Google has introduced a new function to their arsenal of search tools: the ability to search flights anywhere in the U.S.
Google Flight Search is , as the name might lead you to expect, a tool that allows you to search for flights. You can access it by typing in a query like “Flights from SFO to JFK” or going directly to the Google Flights website. You’ll see a map featuring your starting point and your destination, and a list of flights below that.
A video explains how Google Flight Search works:
It’s a pretty neat and simple service. You can search, as with any other travel site, for flights leaving on specific dates. If you want to avoid red-eyes, you can specify a time of day you’d like your flight to leave at. (Let’s face it, if you’re traveling from west to east late at night across the continental U.S., there’s no way you’re going to get enough sleep. Plus, have you tried sleeping in a coach seat?)
If you belong to a frequent flyer program, you can search for flights on airlines belonging to the Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance programs, as well as any airline you wish. You can also choose between connecting or non-stop flights, or even a specific airport you’d like to connect through.
If your travel plans are flexible, you can specify nearby airports, such as Oakland or San Jose, like in the video above, if you live in the Bay Area and want to avoid SFO’s notorious weather-based delays. Or you may want to fly into Laguardia or Newark instead of JFK when visiting the Big Apple.
You can also view a calendar that shows when your flight is going to be the cheapest. When you’ve found your perfect flight, you can book it right then via the airline’s website.
Although Google’s flight search is only available in the U.S., it’s only a matter of time before they expand it to other countries.
If you like this, be sure to check out our posts on a concept Airbus see-through plane and Google Plus business profiles.
