Google Flights launches AI ‘Flight Deals’ tool for flexible travelers

(U.S.) On August 14, 2025, Google Flights launched an AI-powered “Flight Deals” search that lets people type travel wishes in plain language and see live fares that match. The company said the tool is in a beta rollout and will reach users in the United States, Canada, and India over the coming week. Built with Gemini AI, the experience targets flexible travelers who care most about price while keeping the classic Google Flights search in place for fixed plans.

The feature lives inside Google Flights, with a “Flight Deals” option in the top-left menu and a dedicated page. There is no opt-in; eligible users will see it appear automatically. Google is also adding a filter to exclude basic economy fares for trips within the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦, a change frequent flyers have asked for so they can avoid bags and seat limits that often come with the cheapest tickets.

In a blog post, the Google Travel team described Flight Deals as built “for flexible travelers whose number one goal is saving money on their next trip,” and stressed that the classic experience “is here to stay.” The tool draws real-time price data from Google Flights’ regular fare systems and partner sites, so results update as airlines change inventory.

How Flight Deals Works

Instead of clicking through date boxes and city lists, you can write a simple sentence and let Gemini AI do the heavy lift. A prompt like:

• “week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only”

will guide the tool to infer date ranges, trip length, and the nonstop rule. Another example:

• “10-day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder”

points the system toward mountain airports and winter windows.

Steps to try Flight Deals:
1. Go to flights.google.com.
2. Choose “Flight Deals” from the top-left menu or open the Flight Deals page.
3. Type your travel idea in natural language.
4. Review the AI-generated list of low-fare options that fit your request.
5. Turn on the new filter to exclude basic economy for U.S. and Canada trips if you want to skip those fares.
6. When ready, book through Google Flights or a partner site shown in the results.

This is a separate experience inside Google Flights. People who already know exact dates and a set destination can keep using the standard search. Flight Deals works best if you are open on where and when to go and you want to chase price drops first.

Flight Deals is designed for travelers who prioritize savings and flexibility; the classic Google Flights experience remains available for those with fixed plans.

Context, Industry Impact, and What’s Next

Industry context:
– Travel analysts say Google’s move fits a wider shift toward vertical, conversational search.
– Online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com have added chat-style planners, so Google’s addition keeps pace with the market.
– Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the push toward intent-based tools will continue as platforms compete to meet broad trip requests rather than narrow, form-based searches.

Practical benefits for specific traveler groups:
– Saves time for immigrants, international students, and families planning cross-border visits who juggle school calendars, work leave, and visa appointments.
– Quickly surfaces workable windows across many destinations, helping users then verify official entry rules.

For authoritative guidance on visas, passports, and travel advisories, see the U.S. Department of State’s site at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html. The new search does not change immigration requirements; it simply helps find flights that match budget and timing.

Google’s roadmap and beta behavior:
– Google says the feature will grow based on feedback from early users.
– Planned improvements include tuning prompts, adding more filters, and considering new markets.
– The basic economy exclusion currently limited to the U.S. and Canada may extend to other regions later.
– During beta, expect small tweaks to wording and ranking as Google measures what travelers click and book.

Important operational notes and warnings:
– Results pull from live fare feeds, so prices and seats can change fast.
– The tool does not hold fares — book quickly when you see a match.
– Compare final prices on the checkout page to ensure the deal holds after fees and taxes.
– Cross-check fares on the airline’s site and review rules for changes and refunds if plans might shift.

What This Means for Publishers and Travelers

For publishers:
– Some expect more research to happen inside Google’s pages, which could lower clicks to independent sites.
– Others note many travelers still want long-form guides and community tips before booking; those resources remain valuable.

For travelers:
– Flight Deals makes it easy to test ideas quickly before setting alerts or confirming dates with family abroad.
– Use a broad prompt first, then refine by adding:
– Time of year and trip length
– Nonstop preference
– Luggage needs or cabin class
– The basic economy filter can remove fares that might not work for families who need carry-on bags or seat picks.

Availability and Next Steps

• The release is limited to early users in the initial markets (United States, Canada, India).
• As access expands, Google will gather feedback on which prompts work best and where clearer guidance is needed.
• Expect steady updates rather than one big change.

Final takeaway:
– Flight Deals keeps Google Flights at the center of price discovery by letting Gemini AI handle open-ended prompts.
– For people who don’t know where to go but want a bargain, the experience turns discovery into a fast, chat-like entry point for travel planning.