How to Use Google Flights to Find Cheap International Flights
In this guide, I'll show you how our family uses Google Flights to compare airports, find cheaper travel dates, and discover affordable international destinations.
Google Flights is one of our favorite tools for finding affordable international flights for our family.
Why We Use Google Flights to Find Deals
While there are aggregators that can do some of the work for you, the biggest perk of Google Flights is that it’s completely free to use. There’s no secret upcharge. If you’re willing to put in a little time, you can find some great deals.
We’re quickly able to compare the costs of flying out of different nearby airports to snag the most affordable flight.
And if you don’t have a specific destination in mind, the Explore tab even allows you to set specific dates and compare multiple prices to fly to multiple destinations for that range.
Step 1: Start With Flexible Travel Dates
Up to a year out, we decide on what time of year we’d like to travel. Because we homeschool, we can be somewhat flexible here.
Flexibility is a huge advantage because sometimes prices vary significantly even if you move your trip forward or backward by a couple of days. I’m talking hundreds in potential savings. (Keep reading to see a real-life example below.)
Sometimes we have a specific destination in mind. Sometimes we have a number of potential destinations we’re interested.
With Google Flights, I’m able to compare flights to multiple destinations. So if we’re flexible with where we want to go, too, we can find some great deals.
Step 2: Compare Multiple Departure Airports
We have a few airport options nearby, so I start by picking a random week during the month we want to travel and comparing flights to London, for instance, from the three airports.
Then, I compare prices from those three airports to the other destinations we’re considering.
Often, one will jump out as more affordable.
Step 3: Use the Google Flights Calendar to Find Cheaper Dates
Then I go back to the search parameters for the best option and click on the departure/return calendar option.
Let’s say I pick Nashville to Rome from Oct 1 - 8. Once I click the departure/return date, prices populate for the full calendar.
Now, I can see that if we depart on Oct 1, we’d pay $3,990. (I’m writing this in June 2026 while fuel prices are way up, but we’ll go with it for the sake of this example.)
But when I look at other dates, I can see that an earlier departure date has its price highlighted in green. That’s alerting me that that’s a better deal.
If we left three days earlier on September 28, we’d only pay $3,220. That’s a $770 difference!
That’s why flexibility is such a game-changer if that’s an option for you.
Step 4: Use the Explore Tool When You're Open to Different Destinations
If we’re doing a longer trip or are open to multiple destination options, I may even change strategies and use Google Flights’ Explore tab to search flights to all of Europe for a specific date range.
(I’m using Europe as an example here, but you can also search by desired country or even type in “Anywhere.”
Another strategy for flights to Europe in particular is that if I find something significantly cheaper than other options, we may fly into that affordable city, and then fly a low-cost European carrier like Easy Jet or take a train to the city where we actually want to go for our main destination.
Mistakes We Avoid When Using Google Flights
Family Seating Costs
Now, there is a big caveat here if you’re traveling with kids.
Some airlines guarantee family seating, and others don’t. If they don’t, we’d have to pay to upgrade our seats, so the price shown on Google Flights isn’t the actual price. And the difference can be HUNDREDS of dollars for four people! Sometimes that makes a so-called deal actually more expensive than other options.
Verify the Prices Shown on the Airline’s Site
Once in a blue moon, the prices shown in Google Flights are wrong. I’ve had a couple instances where I thought I’d found a great deal, but it was only showing me a one-way flight (even though I’d selected roundtrip).
Before I get excited, I always click through to the actual airline’s booking page to make sure the final price is what I think it is.
Check for Major Events
It’s also wise to Google your destination to make sure you won’t be there for major events or holidays if you don’t want to be. The main concerns would be that things may potentially close down, roads may be blocked off, or their may be transportation delays.
Quick FAQs
Is Google Flights the cheapest way to search for flights?
Google Flights is completely free to use. There are some other free search tools out there, but Google Flights has been the most helpful for us.
Does Google Flights include baggage fees?
No, but after clicking through your initial search you can filter results by a number of things, including carry-on bags.
Is Google Flights accurate?
Most of the time, but I have caught a few misleading results. Always click through at the end of your search to the actual airline’s site. There, you’ll see the total price and can verify that the deal you found was accurate.
How far in advance should I start checking Google Flights?
The sooner the better. Google Flights shows flights nearly a year in advance. However, different airlines release their flight options at different times.
Does Google Flights show award flights?
No, but there are some other sites that do. We’ll discuss those in a future article.
