Google Flights is adding a “Cheapest” tab to help you save money by spending the least to reach your destination. This search capability adapts a creative research process that considers multiple airlines and booking sites along with the latest travel trends.

Google Flights Cheapest Tab

A “Cheapest” tab now appears on Google Flights searches to find the lowest-cost itineraries. Piecing these budget-friendly fares together can be time-consuming as it can require booking flight segments through different airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs).

While cheap flights can mean the difference in being able to travel, there are several trade-offs you will likely encounter. They include:

  • Flying multiple airlines
  • Having different arrival and departure airports for round trips
  • Longer layovers
  • Purchasing flights on different booking sites
  • Self-transfers (booking multiple fares for a one-way trip and re-check your baggage)

The extra effort can be worth the cost savings, especially if it’s an expensive route or you have multiple travel companions. Thankfully, you can quickly compare the cost of the cheapest fares to the best-ranked fares on the travel search engine.

So, Google Flights lays out the necessary steps to book the various travel legs to reach your destination and get home.

The default search results remain the “Best Fares” blending price and convenience. The Cheapest tab and other fare recommendations are easy to find. This new feature will become fully accessible by November 2024.

Along with this new tab, Google Flights continues displaying personalized tips, such as historic price trends and whether current costs are a bargain or if it’s worth waiting for prices to potentially drop. You may blend these savings with the most valuable travel perks for an ideal trip experience.

2024 Google Travel Trends

In addition to finding the cheapest flights year-round, the latest Google Travel Trends Insights offers several suggestions to spend less on holiday flights and air travel in general:

  • Domestic flights: Usually at their lowest price 38 days before departure, but pricing remains competitive 21 to 52 days before takeoff.
  • International flights: 101 days before departure is the sweet spot, but prices tend to only go up within 50 days remaining. Flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are a notable exception, being at their lowest 44 days out and a range of 26 to 68 days out.
  • Thanksgiving: Early October is the best time to book at 45 days before departure, although the low price range is 26 to 59 days out.
  • Christmas: The second half of October is ideal and at the lowest 58 days before departure. Prices remain low 36 to 72 days out for domestic departures.

The insights also reveal several other intriguing data points, including:

  • Best day of the week to book: Tuesday is historically the cheapest, but it is only 1.3% less than the most expensive day, Sunday.
  • Cheapest days of the week to fly: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are 13% cheaper than flying on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The savings potential jumps to 20% for domestic-only flights.
  • Layover or nonstop: Itineraries with at least one stop are 25% cheaper than non-stop flights, although it takes longer to reach your destination.

Final Thoughts

The Cheapest tab is another way that Google Flights personalizes travel searches and helps you confidently book affordable trips. While this new feature isn’t for every situation, it provides more options to find the best itinerary for your travel schedule and budget.

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