Google AI Mode Transforms Into AI-Powered Travel Agent With Flight Tracking & Hotel Booking

Google's AI Mode can now track flight prices, help book hotels, and more

Google is adding new ways for users to plan and book trips through AI Mode, its conversational search experience, the company announced on Thursday. Users will now be able to ask AI Mode to track flight prices, book hotels, and see the cost of flights and hotels in points or miles. The updates indicate that Google is looking to position AI Mode as an AI travel agent of sorts, as it's moving beyond simply helping users find information to actually handling parts of the trip-planning and booking process itself. Users can now describe to AI Mode when and where they want to fly, and the tool will display the best options available with the latest prices from more than 300 airlines and travel sites. If they're ready to book, they can go ahead and build their itinerary in AI Mode. If they want to wait and see if prices drop, they can ask something like "track these flight prices for me." They'll then get an email if prices change for the destination and dates they entered. Flight price tracking in AI Mode is now available in more than 180 countries. As for hotel booking, users will be able to discover and book their next hotel through a conversation with AI Mode. Users can tell AI Mode about their upcoming trip and their hotel preferences to get a list of options alongside reviews and key factors. Once they've found a hotel they like, they can ask AI Mode to help complete the booking. Then, they need to select the "Continue on Google" option that will appear alongside Google's integrated partners, which includes hotel chains and travel sites. From there, they can choose their room, review details such as the cancellation policy, and complete the booking with Google Pay. The tech giant notes that the hotel or booking platform will handle the booking and any customer service. Hotel booking in AI Mode has started rolling out in the U.S. in English and will be available over the coming weeks with offerings from Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Google also announced that AI Mode can now display the cost in points or miles for flights and hotels by asking something like "I want to travel from Atlanta to Miami using my AA miles. Help me find some options for nonstop flights departing Oct 9 and returning on Oct 12". Users will then see how many miles they need to book matching flights. The update is now available globally.

Google's AI Mode Can Track Flight Prices, Help You Book With Points or Miles

Google's latest update to its portfolio of AI travel tools includes one that can cut your expenses on a domestic flight to pocket change -- if you fly on one of the three airlines that serve that route. This new set of AI Mode-based travel search options includes one to look up the cost of a mileage booking using Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines' Atmos Rewards and American Airlines' AAdvantage program. A video shows a user requesting mileage-booking options on American for a round-trip flight from Atlanta to Miami using the conversational AI interface, followed by Google returning mileage-booking rates ranging from 22,500 miles to 26,000 miles, plus $12 in federal taxes and fees. It does not show AA's cash fares for that route, without which you can't determine if you're getting a better or worse-than-average return on your miles. With AAdvantage, you'll see travel bloggers cite a range of 1.3 cents to 1.5 cents of cash value per mile as the minimum to aim for. This search also includes no information on mileage-booking options elsewhere; for that, you'd need to go to another airline's site or use a specialized mileage comparison-shopping service like point.me. In addition to Alaska, Hawaiian, and American, Google is launching this search with three hotel chains: Choice Hotels International, Hilton, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Its announcement says "the coming weeks" will bring support for Air France and KLM's Flying Blue program, LATAM Airlines' LATAM Pass, and Lufthansa Group's Miles & More, as well as the hotel groups Accor and Hyatt. Of those programs, Flying Blue can offer outsized value with occasional sales, while Hyatt redemptions continue to offer a better deal than competing hotel programs even after recent devaluations. (The absence of the two US airlines that have leaned most heavily into technology in their passenger experience, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, is notable.) Google's new additions to the travel tools genre also include the ability to set up a watch for airfare changes, something you can already do in Google Flights via its regular interface using AI Mode. Google's video showcasing this option sees the user using Chrome on a phone, where chatting with a chatbot might be easier. The video does not indicate whether the chatbot supports Google Flights' option to hide basic-economy airfares, but that feature should be available. Once you set up a fare-tracking alert, you'll get an email advising you of any price changes Google has found. The last item to come off Google's baggage carousel of new features also puts AI Mode as an alternative interface to its existing travel search site: in this case, for booking hotels. This AI front-end can connect you to the booking systems at Choice Hotels International, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, as well as the travel-booking sites Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Priceline, and Trip.com. (Pro tip from a frequent traveler: You may not get hotel-reward points if you book through a third party.) A Google video shows AI Mode offering to check points rates through Marriott's Bonvoy program, even though that isn't mentioned in the miles-and-points portion of today's blog post. The hotel-booking tool is only available in the US. The other two new features are available everywhere you can use AI Mode, with notable exceptions found in the fine print: the very large destination that is the European Economic Area. AI flight price tracking won't be available there or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, nor will "some features" in miles-and-points search.

Google is turning AI Mode into an all-in-one travel agent

Google is also adding hotel booking directly through AI Mode in the US, letting you choose a room and pay with Google Pay through supported partners. We recently reported that Google made AI Mode in Search much more useful for trip planning. You could connect supported third-party apps, compare live flight and hotel information, look for recommendations, and even build an itinerary without constantly bouncing between different searches. Now, the company is taking that a step further. AI Mode can keep an eye on flight prices for you, show what flights and hotels will cost in points or miles, and even help you book a hotel once you've found the right one. So, it's moving beyond helping you plan a trip and getting much closer to helping you actually book it. The addition I suspect most people will appreciate is flight price tracking. Google Flights has offered price alerts for years, but Google is bringing the feature directly into conversations with AI Mode. You can tell AI Mode where you want to go, roughly when you'd like to travel, and any other requirements you have. It can then pull current fares from more than 300 airlines and travel websites and show you relevant options. If the prices aren't quite tempting enough yet, you can simply ask AI Mode to track them. For example, say you're planning a week in Tokyo in November and have already narrowed things down to a couple of flights, but tickets are still more expensive than you'd like. Instead of remembering to search for the same flights every morning, you can ask AI Mode to watch the prices. Once you confirm the alert, Google will email you when the fare changes. And if you decide the price is good enough, you can continue building your itinerary in AI Mode before heading to the airline or booking service to actually buy your ticket. Google says flight price tracking through AI Mode is available in more than 180 countries and territories. AI Mode is also becoming more helpful for anyone sitting on a pile of airline miles or hotel points. Rather than visiting individual rewards websites to figure out whether you have enough points for a trip, you can ask AI Mode directly. Give it your destination, dates, and the rewards program you want to use, and it can show how many points or miles matching flights currently require. The same works for hotels. Say you've collected Hilton points and you're planning a weekend in Chicago. You can ask it to find suitable hotels and show their current points rates, giving you a much quicker idea of whether redeeming your rewards makes sense or whether you're better off saving them for another trip. This feature is available globally, although the number of supported rewards programs is still fairly small. Google is starting with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Choice Hotels, Hilton, and Wyndham. Accor, Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM Airlines, and Lufthansa Group are expected to join the list in the coming weeks. The final addition takes AI Mode even further into traditional travel-agent territory: Google can now help you book a hotel. You can describe the place you're looking for. Maybe you need somewhere close to downtown, with strong reviews and free breakfast, while staying below $200 a night. AI Mode can return a visual selection of hotels and surface useful information to help you compare them. Hotel booking is beginning to roll out in English in the US over the coming weeks. Google is launching it with Booking.com, Choice Hotels, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. We've been able to track flight prices, redeem points, and book hotels online for years, but that usually means jumping between several websites and apps. AI Mode is slowly bringing those scattered pieces together. That could make planning and booking a trip a lot quicker and easier.

Google AI Mode adds flight price tracking, hotel booking, & more travel tools

Google is rolling out a trio of updates that boost AI Mode's travel capabilities, starting with the ability to get price alerts for flights. Google Flights price tracking is coming directly into AI Mode. This integration starts with the ability to "describe where and when you want to fly." You'll see a list of flights and prices from "more than 300 partner airlines and travel sites." If you're ready to book, you can build your full itinerary in AI Mode and buy your tickets through the airline's website or your preferred booking platform. Otherwise, you can follow up with "track these flight prices for me." AI Mode will have you confirm the route, dates, and filters. Price changes will be delivered via email. Flight price tracking in AI Mode is now rolled out in over 180 countries/territories. AI Mode can now show the cost of flights and hotels in points or miles. At launch, this feature supports Alaska Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Choice Hotels International, Hilton, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Support for Accor, Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM Airlines, and Lufthansa Group will be available in the coming weeks. This lets you ask: "I want to travel from Atlanta to Miami using my AA miles. Help me find some options for nonstop flights departing Oct 9 and returning on Oct 12." ...you'll see how many miles you need to book matching flights, based on the latest data directly from our partners. The final travel update for AI Mode is hotel booking. This lets you chat about your preferences to get a list of hotels "complete with guest reviews and key factors to compare." Once found, "Continue on Google" will appear for supported partners. From there, it's just a few taps to pick your room type, review details like the cancellation policy, and complete the booking securely via Google Pay. When you book hotels through AI Mode, the hotel or booking platform will act as the merchant of record and handle any customer service. This is rolling out now in the US with support for Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

AI Mode in Google Search just got better at helping you plan and book vacations -- here are the 3 new ways to use it

It may have taken a while for me to adjust to seeing AI Mode become a permanent part of the Google Search bar, but I've slowly but surely gotten used to using it in certain circumstances. Asking it to summarize the most up-to-date news, requesting it to help in listing highly reviewed tech product recommendations and even telling it to build YouTube Music-powered playlists are just some of the ways Google Search's AI Mode has assisted me. Planning and booking a trip with AI Mode's help has come across my mind, but I've never had the urge to see that experiment through. But after coming across an official Google blog post that details AI Mode's three newest features that are perfectly tailored toward helping everyone have an easier vacation planning experience, I'm now inclined to do so. Here are the three primary updates that have come to AI Mode in Google Search that help ease the stress that comes with booking your next major getaway. Worthwhile trip-planning features, thanks to AI Mode AI Mode in Google Search now allows you to use Google Flights' price tracking tool to show you the prices of numerous flights, which is determined by telling the chatbot where you want to go and when you want to go. You can follow that action up by telling AI Mode to track certain flight prices, which will make Google send you an email alert whenever the final destination and travel dates are changed. This feature is currently available for use in locations and languages where AI Mode is usable, excluding countries and territories in the European Economic Area. Secondly, AI Mode can now show you the cost in points and miles for flights and hotels. Simply tell the chatbot where you want to go, when you want to travel and the accompanying airline's reward points/miles you want to use for that flight and AI Mode will show you the latest info from Google's participating airline and hotel partners. Those partners include Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Choice Hotels International, Hilton and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Further support for Accor, Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM Airlines, and Lufthansa Group will arrive in the coming weeks. And finally, AI Mode users can directly book their next hotel stay. Once you've detailed your trip and room preferences to the chatbot, it will bring up a variety of hotel options alongside trusted guest reviews. Once you've decided what hotel you're planning to stay at, you can use Google Play to complete the booking and payment. This feature will begin rolling out in the U.S. in English. Over the next couple of weeks, the following partners will become integrated with this feature: Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Final thoughts Finding a flight, discovering how much that flight & a hotel stay cost in miles/reward points and booking a hotel altogether with AI Mode in Google Search sounds like a useful proposition I may have to take up at some point. With the following three prompts, you'll have a good idea of what to ask AI Mode to take advantage of its three new travel-friendly tools. Plus, you'll have a prompt template to work with when trying to come up with ways to explain your future vacation plans: * Help me find some nonstop flights from New York to San Diego from August 31 to September 6. * I want to travel from Chicago to Miami using my AA miles. Help me find some options for nonstop flights departing on September 7 and returning on September 13. * I'm planning a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. What are some good hotel options around $2000 close to Lower Broadway, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum? Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.

3 new ways to plan and book travel in Search

Planning a trip comes with lots of moving parts and countless options to consider. With AI Mode in Search, you can already get real-time data to compare flights and hotels, find the best recommendations across the web, and craft the perfect itinerary. Now, we're upgrading that experience with new ways to track flight prices, view points or miles rates, and book your dream hotel, right in AI Mode. Ask AI Mode to track flight prices for you. Today, we're bringing Google Flights' popular price tracking feature directly into AI Mode, letting you set up price alerts as you chat, without breaking your flow. Describe where and when you want to fly and AI Mode will show you the best options available with the latest prices from more than 300 partner airlines and travel sites. If you're ready to book, you can build your full itinerary in AI Mode and buy your tickets through the airline's website or your preferred booking platform. Want to wait and see if prices drop? Just ask something like "track these flight prices for me." Once you confirm, you'll get an email if prices change for the destination and dates you have in mind, so you can jump on deals the moment they hit your inbox. Flight price tracking in AI Mode is now available in more than 180 countries and territories around the world.