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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Decoded: Google's new flight deals is as much about prices, as it is about vibes
A cursory Google Search may well have been the point from where you commenced booking your upcoming travel plans — a move that taps into typical user behaviour with a pitch of familiarity and simplicity. In what may prove to be astute in the long term, Google has unlocked flight deals in India, the US, and Canada, underlined by artificial intelligence (AI) for natural language understanding and contextual structuring of a travel plan. At first blush, you may expect Google Flight deals to be just another widget or overlay that screams 'find me cheap fares', but it isn't. (Screengrab) At first blush, you may expect Google Flight deals to be just another widget or overlay that screams 'find me cheap fares', but it isn't. Google is attempting to move further up the travel planning and booking funnel — aiming to be relevant both to users seeking a comprehensive snapshot of the best deals and those who are beginning vacation planning with a blank slate. '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. We're launching flight deals in beta to gather feedback and explore how AI can improve travel planning,' product manager for Google Flights Jade Kessler explains. Google's business model for flight deals would certainly be a concern for online travel agencies (OTAs) like MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip in India, because there is some overlap. Typically, a user lands on an OTA's app or website with a destination in mind, searches for flights and hotels, and makes a purchase. OTAs also offer travel packages, sightseeing tours, vehicle rentals, and more. In contrast, Google Flight deals are focused solely on being relevant to the user's intent — whether it's to search for a destination or a flight. It lists ticket prices from both OTAs such as MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip, as well as directly from airlines. For instance, a search for Delhi to Chiang Mai flights showed HT options from multiple airlines, including THAI and AirAsia combinations, THAI, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and code shares between Etihad and Bangkok Airways — complete with flight timelines, stops, and pricing. For each flight, clicking the downward arrow reveals more details such as layover durations, airport specifics, and in-flight features like above-average legroom, in-seat power or USB ports, and whether entertainment is provided onboard or needs to be streamed on personal devices. At this stage in the flow, once your flights are selected, Google Flight deals shows you booking options. For most flights, HT noted that results listed more than 10 booking platforms, each with pricing: direct airline booking, MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Goibibo, EaseMyTrip, Flightnetwork, Traveasy, and Kiwi, among others. Prices listed matched airline rates at the same time, though slight variations can occur due to dynamic pricing models. If a user opts to book directly with an airline, it may result in loss of traffic and bookings for OTAs — making OTA-specific deals and perceived value even more critical. So how are these results ranked? Specifically, what determines the order between airline and OTA options? Google says, 'Booking options are ranked based on factors like price, link quality, type of partner and experience on the partner site,' adding, 'Google's data shows that users prefer airline links, but Google aims to provide both airline and OTA options among the top results.' One standout feature of flight deals is its natural language AI, powered by Google's Gemini, designed to understand nuanced user queries — even when the destination is not clear. Searches such as 'a week-long trip to a city with great food' or 'an international trip in Business class' yield curated destination suggestions. In HT's experience with the beta version, such a search surfaced more than 28 destinations — from Marrakesh in Morocco to Lima in Peru to Goa closer to home. In a technical document, Google explains, AI 'understands travel intent and interprets natural language, so you can describe your trip in your own words. For example, you can ask to 'see the cherry blossoms in Japan' or look for 'romantic weekend getaways' instead of selecting specific destinations and dates.' At that point, the system identifies potential destinations and dates that align with the query. This marks a shift that traditional aggregators haven't effectively addressed. MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip are still geared toward optimising known journeys, while Google is curating options for users starting with a feeling, not a destination. OTA interfaces typically push curated deals and assume users know where they want to go. Google's Flight deals assumes users are seeking inspiration — shifting from utilitarian search to an exploratory experience. For MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip, this presents a classic innovator's dilemma. Their business models depend on transactions and defined user flows. Pivoting to an AI-driven, inspiration-first model would demand significant platform changes. It's worth noting that MakeMyTrip has launched a generative AI assistant to help with travel planning. But Google's massive data advantage and deep understanding of user behaviour may make personalisation and travel history the biggest differentiator over time.
CNET
14-05-2025
- CNET
Booking a Flight for Your Next Vacation? Google Knows the Cheapest Day to Buy
Google Flights has the data on the best time to book your flight without breaking the a vacation is stressful, and it can get pricey fast, especially if you're traveling during high-traffic travel periods like Memorial Day weekend. However, there are tools that can help you to find affordable flights without paying an arm and a leg in the process. Google Flights has all the data to help you find a flight in your budget, and let you relax while traveling instead of stressing about money. Google Flights has released a robust travel report after aggregating four years of airfare data and trends to provide US travelers with an overarching guide on finding the cheapest flights and the best times to book them. Read more: Explore These 5 Easy Tips to Save Money on Plane Tickets What days are the cheapest to fly? If you're planning to book a flight, you're likely trying to find the most budget-friendly option. According to Google Flights, the cheapest flights are available when flying on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with Tuesday being the cheapest day, according to the historical flight data. Flying early- to midweek can save travelers 13% to 20% on airfare compared to flying on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with Sunday the most expensive day to fly. Do layovers on flights save you money? It may come as no surprise that flights with layovers are cheaper than nonstop flights, but you may not realize just how significant those savings can be. The Google Flight data shows that travelers can save 25% by booking a flight with a layover instead of a nonstop flight. Which day of the week is the cheapest for booking flights? There are certainly cheaper days to fly, there aren't really cheaper days to book. "There's not much benefit to buying your tickets on a certain day of the week," according to the Google report. Google Flights does state that Tuesdays are typically the cheapest day of the week to book, according to the data, but Tuesday bookings are only 1.3% cheaper than the most expensive day, Sunday. Is it cheaper to book flights far in advance? To wait or not to wait? According to Google, it's better to book your travel far in advance, especially if you need to fly on a specific day or time. There are some patterns you can analyze to decide whether it's better to wait for lower prices or book now based on specific scenarios, destinations and dates of travel. For domestic flights, the prices are generally at their lowest between 21 and 52 days before your trip -- with 38 days before departure being the cheapest day to book on average. For international flights, the prices are generally lowest between 50 and 101 days before your trip, but it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. According to Google, "Average prices don't meaningfully drop anytime before departure, but they usually do start to rise within 50 days of the flight itself" when it comes to international travel from the US. Never miss out on the cheapest airfare again./Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET When is the best time to book a flight in every season? Here's what Google says about the best times to book holiday flights and vacation trips to certain popular destinations. Spring break: The cheapest domestic flights in March and April are available between 33 to 59 days in advance, with 44 days before departure being the cheapest time to book on average. Summer break: The cheapest domestic flights in July and August are usually available 13 to 43 days in advance, with 21 days before departure being the cheapest day on average to book. Thanksgiving: The cheapest domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday are usually available between 26 to 59 days in advance, with 45 days out being the cheapest -- meaning it's best to book Thanksgiving flights in early October. Christmas: The cheapest domestic flights over the winter holidays are usually available between 36 to 72 days in advance, with 58 days out being the cheapest. It's best to book Christmas or holiday travel in the latter half of October. When is the best time to book a flight to Europe? International flights to Europe from the US are usually cheaper 50 or more days before departure, with 94 days out being the cheapest day to book on average. As with all international travel, it's generally best practice to book as early as you can. When is the best time to book a flight to Mexico or the Caribbean? International flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are the one exception to the broader international trend, according to Google. That's because flights are generally at their lowest between 26 and 68 days in advance, with 44 days out being the cheapest. For more, check out CNET's picks for the best travel credit cards in 2025. You can also explore the 12 travel essentials you always need to pack and the worst airlines for flight delays and cancellations.
