Skip to main content

Google Flights introduces money-saving feature

Google Flights introduces "Cheapest" tab

Airplane flying at sunset
Daniel De Ciantis via Unsplash

Air travel lets you explore the globe. In mere hours, you can cross the country (or the Atlantic) and be immersed in a new culture, where fresh experiences await. But airfare can get expensive, and finding the best deal and be a challenge.

To help, Google Flights just added a new tool, giving thrifty travelers a way to score the lowest fare. The “Cheapest” tab finds the best deals for passengers willing to forego convenience. Here’s how it works.

Recommended Videos

How the Google Flights “Cheapest” tab works

Airplane takeoff lights
Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa via Unsplash

During a search on Google Flights, the results display the best mix of price and convenience. Even then, cheaper options might exist for those willing to visit a different website or return to a different airport. Examples include a third–party website with lower airfare than an airline or a traveler returning to New York’s JFK airport after embarking from LaGuardia. The new “Cheapest” tab helps customers find these bargains, putting more trips within reach. 

The new tool debuted last week and will roll out globally over the next two weeks. The “Cheapest” tab goes all out searching for lower prices, including itineraries with longer layovers, tickets from multiple carriers, and self-transfers. But for travelers who put cost before convenience, the feature delivers.

The “Cheapest” tab arrives just in time for the holiday travel season when airfares soar and terminals crowd. Scoring a decent airfare can be especially challenging during that time. But with holiday bookings open now, using this new feature could unlock a more manageable price. 

Mark Reif
Mark Reif is a writer from Stowe, Vermont. During the winter, he works as a snowboard coach and rides more than 100 days. The…
Delayed baggage compensation: What you need to know to get reimbursed
Make sure you know your rights
Luggage

We’ve all experienced the anxiety of waiting at the baggage claim, watching the carousel spin endlessly while our belongings seem to have embarked on a separate journey of their own. Delayed baggage is an all-too-common occurrence in the realm of air travel, disrupting plans and leaving travelers stranded without their essential belongings. However, what many passengers don’t realize is that they may be entitled to delayed baggage compensation. Whether you have found yourself in this frustrating situation or are just looking to arm yourself with knowledge before your next flight, understanding the ins and outs of delayed baggage compensation is essential.
Understanding airline policies on delayed baggage

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, airlines are required to compensate passengers for “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses” incurred due to delayed baggage. This compensation includes the cost of essential items such as clothing, toiletries, and other necessities that you may need to purchase while waiting for your bags to arrive. 

Read more
Air India just ordered 100 planes from this company
Air India makes huge order from Airbus
Air India A350

Building on strong passenger growth, Air India has ordered 100 Airbus aircraft. The order includes 10 widebody A350s and 90 narrowbody A320s, which include the A321neo. The planes will join Air India’s firm orders of 470 aircraft in the past year, including models from Boeing and Airbus. Previously, Air India had ordered 250 Airbus planes in 2023, comprised of 210 A320s and 40 A350s. The new order will put 350 Airbus aircraft in the Air India fleet.

The airline will also utilize Airbus’ Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) to maintain its A350 fleet. This will keep the planes in perfect working order for routes worldwide.
Air India’s Airbus order paves the way for future growth

Read more
Southwest is offering 10X points if you do this
Southwest gives 10X points to those who make charity donations
Southwest airplane

Southwest Airlines is offering Rapid Rewards members 10X points for donating to select charities. The promotion runs through Monday, December 16, and is part of the airline’s Points for a Purpose program, which provides air travel to charitable organizations. The offer is a win-win for charities and travelers. Here are the details.
Earn 10X points while helping those in need

The Points for a Purpose program helps community partners who need air travel. To participate, Rapid Rewards members donate their points so organizations can get where they need to go. For this promotion, members receive 10 points for every dollar donated (minimum $25) to the following Points for a Purpose partners: Make-A-Wish, which grants life-changing wishes to ill children; Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster relief provider; and Rescue America, which rescues victims of human trafficking. The donation limit is $1,000 for 10,000 points.

Read more