Google Flights, the search engine's flight comparison platform, launched new features recently aimed at helping consumers determine the best time to book their flight. Want to pay less for your next trip to the sun ? Follow this tutorial !
By using historical data, Google Flights provides information on the periods when fares were the lowest for a specific destination and dates. This new feature answers a recurring question among travelers : should you book now or wait for a possible drop in prices ?
Better understand to better choose
The new feature adds to others that already exist, such as the ability to see if current prices for a search are low, typical, or high compared to past averages. Google Flights also offers price tracking, which sends notifications to users when flight prices drop significantly for chosen dates or flexible dates, depending on their preferences.
Some offers even benefit from a “price guarantee” badge, attesting that Google is convinced that the price will not drop before departure. If this happens, the difference will be refunded via Google Pay. This guarantee is part of a pilot program available for select routes in the United States. We will have to see if Google intends to extend this “guarantee” to the rest of the world and in particular to Europe, where competition is very keen, particularly on low cost.
In addition to these new tools, Google also shared information on flight booking trends for 2023. For example, for flights around Christmas, the lowest prices were recorded 71 days before departure, compared to 22 days in the 2022 trends report. Additionally, for flights from the United States to Europe, there is no longer an “optimal point” where prices fall before rising again. Prices appear to be lowest 72 days or more before departure, the search engine says.
This data indicates that planning ahead can be beneficial, especially when the project is not flexible. However, flight prices change frequently, and there are often cheaper fares available for those with the right tools (and a little persistence).
These new features, which are added to an already fairly comprehensive set of options, aim to provide consumers with more specific and reliable information to help them make informed decisions. They come in a context where the travel industry continues to evolve rapidly, impacted by various factors such as the overall economic situation, consumer habits and fluctuations in fuel prices.
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