Master Google Flights: Secrets to Scoring the Cheapest Airfares

This article explains how to purchase plane tickets with Google Flights. There are two ways to use Google Flights: Search for plane tickets directly from Google or visit the Google Flights website to find tickets.

How to Use Google Flights

Google Flights is available directly from the Google search engine and from a dedicated Google Flights website. Below are directions for searching for a flight using both methods.

Use Google

A quick Google search for a flight lets you see airline options, pick specific departure and arrival dates, and view prices.

For example, you can open a new Google search and type flights from MCI to NYC in October to tell Google to find flights that match that specification. Or, if your browser has access to your current location, just type flights to New York City for airfare information regarding the airport closest to where you are now.

Use the Google Flights Website

Finding flights on the Google Flights website is simple. You can choose whether it’s a round trip, one-way, or multi-city; pick the passenger count; and choose from economy, premium economy, business, and first-class seats. This is also how you can see flights if your dates are flexible; look for weekend or week-long trips any time over the next six months.

Using the Google Flights website is simple. Just fill out the text boxes with any relevant information, which can include when and where you plan to go, if you’re okay with stops, and more (see below). Results are visible on a map.

Google Flights Filter Options

Google Flights uses lots of filtering options so that you can find the exact flight you’re interested in buying. For example, maybe you have a specific price in mind when you search for tickets, or maybe you have a flight duration, arrival time, or specific rewards network in mind.

On the Google Flights website, after selecting the airport, pick a date for when you want to leave and another for the return flight. Once Google Flights knows those details, it can match you with all sorts of flights with these filtering options:

• Bags: Only see flights that have overhead bin access.
• Duration: Choose how long you want the flight to last, from under an hour to under 30 hours or longer.
• Times: Pick any outbound or return flight times so that the plane tickets you see on Google Flights are restricted to those times only. For example, you might pick 7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. for the departure outbound filter so that you can be sure to find a flight that leaves before noon.
• Airlines: This lets you Google plane tickets for select airlines only, including alliances like Star Alliance and SkyTeam.
• Price: Show plane tickets below a certain price. Depending on where you’re flying, and from where you’re leaving, you might have the option to filter the plane ticket prices to as low as $50.
• Stops: Keep the default “Any number of stops” option or pick between nonstop only, one stop or fewer, or two stops or fewer.
• Emissions: This filter lets you view flights with less carbon emissions.
• Connecting Airports: Pick a layover duration and connecting airport from the provided list.
• Travel mode: Google Flights lets you see places reachable by plane and car or by plane only.

When choosing dates, you can switch from specific dates to flexible ones. If your trip isn’t set in stone yet, this is a great way to find weekend or 1 or 2-week-long trips any time in the next six months.

How to Buy a Plane Ticket With Google Flights

Accessing Google Flights and filtering the results to find the best tickets for you, is just part of the process. The next thing you need to do is actually book the flight. Here’s an example of how it works:

1. Click a flight to choose it as your departure flight. If this is a round trip, select a returning flight as well.

2. Use the filters to find the particular flight you’re interested in, then choose Select flight. You’ll also need to pick a returning flight if it’s a round trip.

3. Select one of the booking options to complete the purchase through that website.