This Google Flights hack went viral—here's how it can save you money on flights
This Google Flights Trick Reveals the Lowest Airfare Prices
Updated on Jan. 17, 2025
As a longtime traveler, I use a combination of websites, flight price trackers and other tools to search for the best flights. Although I typically book directly with the airline (more on that below), I start my initial search in Google Flights or Skyscanner, where I can review a wider range of options. So I’m always interested in new Google Flights tricks for finding the most affordable flights.
The latest one that caught my attention? The viral Google Flights hack shared by TikTok creator @sam_jarman, which seems like it can work literal miracles when looking for cheap airfare. I spoke to travel expert Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy travel website and author of How to Win at Travel, and also tried out this tool myself to find out if it truly delivers.
Ahead, you’ll learn all about the Google Flights tricks that just may help you get the best prices on flights—every time you book.
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Why do travel experts love Google Flights?
Google Flights is a free flight search engine—not a travel booking site—that allows users to search a variety of airlines, airports and routes all in one place to find the best deals. It also offers features such as a flight price tracking tool to monitor fares and price graphs that show if the fare is low, average or high.
That’s why many experienced travelers, like Kelly and myself, search for the best airfare on Google Flights before heading to an airline’s site to book directly. “Google Flights is my first stop when searching for airfare,” Kelly says. “It has incredible tools to get you farther for less, and that really helps consumers compare and pick which flights are best for their schedules and budgets. I especially love the Explore map to hunt for cheap fares and find new destinations in a region.”
What is the Google Flights hack you need to know?
TikTok creator Sam Jarman is also a fan of the Google Flights Explore map; it’s the focus of the Google Flights TikTok travel tip he shared. The hack is simple: When searching for the cheapest flights for your next trip, he recommends leaving your destination and dates open and utilizing the Explore page instead. In the example Jarman uses in the video, he is able to find a direct round-trip flight with flexible dates to New York for $177, which had cost $217 with specific dates.
@sam_jarman Google flight hack has saved me BIG $$$
How to use this Google Flights trick to find lower fares
Here’s how to find the cheapest flights on Google Flights, according to Jarman:
- Head to the Google Flights website.
- Select “Round trip” (or “One way” if that’s what you need) and input the city or airport you’re flying from. Do not select dates, and do not enter your destination in the “Where to?” box.
- Instead, when you click on the “Where to?” box, select “Anywhere” and then click “Explore.” This will take you to the Explore map, which shows available flights from your home airport to various cheap places to travel around the world for a range of dates.
- While in the Explore map, click the calendar option on the left and choose “Flexible dates.” Selecting “All” will search one-week trips within the next six months for various destinations and then show you the cheapest flights.
- You can narrow your search further with specific dates and filters, such as “nonstop” to search direct flights only. But keep in mind that this will also limit your options and therefore may remove the cheaper fares you initially saw.
Does this Google Flights hack really work?
Yes, you can indeed find cheaper flights if you are open to a range of dates and destinations on Google Flights instead of specific dates and routes. “Being flexible with your final destination or when you fly is going to get you far when saving money on travel,” says Kelly. “Using the map on Google Flights is a great example of how being flexible with your travel plans can lead to incredible airfare deals.”
But the Explore map is not really a travel secret or hidden trick: It’s really just a matter of utilizing Google Flights’s various search features that the casual user might not be aware of.
Who should use these Google Flights tricks?
The Explore page can be very useful in the right circumstances to explore flight options and deals. My takeaways from trying this viral Google Flights trick are that it’s best if:
You’re up for any dates and destination
It’s best suited to people who have complete flexibility with regard to destination and travel dates, like a digital nomad looking for their next stop or a traveler seeking inspiration for an adventure to an undetermined destination. If this describes you, you can even skip the Google Flights homepage and just go straight to the Explore map. It’s fun to peruse the map for cheap flights from your home airport and then choose your destination and dates based on your budget and interests.
Kelly says the Explore map is one of his favorite ways to use Google Flights. “Not only is it fantastic for finding flight deals, but it’s also a great way to find new destinations,” he explains. “When you can be flexible with your dates or your final destination, this feature is a great way to find great deals and book airfare for cheap.”
That said, if you have a specific destination in mind but are flexible on dates, you don’t necessarily need to search the Explore map. As I found in my tests of this Google Flights trick, the quicker way to find the cheapest flights is to enter your home airport and destination in the Google Flights homepage, then click on “Departure” or “Return.” A two-month view with prices shown on each day of the month will pop up, and you can choose your dates to travel based on those prices.
You’re OK with economy class
Keep in mind that this hack is aimed at finding cheap fares, so it’s not suited to searching for first-class flights. It shows the lowest fares, which are generally economy fares and sometimes budget airlines. This means the flights shown may have additional restrictions or charges, such as limited seat options, baggage restrictions or fees. Some economy fares may also be non-changeable and nonrefundable, so you might incur fees if you need to change or cancel. Every airline has different policies, so always be sure to read the details prior to booking.
What are other tricks for saving money on travel?
In addition to the Google Flights tricks, there are more ways to save on travel. Here are a few air-travel tips from Kelly and myself:
Start early
“Plan ahead, and give yourself enough time to find the best deals,” Kelly says. If you do find a cheaper flight after you’ve already booked your airfare, he recommends reaching out to the airline. “Many airlines allow you to rebook your flight and receive a refund or travel credit, depending on your fare type.”
Stay alert
“Tracking flight prices on Google Flights will help you book your flight during that sweet spot,” Kelly says. But you don’t need to return to the site to monitor the flights manually. “Sign up to receive [email] alerts for when a flight you’re eyeing starts to drop or go up in price. You can even track flights for any date to get the best deal for that route.”
Try all the tools
Make use of a variety of tools and let them do the work for you. For example, inputting your departure city, destination and travel dates into the Savings Generator on Skyscanner, another travel search aggregator, can show you how many weeks in advance and what day of the week is the best time to buy a plane ticket to help you get the best price. In addition, if your travel dates and destination are flexible, you can also take advantage of Skyscanner’s “Explore everywhere” search, another online tool similar to the Google Flights Explore map.
Check price history
Familiarize yourself with what’s normal, high and low for the routes you’re interested in before you buy. “Google Flights’s price history feature is a must for travelers,” Kelly says. “I strongly recommend taking advantage of this feature to see whether the flight is a good deal or if you should wait a little longer to book.”
Check both round-trip and one-way options
While you’ll generally get a better price for purchasing a round-trip flight versus two one-way tickets, that isn’t always the case. “There are exceptions to every rule. You might find a good deal by purchasing two one-way tickets on two different airlines,” Kelly says. So always check round-trip and one-way options before buying. And don’t forget to search flights for nearby airports, especially for larger cities that have multiple airport options.
Travel off-peak
If it works with your schedule, flying off-season when others aren’t as likely to—such as September when schools are back in session, January after many people have returned to work following the holidays, or even on an actual holiday—can save you money. My family often has holiday gatherings a few days after Christmas, so on more than one occasion, I’ve found cheaper fares flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, when flights tend to be lighter than during the pre-holiday rush.
Filter for your needs
Remember that these Google Flights features are aiming to show you the lowest fares, which might mean showing you budget airlines or tickets with restrictions. So what seems like a low price may not be once you add in other fees. “Cheap can get expensive quickly, especially when you forget to factor in those hidden fees,” Kelly says. Be sure to check if adding things like luggage (or even a carry-on for some airlines) will increase the total price and cancel out any savings you were anticipating.
Book directly through the airline
Once you find the flight you want on Google Flights or Skyscanner, go directly to the airline to buy your ticket. If you purchase flights through third-party booking sites, such as Expedia, that addition of a middleman can mean additional fees and obstacles in the event there are flight delays or cancellations. But when you book directly with the airline, their representatives will help you during delays or with rebooking.
Utilize rewards
Learn how to utilize credit card reward points and frequent-flier miles. “There are many great options for transferring your credit card points to an airline loyalty program for the best deal,” Kelly says. He also recommends getting the Points Path Chrome extension. “This allows you to see the points price of every flight in a search, and then you can use this information to see whether booking with cash or points will provide the most savings.”
About the expert
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on Google Flights tricks, Sunny Fitzgerald tapped her experience as a longtime travel and lifestyle journalist. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy and author of How to Win at Travel; email interview, October 2024
- Google Flights
- Skyscanner
