How to Use Google Flights to Get Best Travel Deals

How to Use Google Flights to Choose the Best Day to Travel

When you’re planning a trip, one of the easiest ways to save money is to be flexible with your travel dates. Airfare prices can swing wildly depending on the day of the week, time of year, and even time of day. That’s where Google Flights comes in—a powerful, free tool that makes it simple to compare flight prices across a range of dates so you can pick the most budget-friendly option.

Why Use Google Flights?

Google Flights isn’t just a flight search engine—it’s a travel deal hacker’s best friend. It pulls in flight data from hundreds of airlines and booking sites, showing you real-time prices, trends, and even suggestions for cheaper dates and nearby airports. The best part? It’s fast, clean, and super easy to use.

Step-by-Step: How to Find the Best Day to Travel

1. Start by entering your route.
Head over to Google Flights. Plug in your departure and destination cities. You don’t have to lock in specific dates just yet—that’s what we’re about to explore.

2. Click the departure date field.
Once your cities are in place, click on the departure date box. A calendar will pop up, but instead of just showing you dates, it shows you the price of flights on each day. These prices update frequently and reflect real fares, not estimates.

3. Look for patterns.
In general, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays tend to have cheaper flights, while Fridays and Sundays are often more expensive due to business and leisure travelers. Use the calendar view on Google Flights to scan for those lower fares.

4. Use the “Flexible dates” feature.
If your travel dates aren’t set in stone, click the “Flexible dates” option. This lets you search by weekend, one-week, or two-week trips within a given month. Google Flights will then suggest the cheapest departure and return date combinations.

5. Turn on price tracking.
See a flight that looks good, but want to wait a bit? Toggle on the “Track prices” option and Google Flights will email you if the price drops (or spikes). It’s like having a personal airfare assistant watching deals for you.

6. Compare airports if possible.
If you’re flying to or from a big metro area, there may be multiple airports. Click “Nearby airports” to see if flying from a different one can save you money. For example, someone flying to New York might find better deals flying into Newark (EWR) rather than JFK or LaGuardia.

Pro Tips to Get Even Better Deals

• Use Google Flights as your starting point. Once you find a great fare, you can go to the airline’s website and book directly. This sometimes leads to extra perks like free seat selection or better cancellation policies.

• Book 1 to 3 months in advance. For domestic travel, the sweet spot for booking is often 30–90 days before your trip. For international, aim for 2–8 months out.

• Avoid major holidays and peak travel times. Traveling during Christmas, Thanksgiving, or spring break usually means higher prices. If you can fly just before or after peak days, you can often save a bundle.

• Use incognito mode when searching. While Google Flights isn’t known to change prices based on your searches, some booking sites are rumored to do this. Using incognito or private browsing mode can help you get consistent pricing.

Final Thoughts

Finding the cheapest day to fly doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Google Flights gives you a clear visual of which days are cheapest, helps you track price changes, and lets you plan smarter. Whether you’re flying across the country or halfway around the world, it’s one of the best tools in any travel deal hacker’s toolkit.

So next time you’re planning a trip, take five minutes to play around on Google Flights. It could save you enough to cover a nice dinner—or even your entire hotel stay.