Google Unveils Method to Find the Most Affordable Flight Booking Dates
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Thanks to inflation, prices are out of control. And air travel is no different. In fact, most travelers will do anything to gain an edge and pay less for airfare. Now, thanks to Google, they can.
For instance, imagine you’re in the midst of planning a vacation and you’re looking to book your flights. Google Flights can provide insights into whether current prices are above or below the average, along with suggestions on when to make your booking for the most favorable deal.
Here’s how you can discover the best time to fly using Google Flights:
- Visit https://flights.google.com on your smartphone.
- Input your destination and departure dates, then tap “Done.”
- Google Flights will promptly inform you at the top of the page, just before displaying the list of departing flights, whether the current prices are in line with the norm or not. To obtain more details, including optimal booking times, simply tap the down arrow.
A writer on CNBC tested this theory:
I tested it myself using a trip to Miami from Dec. 5 to Dec. 19 as an example. Google said the prices are lower than usual, about $58 for a round trip on Frontier Airlines. That suggests it’s worth booking now.
In a separate example, I tried booking a trip to Cancun from March 6 to March 13. Google said the price, about $282, was typical, but that prices would likely go down if I could wait to book the flight between Nov. 11 and Feb. 9.
“The lowest prices for similar trips to Cancun are usually found about 1-4 months between takeoff,” Google’s Flights page told me. “Prices during this time are around $40 cheaper on average.”
Armed with this knowledge, go forth and save!