make more informed decisions about your travel dates.

Furthermore, the Price Graph can help you anticipate sudden fare increases associated with events like conferences or festivals in your destination. You can use this information to either avoid traveling during these high-demand periods or potentially find better deals just before or after such events.


It's not always a clear-cut decision between booking a round-trip versus two one-way tickets. The Price Graph offers a comparative view that helps you make the optimal choice for your situation. The data often suggests that the round-trip ticket can sometimes be a better choice.

Another surprising aspect is that last-minute flights can sometimes yield substantial savings, particularly for departures on specific days. While it's a risky approach, the Price Graph can signal potential opportunities to capitalize on sudden dips in fares.


The ability to visualize price variations for multiple routes is another benefit. It makes it easier to adjust your travel plans to minimize costs, maximizing your savings.


Research suggests that travelers who are willing to shift their departure date by even a few days can sometimes secure significant savings, sometimes by 50%. The Price Graph can visually illustrate these opportunities, revealing patterns of consumer behavior that are usually not as obvious.


Lastly, the Price Graph incorporates user behavior data, unveiling patterns of previous search queries. This allows you to not only identify price trends that are specific to you, but also understand broader consumer travel patterns.


In summary, the Price Graph is a powerful tool that sheds light on the complexities of airfare pricing. It leverages historical and real-time data to help users make more informed decisions, ultimately allowing them to find cheaper travel dates. The insights it provides into seasonal trends, airline strategies, and overall market dynamics contribute to the effectiveness of this under-utilized Google Flights tool.

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Save Money on Baggage Fees With the New Carry On Filter

Google Flights has introduced a new "Carry On" filter, a feature that can potentially save travelers a significant amount of money. This filter allows you to easily find flights that are optimized for travelers who prefer to only take a carry-on bag. The feature is designed to show the total cost upfront, including any potential baggage fees. This offers better transparency, as you can see how much a flight will cost with and without checked bags.

It's not surprising that Google would introduce such a feature, as airlines have started charging exorbitant fees for checked baggage. It's not uncommon to see a price increase of nearly $200 when adding a single checked bag to your reservation. This can come as an unpleasant surprise, particularly if you were focused only on the lowest base fares.

The "Carry On" filter is part of a larger trend towards greater transparency in flight pricing. In an age of dynamic pricing, where fares can change seemingly at random, any feature that helps the user understand the true cost is helpful. The impact of such a tool might not be earth-shattering, but in the long run, travelers are better off using these features as airlines become more inventive in their strategies to squeeze more revenue from each flight. This simple feature can help travelers avoid baggage fees, allowing them to plan their trips more efficiently and stay within budget.

Google Flights has introduced a new filter specifically designed to address the often-hidden costs associated with baggage. This "Bags" filter allows you to see the impact of baggage fees on the total price of your flight, which is useful for anyone who doesn't want to be surprised by extra costs when they arrive at the airport.

The way it works is pretty straightforward. When you search for flights using this filter, the prices presented will already include any checked or carry-on fees. This ensures transparency, showing you the true cost of your trip right from the start, rather than just eliminating options that would involve added fees. While it might seem like a simple change, it's quite powerful. For instance, studies have shown that the inclusion of a single checked bag can increase the price of the cheapest flight by almost $200 – a substantial sum.

This type of feature illustrates how the economics of airline travel are slowly becoming more visible. In the past, airlines were more opaque about their pricing structures, often only revealing baggage fees at the very end of the booking process. However, passengers were also getting accustomed to paying a substantial amount of money for bags. In 2017 alone, airlines in the US collected over $4.5 billion in baggage fees.

Naturally, if you can avoid these charges, you'll end up saving money. So, it's beneficial to research baggage fees before you arrive at the airport, knowing exactly what the weight limits are, and packing as efficiently as possible. This helps avoid surprises.

Essentially, the baggage filter highlights that the cost of baggage should be treated as a core part of the ticket price itself. It's an example of how technology is helping travelers navigate the complex landscape of airline fares, promoting more informed choices. Yet, it also reveals how substantial the revenue associated with baggage fees is for the airlines, especially when it's bundled into the price. Whether this increased visibility will lead to a reassessment of the way that airlines manage and charge for baggage fees is another question altogether.

7 Hidden Google Flights Features That Help Score Better Deals in 2024 - Mix and Match Airlines With the Separate Tickets Option

Google Flights' "Mix and Match Airlines" feature, using the "Separate Tickets" option, allows you to explore a wider range of flight possibilities in 2024. Activating this setting within the "All filters" menu gives you the ability to combine flights from different airlines on your journey, potentially uncovering cheaper fares than traditional searches might show. Google Flights has partnered with hundreds of airlines and agencies, offering a vast selection for travelers to build bespoke itineraries. The appeal is that you can craft your trip with specific airlines for various legs, aiming for cost efficiency.

However, there are potential downsides. Booking separate tickets can be risky; managing your itinerary, especially baggage, can become tricky. It is not always without a degree of complexity. Issues can arise if there are delays or cancellations on one part of your journey. These issues can be amplified when you have different airlines involved. There's a chance that missed connections could disrupt your overall travel plans.

While using the feature potentially unlocks cost savings, it also brings a higher degree of risk management into the process of booking travel. It's about assessing your tolerance for a little extra planning in the hope that you uncover a great travel deal. It's a useful reminder that flexibility can be rewarded in the dynamic and sometimes challenging world of air travel, but you'll need to weigh the potential advantages and disadvantages before booking.

### Exploring the "Separate Tickets" Option in Google Flights: A Deeper Dive

Google Flights, in its quest to provide a comprehensive platform for air travel searches, has introduced the "Separate Tickets" option, which can potentially unlock a new realm of possibilities when it comes to finding the cheapest fares. This feature allows travelers to mix and match airlines, potentially leading to more flexible and affordable journeys, although it comes with a few caveats worth understanding.

At its core, the "Separate Tickets" option empowers travelers to book different legs of their trip with different carriers. This approach can lead to surprising savings, sometimes exceeding 30% compared to traditional itineraries that rely on a single airline for the entire trip. The logic behind these savings is simple: airlines often have intricate pricing models where the price of a flight on a specific route can fluctuate based on factors such as competition and demand. By essentially creating a customized route with various carriers, travelers may uncover routes that have more competitive pricing than traditional, direct connections.

However, the allure of potential cost savings comes with some challenges. One key factor to be aware of is that budget airlines often don't factor in baggage fees into their base fare. This means that a seemingly cheap flight might turn out to be quite expensive if a traveler needs to add on baggage, potentially negating any perceived cost savings. Thoroughly analyzing the overall cost of a trip, including any potential ancillary charges, is crucial.

Furthermore, the "Separate Tickets" option comes with inherent flexibility in scheduling. For instance, travelers can leverage extended layover times to briefly explore different cities at little extra cost, which may be a factor to consider when traveling. However, this very flexibility also highlights a crucial aspect of the "Separate Tickets" feature. Unlike conventional bookings that involve multiple legs with a single airline, separate tickets do not offer the protection of seamless connections. Should a traveler experience a delay or disruption that leads to missing a connecting flight, they are on their own to handle rebooking or purchasing a new ticket, with no guarantees of assistance or refunds from the initial airline.

Moreover, opting for "Separate Tickets" means forfeiting the potential benefits of airline alliances. Airline alliances, like Star Alliance or Oneworld, provide benefits that are not available through independent bookings. This includes a smoother transition between flights, often with guaranteed connections and other benefits like priority boarding. Without these alliances, the traveler carries the full responsibility of managing the journey between different carriers, which can add a layer of complexity.


Another point to ponder is how the use of separate tickets can impact a traveler's ability to optimize their loyalty miles or points. In theory, travelers could carefully plan their flights across different airlines within varied alliances, leading to faster point accumulation. But this also requires keeping track of multiple accounts and understanding the individual rules and policies of these airlines, which adds complexity to the travel experience.


Additionally, using the "Separate Tickets" option can inadvertently lead to discovering otherwise overlooked routes or destinations. Certain routes might be underserved by traditional airlines but are successfully serviced by low-cost carriers that may not always be obvious in standard search results.

Lastly, it is important to remember that the cost of a journey with "Separate Tickets" can fluctuate dramatically based on demand and competition. By being flexible with departure and arrival times, travelers may unlock hidden bargains. However, it is essential to carefully consider the visa requirements that might come into play when transitioning between multiple carriers and countries, as certain layover scenarios could unexpectedly trigger extra requirements.


The "Separate Tickets" feature offers flexibility and the potential for incredible savings, but it also comes with a degree of increased risk and complexity. As air travel continues to evolve and airlines develop more intricate pricing models, travelers might want to keep exploring the possibilities of booking various parts of their journey with different airlines, but the decision to utilize the "Separate Tickets" feature should be made thoughtfully, understanding both its potential benefits and its pitfalls.