A New Google Flights Tool Reveals the Best Time to Book Your Flight for the Lowest Fare—Here’s How It Works

Google Flights has launched a new feature aimed at helping travelers answer the age-old question: “Should I book my flights now or wait for a price drop?” The tech giant has long provided users with insights on whether the airfares they're considering are low, average, or high based on historical pricing data for that route. Now, Google offers information on time frames that have historically been the cheapest for the route in question, enabling travelers to make more informed booking decisions.

“These insights might indicate that the optimal time to book similar trips is typically two months before your departure, and you’re currently in that ideal window. Alternatively, you may discover that prices usually decrease closer to the departure date, prompting you to wait before making a reservation,” Google stated. “In either case, you can approach your decision with increased confidence.”

How the New Google Flights Feature Operates

Imagine you want to travel from New York to San Francisco for Labor Day Weekend (a time that traditionally experiences high travel demand).

For instance, if you plan to travel from New York to Miami during the Christmas holiday season (another peak travel period), Google suggests that it’s wise to wait—fares are generally at their lowest from September 13 to December 7.

Keep in mind that this feature isn’t available for every flight route—only those where Google has sufficient data. The tech giant hasn’t provided a complete list of the routes included in this service. Travelers will need to experiment with the search tool to see if the extra information appears for their desired routes.

This is just one of the many tools Google is providing to assist travelers in finding the best airfare deals. In April, the company launched a pilot program featuring a “price guarantee”. For flights departing from the U.S. that Google believes won’t see a price drop, a “price guarantee” badge is displayed. If users click the badge and book through Google (rather than the airline's site), Google will refund the difference if the fare decreases after the ticket purchase. The refund (up to $500) is issued through Google Pay.