How To Find Cheap Flights Using Google Flights Hack?🙆🏻

You just cannot ignore Google Flights when it comes to inexpensive Airfare.T

To find Cheap flights using Google, Follow these simple hacks:
1. Use the incognito mode of the browser to do all the research.
2. Open the map view/ Explore option on Google Flights
3. Instead of a specific destination, enter the country or multiple places
4. Use flexible dates option
5. Scan through the results on the price graph  and select the best as per your need

Easier said than done? Not exactly, Keep reading..

Also, I have shared a hack using which you can use GoogleFlights Web as Mobile App!! 

SouthWest Low Calendar FareHow Much Google Flights save?Cheap Momondo Flights
Above articles may also help you find more discounts on flights
Google Flights Hacks Cheap flights using Google flought

Table of Contents

Following Hacks Will Get You Best Airfare On Your Next Trip 👍🏻

Following Google Flight features will get the best airfare for you.

Note: By default Economy class is selected, if you want to travel Premium Economy, Business class or First class, select it accordingly from the dropdown just above your Origin Destination selection.

The tips mentioned below are applicable to all class of travel.

For the ease of understanding, lets see if actually these tips work, hence I will be applying these techniques on Google Flights from Houston to Dallas.

Hack.1 Google Flights Multi city Airport

To search multiple airports in Google Flights,

Note: You can enter multiple locations, 7 to be specific, in Origin and Destinations. 

Type the first destination name, click on the + symbol, type another name, and check the box.

This will get you the best rate if you are flexible about boarding the plane from any origin or landing in any destination airport.

GoogleFlights hack Multi city Airport 

Once you select dates and submit, results will appear with the cheapest option on the top.

Eg: Lets say your origin in Houston is William P Hobby Airport (HOU) and destination in Dallas is Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), the lowest airfare will be around $490.

Now, add George Bush International airport to you origin and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to destination, the ticket cost reduces to $234!!

Read Full detail on How To Get Cheap Flight with Google Multi City Airport

Hack.2 Google Flights Calendar

Click on the from date, an airfare calendar view will appear showing the cost of tickets on each date of the month selected.

Google fluege calendar Google Fly calendar

Note: Google Flights Calendar is your first point where you can look for lowest airfare without hitting the enter button. If you do not find the cheapest ticket, scroll to next month. 

Note: The dates in the search range will be highlighted with the background color.

Click on Done & Google will start searching for flights.

The flights’ results page will be displayed where you can apply filters like # stops, Airlines, Bags, prices, etc.

Read full detail on Low Fare Calendar from Google Flights

Hack.3 Google Flights Alert

google/flights alerts Google Flight Price tracker

If you turn on the slider beside Track Prices, you will receive an email whenever there is a drastic change in price.

Make the tool work for you while you take care of other stuff!

Google-fights-flight-tracker

Also popularly known as Flights Price Tracker, You can use the Flights Tracking option (Google flight watch) in case you want to be alerted when there is a change in the price.

This is an excellent feature in case you want to get the lowest airfare between the Origin & Destination with no date constraints.

Whenever there is a price change, Google will send you an email on your registered mail id.

Do read complete Guide to Google flight price tracker alert

Hack.4 Google Flights Date Grid:

google flights explore Cheap Flights Using Google Flights Date Grid

You can also click on the Date grid to see the price in a Grid form. This is an excellent view and you can adjust your travel dates accordingly.
Also, you get to see the full month in one shot!

This GoogleFlightMatrix is a very convenient way to see the price in a 2×2 matrix where on top are days and on right are the dates. I find it very helpful.

Eg. Your flight from Houston to Dallas for Friday, returning on Sunday comes as $240 where as if you click on the Date Grid view, you can immediately see that the flight cost is just $178 if you start on a Thursday and return on a Monday!

Hack.5 Google flights price graph

Nothing can beat the Google Flight Price graph when it comes to comparing the rates. 
You can select the lowest rates (smallest line in the price graph) from here for that date range.

google flought graph

Eg. If your flight from Houston to Dallas shows as taller bar among the tiny bars,  Just click on the tiniest bar and you just saved some $$!

Once you are done selecting the best price, it will display the Best departing flights. Flights are ranked based on the best tradeoff between price and convenience.

Click on the flight that best suits your needs, it will bring up Return flight data in case you have selected a return flight.

Now your flight details will be displayed based on your selection. 

Note: If you want to track this flight combination, slide the Track Price slider to enable the tracking.

Hack.6 Google Flight Search Anywhere

Here is a Google Flight Hack to get you the cheapest destination anywhere in the world!

You can click on Explore link on the left-hand side of GoogleFlights home page and it will display a Map where you can check the price displayed on the map.

Now enter your origin city and leave destination blank, hit the search button. 

Google flight will display the air fare on the map, starting from location near to your origin.

As you zoom out, it will show the airfare across the globe, that’s the beauty of search anywhere!

Google flights search anywhere google flights explore map

The Google flight map is also displayed if you enter your Origin and dates and click on the Search button.
Another way to get to the flight map view is from the GoogleFlights home page. 

Just scroll down and click on the flight map and it will take you to the page from where you can book flights by selecting the places from the map.

Read full details on How To Use Google Flight Search Anywhere

Hack.7 Google flights flexible dates

Flexibility will always get you the least expensive flight ticket.
Flights tool from Google provide this flexible dates option to help you leverage this hack.

The flexible date tool is available on the date control of Map view. The flight map is also displayed once you enter Origin and dates, click on the Search button. 

The map will display the price from the place you selected in Origin.

google flights explore map flexible dates google flights

One more way to get the flight map is from the home page of GoogleFlights. 
From the Map View, click on the date input box.

google explore flights

Select “Flexible Dates” in case you want to select dates based on flight rates.

Read details of How To Use Google Flights Flexible Dates

How To Book Tickets On Google Flights?

You will get two booking options:

  • Book on Google with the provider
  • Book with the provider

In both the case, you will be booking with the provider and post-booking, all the support will be provided by the provider.

Continue entering your personal details, booking details, etc, and complete the payment.

Enjoy your trip!!

When To Use Which Hack To Get Best Airfare?

With so many hacks, you may get confused when to use which hack to get maximum benefit. 
Here is my take on how to use these 7 Google Flight tricks to find cheap flights.

Hack No.Hack NameWhen To Use
1Multi AirportYou are fine to take flight from other nearby airports
2Flights CalendarYou are fine to adjust your travel as per the lowest airfare date
3Google Flight AlertYou want low airfare but don’t want to track it regularly
4Google Flights GridYou want to see cheapest return flight days within the selected travel dates
5Google Price GraphYou like graphical view and want to see the price rate trend
6Google Flight Map View(flight search anywhere)You are fine to travel to any destination in the world that has the lowest flight tickets
7Google Flexible DatesYou want Google to find the cheapest flight dates across a date range or otherwise

What is Flights from Google?

GoogleFlights website is an Online flight search platform (metasearch engine) from Google. 

It does not have a booking facility, it will search the flight rates across the service providers, and based on your choice, it will take you to the respective provider’s website for booking.

The providers could be the actual flight operators or Online booking agents.

Google Flights Tickets

Once you are happy with the flight fare, click on it and Google Flight will give you booking options , it could be 1. Directly at the airline booking site2. Book with a travel agent (online).

Why does Google say book with a travel agent?

Googleflight is not a booking portal, its simply an online flight search engine.
Hence it asks you to book with a travel agent or directly at the airline booking site!

Are you getting a good deal from Google Flights?

No matter how much research we do, this question always lingers at back of our mind, “Is this the best deal?”

Well, Google Flights try to give you some assurance by displaying the price trend in Booking details section (scroll down after selecting your flights)

This price slider indicates at what level (low or high) you are getting the flight ticket you selected. This slider is based on the historical price of the flight in the route you selected.

Google Flight booking options

Once you have navigated to Google.com/travel/flights, you will see multiple options to search for the flights. These options are right on top of the booking site. The table below summarizes it.

Journey Type #PassengersClass of Travel
Round TripAdultEconomy
One WayMinors (2-11)Premium Economy
Multi CityInfants in seatBusiness
Infants on lapFirst

Google Flights One way

You have the option of searching either return journey tickets or one way ticket.
On the ticket booking screen, the first option (drop down) allows you to select Google Flights One way or return journey ticket.
At times Google Flights One Way tickets cost less but most of the time I have found Google flights return journey to be more budget friendly.

Multi city Flights Google

In case you plan not to return from the same city where you landed, Google flight provides you multi city flights option.
Eg. You started from SFO & land in NYC. From there you go till Chicago by car. Now you want to return back to SFO, here multi city flights will come handy.

Benefits of booking Multi city flights

You don’t have to enter same data multiple times.

Cons of booking Multi city flights

You may find round trips or flights from other carrier to be better priced as compared to multi city, but there may be some exceptions.

How to Use Google Flights to book business class flights?

Well, all the steps are same for booking business class or first class or Premium economy. Just select the class from the dropdown and Google flights will show you results for that class.

Note: Since Business class and First class flight tickets cost more, you may be better off using your flight points or using credit cards that offer great cashbacks.

Google Flights Tracking

By Google Flights Tracking you mean Tracking the flight arrival/departure status or The flight price change tracker?

Tracking the flight arrival/departure status

In this case, to track your flight, you will have to visit the Airlines website and enter your reference number and other details to track the flight.

Google Flight does not have a Flight Tracker as Google is not an air service provider, its a search engine.
You can always search a flight status and Google flight search engine will return results that will help you track your flight, but that is not Google Flight tracker, its just Google search result!!

Google Flight Price Tracker

In this case, you will have to navigate to Google flights, click on the 3line on the left top corner and click on Tracked Flight Prices. In case you have set a price alert, you will find it here.

Does Google Flights have an App?

Google Play store is an ocean of apps but one app missing in it is Google Flights!

This useful tool does not have an App, for any of the mobile platforms namely  Apple or Android or Windows mobile platform.

The only way to access Google flights at the time of writing this post was via a browser.

Hack To Google Flights App

If you frequently use Google Flights on your mobile and find it inconvenient to fire up Google flight every time, there is a hack to avoid such inconvenience.
1. Open Google Chrome on your mobile.
2. Click on the three dots on right hand side and select “Add to Home Screen”
Voila!!  You have Google Flights App on your mobile!!
Well, its not exactly a mobile native app, but who cares as long as work is getting done!!

Watch this video in case you are not much of a reader 😊

Google Flights With Lower Carbon Emissions

Are you among the few who would like to make a difference by taking actions that will go a long way in slowing down the climate change?

Google flight gives you a chance to reduce your carbon foot prints as you travel, by listing flights with lower carbon emission!

You can see the carbon emission data under each flight. In fact you can sort flights by emissions!  
These emission estimates are both flight and seat specific.

Eg. Old aircraft emit more carbon, premium economy and first class seats have increased emissions as it occupies more space!

Read more details on Flight Carbon Emission Tool

FAQ:

What Airlines are not on Google Flights?

Many budget air carriers like Southwest airlinesAllegiantAir China are not available on Google Flights. Thai airways and Philippines Airlines are also not listed. You will have to visit their respective websites or use other Online travel booking sites to see if these airlines offer better rates for your travel.

Is Google flights the cheapest?

The answer is Yes and No as different platforms offer low airfares on different days but Google flights should be one of the tool that you use to find the cheapest airfare. Check out the best day to buy airline tickets

Why Google Flights Calendar Not Showing Prices?

Google flights calendar should show prices unless there is a mistake in entry criteria or a temporary glitch or cookies on the browser are playing tricks on you.
Do note that price is displayed only if both origin and destination is selected, else the calendar will not show price.
If this is not the case then Clear cookies on your browser and restart the browser.
If you have not re-started windows for some time, this is the right time to do a restart.

How to get Google Flights App?

Google plays tore has tons of apps, but one app missing is Google Flights App!!
Google flights app is not available, neither on Android or iOS version!!
As of now but you can add Google flights web on your phone Home screen and it will give you almost Google Flight App like feeling!!

Is Google flights explore map gone?

No, the GoogleFlights explore map is not gone, it’s under the Explore option from the left-hand side of the Home page.

Is Car rental available on Google flights?

No, car rental is not one of the option available on Google travel/flights.
You will find Hotel search option though.

What Is Google flights Currency?

Depending on from which country you are accessing GoogleFlights or location setting of your browser, you will get the option of currency applicable for that country.
Eg: If you are browsing from the US, you will get USD as the currency, if from Australia, AUD will be the currency option for you. 

How To Change Google flight to USD?

In case you want to change the currency displayed in GoogleFlights, follow these simple steps:
Browse to Google Flights
Scroll down to the bottom
You will see the option to change the currency, select USD from the options.
Additionally, you can change the language or location as well.

How to use Google flights incognito mode?

To access incognito mode in chrome browser, first open chrome browser the press Ctrl+Shift+n / Command+shift+N in Mac and it will open chrome  browser in incognito mode. 
Note: Some browsers call it New InPrivate Window
Other way is click on the three dots (menu) on the top right hand side and select “New Incognito Window“/”
New InPrivate Window” depending on your browser.
Now you can search flights incognito. 

Is It safe to use Google Flights?

Yes, Google Flights is a legit tool and it suggests trusted service providers and airlines. You can rest assured while using Google flights. Full screening is done while registering the business with Google Flights to ensure only genuine providers are listed.
In case you come across fraud, do raise it with Google Travel support team. They will investigate and if needed blacklist the service provider.

How Do I Increase My Google Tickets?

Google Flights allows maximum 9 ticket bookings at a time. In case you want to increase your Google tickets, you will have do multiple bookings

How does Google Flights work?

Google acquired ITA Software in order to provide better flight search experience to its users.

In fact the ITA Matrix is being used by many online travel search and booking platforms to provide most economical air tickets.

Long story short, Google Flights Matrix is same as ITA Matrix now.

Pros and Cons of Google Flights

ProsCons
Google Flights aggregates data from a large number of travel agencies and airlinesThere are few low budget airlines that are not listed on Google Flights
Google Flights can predict delays based on the historical data and few Artificial Intelligence methodsThe price displayed during search and at the time of booking may sometimes change
Most of the time you directly book with airline hence avoiding the middleman commissionGoogle mostly display Airfare listed by airline, at times OTA’s are cheaper
Google Flights provide various tools to find the flights best suited to your pocketFor few, too many options may be confusing

Skyscanner vs Google Flights

Skyscanner is another great online flight search engine with lots of tools/features using which you can find best airfare.

One of the biggest difference I found between these Online search engine is Skyscanner includes all airlines and small Online Travel Platforms as well in its search results unlike Google that do not show few of the ultra budget, no frill airlines.

Click To read Skyscanner Review

Google flights other options

If you look closely, Google Flights link is like google.com/travel/flights but no one refer to it as Google Travel.
Looks like another case of popularity engulfing the intent like photocopy got engulfed by Xerox!
A Quick recap of GoogleFlights

Here is a quick recap and a shorter version of all the hacks in video format from Project Untethered.

Difference between Google Flights and Google Travel?

Not many use the term Google Travel, its the parent of Google Flights!

Google Travel is Google’s foray into the travel industry but it has kept itself as Search Engine for Flights, Hotels, Car rental, Vacations. 

What it means is Google Travel will display the least expensive, most relevant results when you search for it on Google Travel but for booking it will re-direct you to the airline or travel agent booking site as per your decision.

Do check out complete Google Travel Guide

Conclusion:👨🏻‍⚖️

My Verdict: Google Flights should definitely be one of the sites to go when you are looking for cheap airfare, let it be economy class or business class.

Google Fly may not have all the budget airlines but it do coverup for that unless you are traveling with almost no luggage! 

Hope these Google Flights Hacks will help you get cheap flights on Google!Click the link to check more non Google Flight options to Get Cheap Flight Tickets

You ma also read Thrifty Traveler’s Guide To Google Flights