Google new tool can help you find the best flight deals faster
Google's new tool lets users search for flight options using natural language, rather than having to go through the tedium of searching for an endless combination of dates and destinations to find a good deal.
"Instead of playing with different dates, destinations and filters to uncover the best deals, you can just describe when, where and how you'd like to travel – as though you're talking to a friend – and Flight Deals will take care of the rest," a statement from Google about the new product said.
I tried it out myself by searching for "A long weekend trip to somewhere with good hiking, not departing from Newark for less than $500," since I live in Queens, New York, and Newark Liberty International Airport is inconvenient for me to get to when the other two major airports for the city are so close by.
Google came back with a variety of domestic and international destinations that fit my description.
"What makes Flight Deals unique is that it uses Google's advanced AI to understand the nuances of what you're looking for and identify matching destinations. Then, it'll tap into real-time Google Flights data to quickly show you relevant, up-to-date options from hundreds of airlines and booking sites," Google's release said.
Flight Deals is still in beta testing, but a Google spokesperson told USA TODAY it expects the rollout to be complete in the U.S. in the next week or so, if not sooner.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
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