Discover Affordable Holiday Travel With Google Flights' New Feature

Looking to book cheap flights over some upcoming holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas? If you are, then you're in luck! A new feature has been launched on Google Flights that enables travelers to find more affordable flight options. This new "Cheapest" tab is designed to help you save money on your holiday travels.

According to Google's latest travel trends report, October has been identified as the best time to book flights in the U.S. for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This means that if you're planning to travel during these busy seasons, now is the time to act! Starting this week, passengers can enter their trip details on Google Flights and easily access the "Cheapest" tab to discover various options that come with even lower prices.

A spokesperson for Google shared with Newsweek that this feature will be launching globally over the next two weeks. It will showcase a wider array of options with lower prices, including offers from online travel agents and alternative itineraries. This could mean longer layovers or booking different segments of your trip with multiple airlines, making it even easier for you to get the best deal possible.

With search interest for "layover flight(s)" reaching an all-time high in January, this new feature is especially timely. The "Cheapest" tab will cater to travelers who are open to multiple layovers or other trade-offs in exchange for the best flight deals. For example, you might find cheaper rates through a third-party booking site or by flying back to a different airport in the same city, such as departing from New York's LaGuardia and returning to JFK.

According to Google’s 2024 travel trends report, non-stop flights are typically 25% more expensive than flights with layovers. In terms of timing, the cheapest days of the week to fly are Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, which can save you up to 13% compared to flying on the weekend. If international trips are excluded, potential savings can jump to 20%!

For those planning to travel in the U.S. for Thanksgiving, it is best to book your flights 45 days before departure, with the ideal booking window being between 26 and 59 days out. For Christmas, the back half of October is the prime time to secure the best deals, as prices tend to be lowest 58 days before departure.

As we look ahead to spring breaks, the report suggests that the lowest prices for domestic trips in March or April can be found 44 days before departure. For summer vacations in July and August, travelers may snag last-minute bargains, with prices peaking 21 days prior to departure.

With travel expected to hit record highs this year, global tourism spending is forecast to reach $2 trillion. As per an October report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger demand in August surged by 8.6% compared to last year, indicating a strong rebound in travel.

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