With its new price guarantee program, Google Flights is trying to simplify the stressful process of finding the cheapest airline ticket.
Beginning on April 3, Google announced it would test a program to track prices even after users have made travel reservations. Customers may get a refund for the difference if a cheaper price is discovered.
The initiative applies only to flights departing from the United States. A colorful price guarantee icon appears when a qualifying flight is presented. By promising that the price will not go down, Google Flights has proven that it is willing to back up its claims. (or your money back).
To put it mildly, it’s challenging to locate a route on Google Flights with a price guarantee as the program is still in its early testing stages.
There are additional restrictions, assuming you discover a trip that qualifies with the price-guarantee badge. You can only make straight bookings on Google Flights (not by clicking through to the airline’s website), and if the fare difference is $5 or less, you won’t be entitled to a refund. Refunds are also limited to $500 in a single year. You won’t be entitled to a refund if you cancel the trip.
Google will monitor flight prices after you make your reservation to see if they change. Google will email you to notify you of any price changes if the fare for your route decreases.
Google Flights will transfer the refund into your Google Pay account. Customers must therefore obtain the app 90 days before departure in order to claim the difference. Customers can expect the refund to appear under the app’s “Explore” tab, which shows earned rewards, within 48 hours.
According to a Google spokesperson, the major airlines with the “Book on Google” option are presently Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.
Although the price guarantee only applies once a customer books the flight, Google warned that if an airline updates fares more quickly than they upload to Google Flights, it may not be able to give the guarantee.
According to the Google spokesperson, early testing had received favorable feedback.
“There’s really no downside for the traveler since it’s free to get the guarantee,” the spokesperson said. “Likewise, we’ve had productive conversations with airlines and they’re interested in how this program might evolve.”
Prior to the pandemic, Google tested the price guarantees in 2019, but the program was promptly suspended.