Google has launched "Flight Deals," a new, AI-powered tool within Google Flights designed to simplify the process of finding affordable airfares and travel options, particularly for budget-conscious travelers. This tool is designed for travelers who are flexible and prioritize saving money. Instead of spending hours manually adjusting dates, destinations, and filters, users can simply describe their ideal trip using natural language, and Flight Deals will find the best bargains available.
How Flight Deals Works
Flight Deals utilizes Google's advanced AI to understand the nuances of user requests and identify matching destinations. It then taps into real-time Google Flights data to quickly display relevant, up-to-date options from hundreds of airlines and booking operators. Users can access Flight Deals directly from the Flight Deals page or through the top-left menu on Google Flights.
To use Flight Deals, users can simply type a prompt into the AI box, describing their desired trip. For example, a user might search for "week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only" or "10-day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder". The AI will then interpret the request and present a curated list of destinations with prices and sample dates.
Benefits of Flight Deals
- Simplifies the search process: Flight Deals eliminates the need to manually adjust dates, destinations, and filters, saving users time and effort.
- Finds hidden deals: The AI can identify deals and destinations that users may not have previously considered.
- Provides up-to-date information: Flight Deals uses real-time Google Flights data to ensure that users are always seeing the most current flight and deal information.
- Natural language search: Users can describe their travel preferences in natural language, making the search process more intuitive and user-friendly.
Availability and Future Improvements
Flight Deals is currently rolling out in beta in the U.S., Canada, and India. Google plans to use user feedback to improve the tool's capabilities over time. The company also intends to add an option to exclude basic economy fares for trips in the U.S. and Canada.
Google emphasizes that the classic Google Flights experience is here to stay. Flight Deals is intended to complement the existing Google Flights interface, providing an alternative search method for users who prioritize flexibility and cost savings. In addition to Flight Deals, Google Flights is also introducing a new option to filter out basic economy fares, giving users more control over their search results.
