Here’s the truth: Travel can be extremely confusing, not to mention extremely expensive too.
©Delta via CNBC
We do our best to keep you updated on the latest flight deals and news so you can be as prepared for your trip as possible because things are changing very frequently. However, there is one way you can find the cheapest flights to your destination with a few clicks of a button. Don’t worry, we won’t gatekeep it (pun very much intended), so here’s your step-by-step guide to finding the cheapest flights for your trip through Google Flights.
Now, it’s not so simple as just typing in your dates of travel and your destination, and then adding the term “google flights.” Sure, you’ll get results that way, but they likely won’t be the cheapest. Follow the steps below to ensure you can see the cheapest options there are for your flights.
Step 1
As weird as it may sound, don’t put your destination in the subject line of your Google search. Instead, only search “Google Flights.” This way, the algorithm doesn’t try to show you the higher-priced flights above the cheaper ones. Once you arrive at Google Flights, then plug in your departing and arrival locations.
Step 2
If your dates are flexible, use the dates tool to keep your traveling window as wide as possible, that way you can see which weeks or days are more expensive than others!
Step 3
Use the filters to narrow down what you require for your trip. Now, it’s important to note that the more you keep open, the cheaper flights will be. For example, many times, flights with many layovers or long layovers are cheaper than direct flights. If paying the cheapest amount is more important than a direct flight, you can keep that filter open. The filters allow you to choose how many stops, travel mode, price, airlines, duration of the flight, and how many bags you have.
Step 4
While briefly mentioned in the last step, the price filter will be extremely helpful here, especially if you’re traveling with a strict budget. Set the price to the highest amount you’ll pay for your trip, and Google Flights won’t show you anything above that range in the timeline you’ve set for it.
Step 5
When looking at a flight, Google Flights will let you know if the price of that ticket is in the low, average, or high range. If the airfares shown are all in the high range, you may have chosen a peak time to travel. If you can reschedule, you might save money on your flight.
And there you have it! A step-by-step guide to finding the cheapest flights on Google Flights. It’s important to note that while there is currently a “book on Google” feature, over the next 12 months, this feature will be phased out, as Google has found that consumers would rather book directly with the airline or with a travel agent.
Make air travel as stress-free as possible
Are you traveling with a young child soon? We’ve got some tips to help you make sure you both have a smooth flight, and we’ve also created a list of air travel tips that will 100% change the way you travel. Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest travel tips and tricks!
If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2022.
Here are 21 travel tips a former flight attendant NEEDS you to know!
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Still hundreds of $$ cheaper when I go straight to the SouthWest app.