Review of Google Flights – flight comparator
One in three French people takes a vacation abroad every year. When it comes to buying a plane ticket online, the choice can be quite difficult. Between timetables, airlines, fares and all the possible options, how do you find your way around? And if you’re planning a road trip from one country to another, things get even more complicated.
Over the past few years, the number of flight comparators has grown steadily, and they are constantly fighting for their place on the podium. Their aim is to help Internet users find the best airfare for their requirements. Among them is Google Flights. The world’s No. 1 search engine is expanding in all fields, so it’s only natural that it should embark on this new adventure.
If you haven’t heard of Google Flights yet, now’s the time to find out. How it works, advantages, disadvantages, reviews and tests – we’ll explain everything you need to know to plan your next vacation.
What is Google Flights?
The online giant is expanding once again, this time with Google Flights, a flight and hotel comparison service that doesn’t exactly make its competitors happy. The service was first launched in 2011 in the United States, then in 2013 in France. The basic principle is the same as Kayak, Ulysse Opodo and Lilligo. These search tools are popular with web users looking for the best airfare.
There’s bound to be someone around you who always manages to go abroad on the cheap. Admit it, it’s annoying! But how do they do it? Quite simply, by using a flight comparator like Google Flights.
The aim of Google Flights is to make your life easier by quickly finding a plane ticket to suit your needs, because sometimes that’s a difficult task. There’s an ever-increasing choice, and our needs are becoming more and more specific. No more stress, wasted time or money! Today, you can be sure of making the right choice by selecting all your criteria: dates, location, price, stopover, length of journey, etc. And all this, free of charge and in just a few clicks. And all free of charge, in just a few clicks!
In 2018, Google Flights has been given a makeover to meet demand perfectly. Our review confirms this. What’s more, this comparator is truly comprehensive, since it offers you travel guides, with tourist attractions, restaurants, program suggestions, and much more.
Recently, the service also includes a hotel comparator.
How does it work?
Looking for plane tickets? There are two possible scenarios:
- You have more or less precise dates, a defined budget, you know which country you’d like to visit, and so on. All you have to do is choose the perfect flight.
- You don’t know where you want to go, when you want to go, but you want to go abroad at a reduced price. Google Flights adapts to your needs and suggests a whole host of destinations that might be just right for you.
To get only the results you want, you can filter your search by stopover, airline, price, timetable, baggage, etc. Once you’ve seen the results, all you have to do is select the flight you’re interested in. Google Flights then invites you to click on the booking option, i.e. the appropriate company or partner. You will then be redirected to the partner’s page. Once you’ve checked the information, you can book your ticket.
For greater visibility, you also have access to the flight calendar and a price chart to compare airfares on other dates. Don’t hesitate to follow the evolution of prices. An email or notification on your mobile is sent to you, telling you the best time to book a flight.
The travel guide section is a great way to find out more about a destination. It tells you what to do, where to go and where to stay.
Google Flights: pros and cons
Advantages
- Easy to use
- Free
- Search with numerous filters
- Monthly visibility
- Alerts when prices change
- Practical travel guide
- No annoying ads
- Uses artificial intelligence to predict flight delays
Disadvantages
- Prices may differ at time of booking
- Not all flights are listed
Google Flights: the editor’s opinion
With its many tools, Google is once again cementing its reputation on the web. Those who swear by the search engine will use Google Flights when the time comes. The interface is simple and gives you fairly precise results based on your previous searches. What’s more, it’s at the cutting edge of technology, having recently made use of artificial intelligence. To be able to predict flight delays even before the official airline announcement is incredible.
However, we have sometimes had unpleasant surprises when selecting flights. Google Flights gives us a price, which then increases on the partner’s booking page. This is probably due to hidden charges or missed updates.
To conclude this Google Flights review, we’re pleased with the simplicity and speed of the search, and the absence of advertising pages. Nevertheless, if you can’t find an interesting flight ticket, it’s best to consult a second flight comparator.