Google has announced its efforts to simplify the process of finding the most affordable flights for travelers. For searches supported by reliable trend data, travelers will be able to identify historical price patterns, aiding them in determining the best time to book their flights.
GLOGoogle has announced its efforts to simplify the process of finding the most affordable flights for travelers.
In a blog post on Monday (August 28th), the company stated, “On Google Flights, you can already see whether current prices for your search are low, typical or high compared to past averages for the same route.” The company also addressed the dilemma that travelers often face: whether to book flights immediately or wait for potentially lower prices.
To assist with this decision, Google is rolling out enhanced insights this week. For searches supported by reliable trend data, travelers will be able to identify historical price patterns, aiding them in determining the best time to book their flights.
The blog post also offered money-saving advice for travelers, building upon existing travel tools. While opting for layovers and avoiding weekend departures continue to be effective cost-saving strategies, Google noted changes in the dynamics for Christmas and European travel.
In both cases, the recommendation is to book even earlier than usual. For holiday trips, the optimal booking time has shifted to 71 days before departure, a significant increase from the previous year’s advice of booking just 22 days before. Similarly, for journeys to Europe, the best time to book is now 72 days before departure.
The summer of the year in question has seen a surge in travel demand, with a record number of individuals planning trips. This trend is not limited to vacations, as business travel has also witnessed a resurgence post-pandemic.
Nevertheless, catering to this historic influx of customers while managing competition and investing in novel services to foster uniqueness presents significant challenges for those operating in the travel industry.
According to PYMNTS, “Travel CFOs have got a real challenge on their hands, balancing the day-to-day working capital needs with continuing to invest in the business.” Ed Chandler, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions for Europe at Visa, highlighted the demanding nature of the situation, emphasizing that technology is driving the industry’s rapid transformation, requiring substantial investments to keep up.
Source: PYMNTS
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