I Tried AI for Finding Cheap Flights, but It Was a Bumpy Ride
Hunting for flights is all part of the summer travel adventure, but it can quickly take a turn for the worse when I feel like I'm playing cat and mouse with Google's algorithm. Log out. Turn the VPN on. Use an incognito browser window. Switch between my MacBook and iPhone. These days, any strategies often fall short when you try to "trick" the algorithm so that it doesn't hike up the cost of the flight after seeing your repeated interest in that route and those dates.
Google Flights is my favorite booking platform, so I wondered if I could use Google's AI, Gemini, be the new most underrated travel hack for 2025? With the price of flights these days, I sure hoped so.
Gemini was released in March 2023 (when it was known, briefly, as Bard) and is one of the biggest AI models on the market. It's free to use if you have a Google or Workspace account with admin-enabled access to Gemini. There's also a paid version, which is $20 a month, with a two-month free trial.
See also: Traveler's Prep Checklist: Tips for Easier Flights and Road-Trips
For me, an Australian who lives in the US, the cost of flying home and back is in the thousands. Any savings AI can find would make a world of difference to my bank account.
How to use AI to find cheap flights
With a dedicated Google Flights extension, I had expected Gemini to transport me to the best deals. I followed the prompts to enable extensions, but I couldn't get it to work -- even after poking around in my Google admin console all afternoon.
A CNET editor was able to use this tool as expected (see screenshot below), so it's worth testing out to see if it works for you.
Gemini / Screenshot by CNET
Annoyed by the lack of ease, I ran a quick search for AI tools that could save me money on plane tickets, and in my "travels" I discovered Karma, an AI coupon code extension that I could easily install.
I saw Expedia on its list of affiliated brands, so I used that travel platform to search for flights. I picked dates four months away for a hypothetical trip home to Australia. The cheapest return flight was $1,443. Not bad, but Karma pinged me with a coupon. I clicked "apply coupons."
See also: Worried About Expensive Holiday Airfare? 5 Easy Tips to Save Money on Plane Tickets
I copied the code and continued in Expedia, assuming it would automatically apply at the checkout page, but there was no area to apply a code. Turns out Karma coupons can't be applied to all Expedia purchases; maybe I could have found a way to use one somehow, but it wasn't working for this flight option.
But for me, it's strike number two.
Back to Gemini, but for some advice this time.
I asked Gemini how AI can help me save money on flights. The answers were to be expected, but two words piqued my interest: "secret fares."
Gemini / Screenshot by CNET
I checked the age of those two links Gemini referenced and they were from 2018, so I responded to Gemini asking what platforms have "secret fares."
Gemini / Screenshot by CNET
While skiplagged sounds like an adventure in itself, I'm too old to fly with no check-in luggage or risk being blacklisted by airlines. When there's only one (practical) way to enter my country (by air), the potential reward wasn't worth the risk.
It was interesting that Hopper wasn't mentioned in Gemini's list, although it was the source of the original "secret fares" information. It had come up in my own research, so I decided to give it a shot.
Hopper's Price Prediction function is only available in the app. I downloaded it.
See also: Travel Planning With AI: I Tested It for a City I Know Inside and Out
Once I set myself up in Hopper, I ran a quick Google Flights search and found a good option for $1,256. Hopper's cheapest option was $1,272 (for that same flight), but it said I could save up to $199 by waiting longer before booking. I turned on Price Watch notifications.
And waited. I checked back in a day later and it hadn't changed, then the following day it had gone up. I opened the app a few days later and again it had gone up, not down.
If you have more time, it could take a few weeks for Hopper to identify a lower price. As always, there's no guarantee.
Strike number three.
Double-check flight pricing
If you're using a flight booking platform like Google Flights, Skyskanner or Expedia, these sites do have AI features built in. This might be sufficient, and you can use AI chatbots on those sites for travel advice.
For confirmation, I checked with ChatGPT. It gave me tools I'd already tried out.
ChatGPT/Screenshot by CNET
What I did discover via ChatGPT is the new Google Flights refund feature on itineraries departing from the US. If the price drops on a booking (that had a price guarantee badge), you get refunded through the Google Pay app.
Pretty cool.
That one feature alone is enough for me to stick with Google Flights, alongside accessing advice from AI chatbots. You can also use AI to plan out a strategy to use credit card points to save on flights. However, AI has been found to pull up outdated card bonuses and rewards information, so it's important to vet it before applying for a new credit card.
The verdict on finding cheap flights using AI
After multiple attempts to use AI to save money on flights, I unpacked my bags. While I expected Gemini's Google Flights extension to be as smooth as Google Flights itself, I couldn't get it to work, even with the features enabled in my Google account.
Gemini also admits it doesn't always get it right, so be sure to check the flight details on the airline's website. Given flight tickets are often in the thousands, you don't want to risk any mistakes.
In short, using AI to find flight deals still has a way to go. I did, however, find some interesting things via AI, such as the refund feature.
AI is a great thought partner but not yet a booking partner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TechCrunch
38 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Slate Auto drops 'under $20,000' pricing after Trump administration ends federal EV tax credit
Slate Auto, the electric vehicle startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has stopped promoting that its upcoming pickup truck will start 'under $20,000' following passage of President Trump's tax cut bill. The bill, which is expected to be signed into law by Trump on July 4, will cause the federal EV tax credit to end in September — a $7,500 incentive that Slate had counted to help its all-electric pickup to clear that mark. When Slate came out of stealth mode in April, the startup heavily promoted that its all-electric pickup would start at 'under $20,000' with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. That language was still on Slate's website as recently as yesterday according to the Web Archive. The change is a potential blow to the young company's attempt to make a radically affordable electric vehicle. Slate didn't provide a precise price for the EV at its launch event; and it has yet to say what the actual starting price of its vehicle will be, sans-credit. A Slate spokesperson declined to comment on the change. The company won't start building the truck until the end of 2026 at the earliest. Slate's business is also built around making this vehicle highly customizable, which means it's possible that few people will buy the base model to begin with. The sub-$20,000 price had been a big attraction point for the brand new company's product, and it was a major focus following its April launch event. The auto industry has 'driven prices to a place that most Americans simply can't afford,' chief commercial officer Jeremy Snyder said during the event. 'But we're here to change that.' Techcrunch event Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW 'We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never been delivered,' CEO Chris Barman added at the time.
New York Post
44 minutes ago
- New York Post
Google AI summaries increase frequency of ‘zero clicks' to search results, sinking traffic to news sites: report
Google's AI Overviews feature has led to a significant increase in the frequency of 'zero clicks' to search queries — drastically reducing traffic to news websites, according to a new report. Since the Big Tech giant rolled out its artificial intelligence tool in May 2024, the percentage of web searches related to news that end without a click to a news site jumped to 69% in May 2025 from 56% for the same month last year, according to the latest figures from digital intelligence firm SimilarWeb. The decrease in 'click-through rates' has resulted in overall organic traffic to news sites — which typically comes through Google's dominant search engine — sinking to under 1.7 billion visits in May 2025 from a peak of more than 2.3 billion in mid-2024, the SimilarWeb data shows. Advertisement 4 Google's AI Overviews feature is significantly reducing traffic to news websites thanks to the increase in the frequency of its 'no click-throughs' on search results, according to a report. Koshiro K – The numbers were first reported by TechCrunch. Earlier this week, SimilarWeb published data showing that 37 of the top 50 news domains suffered year-over-year traffic declines following the launch of AI Overviews. Advertisement When contacted about the latest SimilarWeb data, a Google spokesperson referred The Post to comments it provided about the plummeting web traffic of news sites. 'We've seen many inaccurate claims about traffic from Search, often based on speculative or incomplete information, questionable methodology, or data that predates AI Overviews,' the rep had said. The spokesperson added that 'new AI experiences in Search enable people to ask even more questions, which creates new opportunities for businesses and content to be discovered.' 4 OpenAI's ChatGPT has boosted referral traffic to news sites, but not enough to compensate for the loss caused by Google's AI Overviews. AP Advertisement Google faces the prospect of being broken up after a judge labeled the company a 'monopolist' in ruling that it violated federal antitrust laws to build a dominant hold over the online search market. A verdict on the remedy is expected next month. The surge in 'zero clicks' highlights how users are increasingly consuming news directly through AI-generated summaries, bypassing traditional publishers entirely. Landing high on Google's search page results and using traditional SEO strategies are no longer delivering the same value for news publishers, the SimilarWeb report said. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Advertisement 'Solutions to the news publishers' crisis are few and far between,' the report said. Even the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT, which is becoming a more popular source of news content, has not compensated for the steep drop in traffic from Google, according to the SimilarWeb data. From January through May 2024, ChatGPT referrals to news sites stood at just under 1 million. That number jumped to more than 25 million in 2025. The report — titled 'AI is rapidly changing how people consume news' — also noted disparities in how different news outlets are faring under the new AI-driven referral ecosystem. Reuters has seen an 8.9% year-over-year increase in ChatGPT referral traffic, followed by the New York Post at 7.1% and Business Insider at 6.5%. Last year, The Post's parent company, News Corp, and OpenAI struck a landmark five-year, $250 million deal giving the Sam Altman-led startup access to current and archived content from the media giant's publications — including The Post, the Wall Street Journal, The Sun and The Times (UK). Topics like stocks, finance and sports account for the majority of ChatGPT's news-related prompts, the Similarweb report found. However, interest in subjects like politics, the economy and weather is also growing. Advertisement The Similarweb report suggested this trend may indicate a user shift from seeking 'reactive information' toward deeper, 'issue-driven engagement' via AI tools. 4 SimilarWeb found that 37 of the top 50 news domains, including CNN, suffered year-over-year traffic declines following the launch of AI Overviews last May. Getty Images According to SimilarWeb, usage of the ChatGPT app has more than doubled in the past six months. In response to pressure from the publishing sector, Google recently introduced a tool called Offerwall for publishers using Google Ad Manager. Advertisement The service allows publishers to test monetization options beyond traditional ad-driven models, such as offering micropayments or prompting users to subscribe to newsletters to access content. Google said Offerwall screens can also be customized by publishers. 4 Last year, News Corp, The Post's parent company, struck a landmark content-sharing deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Christopher Sadowski Many outlets have begun experimenting with different forms of monetization, including more aggressive paywalls. Advertisement Still, the media industry has been hard-hit by layoffs. In a recent interview with The New York Times' 'Hard Fork' podcast, Altman acknowledged the growing economic pressure brought on by AI's rapid adoption. 'I do think there will be areas where some jobs go away, or maybe there will be some whole categories of jobs that go away,' Altman said. Advertisement 'And any job that goes away, even if it's good for society and the economy as a whole, is very painful — extremely painful — in that moment … there is going to be real pain here in many cases.' The Post has sought comment from OpenAI.
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Prime Day Kicks Off Now With Our Favorite July 4th TV Deals: Save Over $2,000 on Models From Samsung, TCL and More
The Fourth of July is just a day away, and the best Independence Day sales are already live now. Major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart and Amazon (which will be kicking off its Prime Day sale in just a few days) are offering thousands of bargains on a huge variety of top tech and household essentials, making it the perfect time to upgrade your entertainment setup. You can score massive savings on a huge selection of TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, TCL and more. We've found deals on TVs across a range of sizes and price points, so there's something for everyone on this list. Just note that these deals could expire or sell out at any point in the coming hours or days, so you may not want to wait too long if there are any offers that catch your eye. We'll continue to update this page as bargains come and go, so be sure to check back often for the latest and greatest discounts. Best July 4th TV deals LG 65-inch C4 Series OLED: $1,297 Thanks to its absolutely stunning OLED display, exceptional contrast and extensive gaming features, the LG C4 Series is our top pick for the overall best TV value this year. It also supports Dolby Vision and Atmos for a truly great user experience. And it has LG's Alpha 9 AI processor, which automatically enhances picture quality. Plus, Amazon Alexa is built-in for easy hands-free control. Details Save $1,200 1,297 at B&H Photo Close TCL 85-inch QM8: $1,700 If you're in the market for a massive screen, this is a deal you won't want to miss. Our experts named the TCL QM8 as the best TV for the money this year, and this 85-inch model is a steal at $800 off. It features a 4K QLED display with HDR10 Plus support for sharp contrast, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate for fluid action. The TV also has Google Chromecast built in for easy wireless streaming. Details Save $800 1,700 at Best Buy Close Amazon 55-inch Fire TV 4-Series: $340 This 55-inch Amazon TV is a great option for those on a tighter budget. It has all the essentials, including 4K picture, HDR10 support and four HDMI ports, so you can easily connect your soundbar, gaming console or other peripherals. Plus, the convenient remote has a built-in microphone to easily browse hands-free with Amazon Alexa. Details Save $120 $340 at Amazon Close Samsung 98-inch Crystal UHD DU9000 TV: $1,850 This massive 98-inch Samsung TV is 54% off at Woot, dropping the cost to $1,850. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, object tracking sound lite, 4K upscaling and even a game bar to enhance this TV while you're gaming. Details Save $2,148 $1,850 at Woot Close Hisense 75-inch QD7 QLED Fire TV: $640 Knock 20% off this 75-inch 2025 TV with HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, a 144Hz refresh rate and the Fire TV platform. It also has Game Mode Pro for the gamers and comes with Alexa built in, as well as a voice remote for easy searching. With a screen this size and so many features, it's a solid choice for your entertainment hub. Details Save $160 $640 at Amazon Close More July 4th TV deals: Should you shop July 4th TV deals or wait until Prime Day? With two major shopping events just around the corner, many potential buyers are wondering whether it's better to take advantage of the initial Fourth of July deals, or wait until Prime Day a few days later. Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing which sale will offer the absolute best prices, but it's likely that both will blur into a single massive shopping event that spans multiple days and retailers. With that in mind, we'd lean toward getting your order in sooner rather than later. While there's a slight chance we'll see prices dip a little lower later in the sale, there's a much greater chance that the best bargains will sell out fast. If you see a TV that fits your needs and budget at a good price, we'd recommend grabbing it before it goes out of stock. Which retailers offer the best July 4th TV deals? As you might expect, major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon will be offering some excellent deals for the Fourth of July and Prime Day. You'll also want to check out smaller online-only retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama, as they may be offering some under-the-radar bargains that aren't being matched elsewhere. What else will be on sale for July 4th? There will be a huge variety of deals that you can shop across retailers for the Fourth of July. These include tons of top tech like TVs and laptops, as well as home goods and big-ticket items like mattresses and major appliances. There will also be plenty of seasonal deals on grills, outdoor gear and other summer essentials. To give you a good idea of what's out there, you can check out our full roundup of all the best Fourth of July deals already available. How we choose the best July 4th TV deals At CNET, we've covered shopping events for over five years, including Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We've become good at weeding out scams and superficial deals, so you only get the best offers. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing television deals. We have a team of devoted experts who have tested hundreds of TVs to make sure we're bringing you the best of the best. Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to make sure no brands are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is. Quality reviews and testing are important for any product, but especially for TVs. If you're unhappy the first time you turn it on, the discount wasn't worthwhile. Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we'll let you know upfront, so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
