Know These Google Flights Limitations
Google Flights is a popular tool for finding flights to your next vacation or your next home as a digital nomad. Unfortunately, it has some key limitations users should be aware of whether you are new to traveling or a frequent flier. While it excels in user-friendliness and discovering affordable options, here are some key Google Flights limitations:
For a complete guide on how to use Google Flights to search for the best deals NerdTicket got you covered.
Google Flights Limitations Breakdown
1. Limited Airline Coverage:
Google Flights doesn’t include every airline in its search results. Like most people out there, you assume that Google Flights did its algorithm magic and compares all the airlines offerings. But the matter of fact is that Google Flights doesn’t compare all airlines offerings and this includes major carriers like Southwest Airlines and Thai Airways. Be mindful of this limitation and consider checking airline websites or third party travel sites like Expedia, Kayak and SkyScanner directly for potentially better deals. Here’s a list of some airlines not available on Google Flights (as of 2024):
- Southwest Airlines
- Thai Airways
- Allegiant
- Frontier Airlines
- Air China
- China Eastern
- JetBlue
- Ryanair
- EasyJet
- Wizz Air
2. No Direct Booking:
Google Flights doesn’t allow booking flights directly on its website. It insteads redirects you to the airline’s website or a third-party reseller like Expedia or Kayak to make the final purchase and add-on features. This can be inconvenient, especially for new users or seasoned travellers. I hope in the future Google considers having the option of booking your ticket on Google Flights directly instead of having another tab open to another website to complete the purchase.
3. 24-Hour Price Updates:
Google Flights updates flight information, including prices, every 24 hours. This is not bad by any standard but it does mean that once in a while you may come across a price on Google Flights that is no longer valid so when you finally get ready to purchase your ticket, you notice that the price is not what you thought it would be (often higher). This does not happen regularly but it’s a possibility you may come across this scenario due to its once a day price update nature. Be prepared for potential price fluctuations.
4. Limited Flight Amenity Information:
Google Flights does a wonderful job informing us on the airline’s average legroom size, available entertainment and if there is in-seat power and USB outlet to charge your electronic devices. What it doesn’t tell us is what kind of meal offerings we should expect and if there is any complimentary meal or not. This is important for people like myself who would avoid purchasing overpriced food or drinks in the airport if we know that the flight will provide us with a complimentary meal or not.
Bonus: How Google Flights Makes Money
Despite these limitations, Google Flights remains a valuable resource for finding affordable flights. Google earns revenue through various channels, including:
- Outbound clicks: When users click through to airline or third-party websites from Google Flights, Google receives a commission (estimated at $0.50-$1 per click).
- Partnerships: Google might have partnerships with airlines that generate revenue.
As of 2023, Google received 83.9 billion visits worldwide and I’m willing to bet that this traffic only increases year by year. You can have a sense on how profitable Google Flight is to the Google ecosystem.
Key Takeaways:
Finding the best deals on airline tickets, like with auto insurance, requires comparison shopping. While Google Flights is a fantastic tool for searching flights, it shouldn’t be your sole resource. To maximize your savings, compare prices on other websites and directly with airlines. This extra effort can ensure you get the best possible price.
