With how often trip-planning appears as a Gemini demo at various keynotes and developer conferences, it seemed like only a matter of time before Google Flights got some AI attention itself. Today, Google’s announcing an expansion of Flights to include AI-based cost-saving measures, but you’ll need to be pretty easy-going in your travel plans to use it.
Flights Deals is Google’s AI-powered search tool that exists as an alternative experience within Flights. The company says it exists for “flexible travelers” looking to save cash by being willing to sacrifice specifics when searching for their next trip, up to and including dates and destinations. The AI-ness of it all comes in through an Gemini-powered search field — Google describes inputting your request into it “as though you’re talking to a friend” — rather than using Flight’s typical drop-down menus. Examples include “week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only” and “10 day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder.”
Google’s clearly starting pretty slowly on its efforts to build AI into Flights. This tool really only has potential if you’re trying to plan a vacation without any specific destinations or dates in mind; if you know where you’re headed — whether it’s a long-awaited trip to Hawaii or a business trip out to a conference — it’s not going to be particularly useful. Google also makes it clear that Flights Deals exists as a separate tool within the original app, and that Flights as it exists right now is “here to stay.”
Flights Deals will launch in beta over the coming week to users in the US, Canada, and India, though it doesn’t appear to be live for myself just yet outside of a “this feature isn’t available yet” landing page. Google says there’s no opting in for this one, and that it’ll be accessible through the top-left menu on the Flights homepage. The company’s main travel search is also getting an upgrade today, with users now able to exclude basic economy fares on trips throughout US and Canada.
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