How To Set Up Google Flights Alerts for Hassle-Free Savings
Finding cheap flights can feel like a game of luck, but with the right tools, it’s easy to turn the odds in…
Finding cheap flights can feel like a game of luck, but with the right tools, it’s easy to turn the odds in your favor. Learn how to use Google Flights price-tracking alerts to save on flights and avoid the hassle of constantly monitoring fluctuating fares.
If you’re looking for the best deals and aren’t set on the dates or destination, consider signing up for Going’s travel membership trial to receive real-time alerts on cheap international flights with Premium and Elite membership plans. For flights within the continental US, the Limited plan offers excellent deals, with members saving an average of $200 per trip.
Why use Google Flights for price tracking?
Google Flights isn’t just another search engine; it’s a comprehensive tool that takes price tracking to the next level. One of its many great features is the ability to track prices and send a flight alert when the price of your tracked flight changes. But while Google Flights alerts can make price tracking convenient for travelers, this feature is not foolproof.
For starters, these alerts are not instant. This means you miss the chance to catch a mistake fare (an accidental discount on a flight far below what the airline intended). Another drawback is that it only works on fixed dates and destinations. So you can’t, for example, set an alert for the month of February for all the Caribbean.
That’s why if you’re not constrained by travel dates and your main goal is to score the lowest possible fare, there are even better ways to stay in the loop for great deals (like Going). However, if you’re interested in following a trip with a certain departure and destination and certain dates, setting up alerts on Google Flights can help you keep track of the prices.
Whether you’re looking to explore new destinations or secure the best price for a planned route, Google Flights and Going are valuable tools to make budget-friendly travel a reality.
Step-by-step guide to setting up Google Flights alerts
Step 1: Log in to your Google account
Before diving into price tracking, make sure you’re logged into your Google account. This way you can ensure all your alert settings are saved and that price drop notifications are sent straight to your Gmail.
Step 2: Enter your flight information
Explore the flight options on the search engine. For more information, you can check our guide and learn how to use Google Flights. Once you have decided your destination and dates, enter the details of your trip:
- Select your departure and arrival cities. Google Flights can track fares from multiple airports, so you can input several nearby airports to increase your options.
- Pick your travel dates. For more options, explore flexible dates.
- Remember to add the number of travelers you need to get a price estimate for the whole party.
- What’s your trip type? Are you going on a round-trip, one-way, or multi-city trip?
Step 3: Adjust your filters
Once you hit “Explore” and see all the flights, you can fine-tune filters to narrow down the results and focus on what matters to you:
- Choose your preferred class (economy, premium, or business).
- If you prefer direct flights or are open to layovers, adjust this option.
- Include or exclude certain airlines based on your loyalty programs or preferences.
- You can also choose your ideal departure and arrival times.
- If you choose flights with layovers, you can control the total travel time by changing their duration.
- Check for baggage inclusion. This can be especially useful for low-cost carriers that charge extra fees for checked luggage.
Step 4: Activate price tracking
- Click the “track prices” button for a specific route
If you have more flexibility in choosing airlines and schedules, you can search a broader route (e.g., New York to Tokyo) by toggling the “Track Prices” button on the left hand side of the results page. This way, you’ll receive notifications for any significant fare changes on flights between your selected cities.
- Click the “track prices” button for a specific flight
However, if you have a particular flight in mind instead, first select the specific flights you want to take by clicking on them (like you wanted to book them). You’ll be redirected to a page to select the airlines.
Now, you can toggle the “Track Prices” button for that flight (this time it’s on the right hand side) to get alerts specific to that airline, departure time, and other details. This helps you lock in the best price for the exact itinerary you want.
Step 5: Get price alerts
Once you’ve started tracking your desired flights, you will find out every time the flight you chose changes prices, for better or for worse. Additionally, you can choose to receive a list of alternative flights that you may want to take a look at instead. In fact, you can activate alerts for all of them at once in order to track and find the cheapest one!
Skip the hassle of flight alerts! Let Going’s app find the cheapest flights for you.
Step 6: Monitor price trends
Other Google Flights tools can help you visualize fare trends. Price Graph and Date Grid let you compare prices across different months or weeks, giving you a clear picture of the best times to travel.
If you’re open to different destinations, try using the Google Flights Explore Map. Simply enter your departure city and leave the destination open, or select a specific region like Europe or South America.
Step 7: Adjust or pause tracking
Managing your flight alerts is simple. If your travel plans shift, you can modify your tracked routes by selecting a new flight or updating your search preferences. If you access the “My Trips” section, you’ll see all your alerts. From there, you can click the toggle switch below the price graph to pause alerts temporarily, stopping notifications for as long as you need.
Step 8: View all tracked prices
To monitor all the routes you’re tracking, go to the menu on Google Flights and select “Tracked flight prices.” This section displays a complete list of your tracked routes, along with their price history graphs. Here, you can review trends and manage multiple alerts in one convenient place. Checking this section regularly can give you an idea of fare fluctuations across all your tracked flights.
Additional cost-saving strategies
Setting up price alerts is just one way to secure a cheap flight. You can check our flight hacks guide. In the meantime, here are some key tips to save even more:
Booking within the Goldilocks Windows
For the best deals, aim to book flights 1–3 months before domestic travel and 2–8 months before international trips. The Goldilocks Window is the sweet spot where airlines tend to offer competitive prices. Remember that peak season requires even earlier booking, so plan accordingly. Avoid booking at the last minute, as airlines tend to charge higher prices the closer you get to the day of the flight.
Tracking flexible dates and routes
One of the best ways to find great deals is by staying flexible with your travel dates and even your destination. Google Flights’ flexible date tool makes this easy by showing how shifting dates impacts prices. When you’re open to various travel dates, you can set up Google Flights alerts without a fixed timeframe, giving you a wider range of options.
Changes in your route can also impact your flight fare. Most times, adding a layover can lead to finding a cheaper flight. Options with layovers or multi-city routes can often be cheaper than direct flights, particularly for international trips.
Using nearby airports for additional savings
Similarly, if you’re open to nearby airports, consider adding alternative departure and arrival locations in your search. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, try tracking flights from surrounding airports like LAX, Burbank (BUR), and San Bernardino (SBD) to maximize potential savings. Sure, you might have a short ride to your final destination, but even so, you can save hundreds.
Using points and miles to reduce costs
Take advantage of frequent flyer programs to save on flights. If you sign up for your preferred airline’s loyalty program, you can start accumulating miles through flights and travel partnerships. Once you’ve collected enough miles, you can redeem them for free flights or upgrades.
If you have a credit card that earns points, you can also use them for your trips. Instead of redeeming your points for cash back—which generally offers a low return—you can use them to book flights or transfer them to frequent flyer programs. For more details on credit card points and airline miles, take a look at our guide to credit card points and airline miles.
Change your currency
Google Flights automatically detects your location and sets the language and currency accordingly, but sometimes, this can work against you. Luckily, you can manually change these settings and ensure the rate works in your favor.
Switching to the local currency when booking with foreign airlines might save you money due to exchange rate differences. Just remember to use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Maximize savings with Going’s expert flight deal alerts
Setting up Google Flights alerts can be a great start to track fares, but Going takes finding cheap flights to the next level. While Google Flights tracks prices on major airlines, Going finds deals from a wide range of carriers, always focusing on quality airlines that can offer comfortable traveling options.
Besides, our flight experts find deals that often don’t show up on regular search engines, so you can secure the best fares without manual searches. This includes rare deals like mistake fares and flash sales, which can save you up to 90% on international and domestic flights.
Going is the best complement to Google Flights. It offers real-time, personalized alerts tailored to your preferences, from price drop alerts to exclusive deals. Going’s app does all the heavy lifting, finding the best flight deals for you.
