7 Pro Tips on How to Use Google Flights to Find Cheap Airfare

I'm used to people's jaws dropping when I tell them how little I pay for airfare. My trick isn't really all that secret, but somehow I have never met another human (other than my mother!) who has truly embraced the functionality of this masterful search tool. Here, I explain how to find cheap airfare using the Google Flights search tool.

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Using the Google Flights Tool: The Basics

Start Here:

Google.com/flights

Enter Criteria Here:

Pro Tip #1: Keep Your Dates Flexible

Use Google Flights Date Grid

By using the date grid option at the top of your search results, you can see if going a day earlier or later will help save you some cash.

Use this grid tool to determine the best dates. Tuesdays are almost always a winner!

Use the Google Flights Price Graph

By using the price graph tool, you can see how the prices are trending and fluctuating based on proximity to holidays, weekends, or other known events for that destination.

Adjust the duration of the trip using the + and - signs and sometimes that also has an effect on the price structure. This is because many carriers operate routes on certain days only, affecting the price and availability once again.

This price graph let's you click around a range of dates. The lower the bar, the cheaper the flight. Simple!

Search Using the "Flexible Dates" Option

If you have flexible dates you can narrow further. Simply search by a travel month and select one of the following qualifiers:

• Search for weekend trips

• Search for 1 week trips

• Search for 2 weeks trips

Repeat this process for several months, if you are super flexible.

Pro Tip #2: Open Up Your Search

Not sure where to go but know you want to go somewhere?

Use these exploration tools to essentially work your way through a back door. For instance, you want to go to Europe but don't really care where. Any of the sites would be nice, so long as you can get there cheaply. Here's a couple of ideas how.

Try Multiple Destinations in Your Search

Below, instead of doing exhaustive research on multiple destinations separately, just type in the airport code then a comma, adding more airport codes after the commas until your maximum is reached. It will search all the airports listed and find you the best flights.

For instance, I want to get to Spain but I don't care if I fly to London first (easy non-stops from my home airport) and then a puddle jumper. Or, I can add Madrid and Barcelona as options because whichever one is cheaper will get me to Spain, and I'd take trains from there. You get the idea.

Search by multiple airport codes at once on Google Flights

Use the Explore Destinations Feature

Click on 'Explore Destinations' towards the bottom of the search screen. This tool is super cool if you don't really care where you end up. If you have dates you want (let's say Labor Day weekend) just click the map for those dates and dream about where you may like to go. Zoom in or out to see just the United States, or drag around to find places on the globe.

This option is much less specific than the multiple airports example above, and gives you an illustrative view of what the world has on offer!

Check out the best prices for multiple destinations using a map

Try Outdenting Your Search Query

Say what? Follow me on this one - Orlando to Rome is too narrow. It will get you very specific flights and box you into a single cost option.

Instead try:

• Orlando to Italy

• Orlando to Europe

• Miami to Italy

• Miami to Europe

• Your city to desired city

• Your city to desired country

• Your city to desired continent

• Your neighboring city to desire city, country, continuent

Catching my drift? Why am I doing this? My city to desired city/country may not have direct flights, but my neighboring city totally does. So let's take the above example. Orlando to Rome will require a layover and costs $$$. But, driving to Miami or taking a FlixBus, for instance, proves not only inexpensive, but convenient. Then, take a direct flight from Miami. Easy peasy.

You are exploring the most comfortable route for you by doing it this way.

Your goal is take either non-stop flights or one layover only. Any more than that and you are doing it wrong. Do not book a flight with 2+ layovers!! You will regret every moment of travel time.

Which leads me to, Pro tip 3.

Pro Tip #3: Use Google Flights Filters to Find What You Need

Maybe you REALLY want to spend the night in Montreal's airport hotel on your way to Asia. Or maybe you hate JFK and would rather travel through Charlotte. You can choose your preferred connecting airports! Check it out:

Choose your connecting airports with tickboxes or select 'only' certain airports by hovering over them.

Use similar filtering techniques to choose:

• A preferred airline

• Arrival or departure times

• Duration of layover

• Number of stops

• etc

It's AH-Mazing. Lately I'm into choosing 'layover times' longer than 15 hours so that I can maybe work in an overnighter in that destination. Miami is running routes to Lisbon and Spain on Royal Air Maroc that go through Casablanca, Morocco for 24 hours. Sign me up!

Pro Tip #4: Use Google Flights Price Tracking

Google is smart. Really smart. Find a general route, a specific flight, specific dates, or 'any dates' and toggle the switch at the top of your search results. You'll get emails every so often from Google when prices are worth looking at.

I love this because when the deals are hot, they are HOT and I typically pounce right away. With Google's newer "Price Guarantee" rule on some fares, you know you're getting the best deal. It also helps you to track trends in airfare and you can predict the high times.