Booking a flight? Google can now tell if you should book now or later

Travelling outside of Canada anytime soon? Google Flights’ new features can make your buck run longer.

Travelling can be costly and often financially inaccessible. But in a bid to ease the concerns of travellers grappling with the escalating cost of living and travel expenses, Google Flights is introducing three new features to help individuals discover budget-friendly options.

Any thrifty traveller knows the first secret to finding cheap flights is to book in advance. But there’s always the pressing question: is it better to book now or wait for lower prices to come along?

Google Flights’ new trend data will help answer that question. When searching for flights, the site now shows when prices have typically been lowest based on dates and destinations. This will make it easier to know if prices are usually lower two months in advance or closer to takeoff.

The second feature update allows travellers to track prices to a specific destination with an automated notification email if tickets drop significantly. This feature has two notification options between specific dates or “Any dates” which could include deals anytime between three to six months from the date enabled.

The third feature, although it’s only available as part of a pilot program for selected bookings departing from the U.S., might offer travellers an enhanced peace of mind. It’s a “price guarantee” option.

“You’ll see a colourful price guarantee badge, which means we’re especially confident the fare you see today won’t get any lower before departure,” reads the site.

If prices do drop, Google will pay the person the ticket’s difference via Google Pay.