▷ Google flights: what is it, how does the google flight search engine work

When looking for cheap flights for our vacations, we have many options available. There are many web pages and applications that we can use for this process. We find a new option that has hit the market, which is Google Flights. Google continues to expand its presence in all kinds of services and segments. They do it now with this service to compare flights and save in the process.

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This company platform is currently in full international expansion. It works both in Spain and in Latin America, if you are in any of these areas. Although it is expected that the number of countries will increase.

How Google Flights works

Google Flights works like any other flight comparator, of the many that exist today. In this sense you will not have any problem with the operation. We can use this tool both on the computer, through its website and with the application that can be downloaded on Android phones. The operation is the same in both.

As in other comparators, in Google Flights we have to enter the place of departure and the destination that we want to visit. If this destination has more than one airport, we can specify if there is an airport we want to be able to fly to. We can also fly to several cities if it is a trip that will pass through several countries. We also choose if it is a one-way or return flight.

In addition to this, we are asked to choose the class in which we want to fly. We can choose between tourist, premium tourist, business or first class. You also need to enter the number of people traveling, indicating if there are children among them. In short, the usual information that we have to use in this type of comparator.

Once we have entered these data, the comparator will be in charge of showing all the options. The first thing we find is a section that will show us the best one-way flights. They are shown depending on the price, but also other characteristics such as the number of scales or the duration will come out. When you select the outbound flight, the same screen will be shown, but with the return flight.

Google Flights will give you the possibility to make your search more precise. So you can filter data based on some parameters. You can filter according to the price, the schedules, the airlines, the number of stops, etc. All this so that you can find the flight that best suits what you are looking for at that moment.

Compare prices and airports

You may already know this, but the prices of airline tickets are highly variable. So from one day to the next, the price difference can be noticeable. Therefore, at Google Flights we find the possibility of seeing a date comparator. It will show the prices that our flights have on different dates.

This is a key tool in this comparator. We will be able to know the prices that are handled on the dates in which we are interested in flying. In addition, if we have some flexibility in terms of dates, it will be easy for us to find some combination that will save us money when booking a flight. This comparator of dates that we have is very useful, as well as being very visual. Something that will make it easier for us to use it.

You can also see these data in a graph so that we have this information in a visual way, which allows us to compare the differences in price from one date to another. You will be surprised with the great differences that we can find in some cases.

Another aspect that may be key in some destinations is the airport. There are cities that have more than one airport, so we must buy this as well. On the one hand, the price of flying to one or the other airport can vary considerably. So we must consider this possibility at all times. Also, you have to look at the distance.

Since there may be an airport that is too far away or does not have a good connection. Something that can be very important if we have a return flight first thing in the morning. Also because it may be too far from the hotel, or whatever the reason.

Google Flights will show the distance from these airports to the center or to your hotel, if you already have one reserved. Also the transport options we have to get there, or go from the airport to the hotel. We will have all these details controlled at all times.

Price tracking

As the prices of the flights are so variable, when we have searched for a specific route with Google Flights, we will have the possibility to track their prices. It is a good option in case there are big price changes. Last minute cancellations can sometimes cause drops.

When we have found a flight, we will be able to follow it. We get this option when we have chosen the outbound and return flights. Under the info for each flight we see that option to follow the flight appears. This section will show the evolution of the prices of said flight. So if there has been a drop, we may be interested then make the reservation.

We will be sent notifications of these flights that we have asked to follow, in case there are price changes. Although there are cases where they can be annoying. In the menu mentioned in the previous paragraph we can manage these notifications in a simple way.

As you can see, Google Flights is a useful tool. Although it reaches a segment in which we already have many flight comparators, which are established in the market. So it remains to be seen if consumers receive this alternative from Google with open arms. What do you think about it?