Just about everybody knows Google for its Internet search power, free email software and online apps – but Google Flights is a nifty way to scope out airline bookings, and it just got even more useful.
Google Flights now includes airline-specific and indeed aircraft-specific details such as average leg room, availability of laptop and USB sockets, inflight WiFi and even live TV (mainly on US flights) from the RouteHappy online service.
If you haven't already tried Google Flights, dial it up and enter a route and your desired travel dates to see a list of your options.
Fine-tune the search with number of stops required – handy for long haul flights into Europe, especially to a specific city – as well as the price range and even limit the cope of the search by airline or airline alliance.
If there's some flexibility in your business travel scheduel you can view a calendar showing the lowest fares on a particular route across a given period.
Google Flights takes you all the way through booking the flight, with options to save the itinerary and share it with colleagues, family members and friends.
Move beyond simple A-to-B itineraries and things get a little more hairy – working your way through multiple cities and stopover options can become overwhelming.
But for life's simpler travels, Google Flights is definitely worth checking out.
Also read: Four great travel tricks using Google search
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
12 Feb 2015
Total posts 91
Google Flights is very helpful for a range of reasons, including the map function which allows you to see nearby alternative destinations. Don't forget though that the default prices on Google Flights are displayed in US dollars, and Australian dollars are not one of the currency options so far. ITA Software's Matrix, owned by Google, is even more sophisticated for specifying search conditions such as nonstop flights, connection via specific ports etc, but it doesn't provide links to airlines or travel agents.
22 Jan 2015
Total posts 10
Do remember though that unlike Google Flights, Matrix doesn't always have current prices. I often use Matrix to check for possible flights, then confirm with Google Flights.
12 Feb 2015
Total posts 91
I forgot to say that Google Flights also does not display the booking code/class (ie fare bucket), which is not helpful if you are concerned about points, status credits etc. Nonetheless, it is a BIG step forward in finding the best travel options.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 698
That is annoying, given you can see this information in Matrix
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 698
I'd love a airfares search engine that let me filter by aircraft type and that I could exclude certain cabin types before a calendar of fares was displayed (so I wasn't seeing a mixed First/Business-Economy fare and fooled into getting interested). Give me plenty of filter options upfront and I'm a happy researcher lol.
15 Mar 2015
Total posts 1
Used google flights extensively while travelling in Europe, very handy indeed.
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