Google Flights used to be great, what happened?
Posted by badstallion@reddit | Shoestring | View on Reddit | 100 comments
The date grid still works but the actual results are full of sketchy travel agencies and prices that change the second you click through. Trying to find European flights for summer and it's been a pain.
SafetySecondADV@reddit
I still like Google Flights, especially for the fly to anywhere feature. I'm often flexible on dates and trips so it helps me narrow it down while looking at a large amount of options. I do book direct 100% of the time though.
Honest-Western1042@reddit
Same, also kayak.com/explore
ErebosGR@reddit
https://www.is-boycott.com/en/c/kayak
Infamous-Zebra-359@reddit
Keep your politics out of this
False_Pressure_6324@reddit
From the river to the sea
Infamous-Zebra-359@reddit
Whatever this nonsense is you can fold up three times bend over and insert it into a hole of your choosing
kirinlikethebeer@reddit
Nice site. Exactly what I’ve been looking for to keep from giving my money to crappy purposes.
Candid-Hyena-4247@reddit
Tedious you are
ellsego@reddit
In case you haven’t noticed google everything is shitty now… Google maps is another good example of this.
gatodefogo@reddit
What happened to Google maps ?
BoatEqual4214@reddit
Originally the guidance used to be better than Apple maps but now it's complete opposite. Too bad Apple maps is total garbage for POI discovery, returning results from across the country.
muntaqim@reddit
That's why you shouldn't use either. Waze for driving + Osmand for walking (fully offline too).
sskarupa@reddit
Google owns Waze . Acquired in 2013
DigitalFStopper@reddit
Israeli company originally if I recall. Google bought it to avoid competition. Waze is leaps and bounds better.
SnooHesitations9295@reddit
Yes, but it's still 10x better in directions than google maps.
muntaqim@reddit
It don't matter, it's better than Google maps. If you don't like it, I highly recommend Osmand. 100% offline
lordgroguthesmallest@reddit
You're not wrong, which is why I am forced to keep both Apple and Google Maps on my phone. I hate Google Maps' guidance but much prefer it for trip planning and discovery over Apple.
LamboForWork@reddit
and they're Adding ads
triblogcarol@reddit
I noticed. I had trouble getting to the directions start because a big ad was on the way.
like_shae_buttah@reddit
I use Apple Maps for directions and Google Maps for discovery and street view.
10001111@reddit
Search on Google Maps since they’re great at search. Copy and paste the address in Apple Maps.
Doogers7@reddit
Some common issues in my city…
If your destination is on the left side of the road at a red light, Google will route you to drive past the location then take 3 right turns to arrive.
The route includes 2 miles down a straight road, Google will have you turn right then left so you run parallel with the road you should have stayed on for a mile, then have you turn back onto the original road.
You don’t even notice unless you’re paying real close attention as it is only easily noticeable if you manually zoom out on the map.
TemperMe@reddit
Idk if it still is but that’s a setting. You can have it limit left hand turns because a left hand turn is the most dangerous thing you do daily in a vehicle. Even the post office maps their drivers routes so that they limit left hand turns
-smileygirl-@reddit
I did not know this. Thank you
Doogers7@reddit
I should have been more clear, my fault. Google only wants me to do the 3 right turns sometimes, but enough to be annoying. I don’t see that option in my settings.
Regarding the US post office maps that makes sense as the vehicles are right hand drive to access mailboxes out of the window. Making a left turn in a right hand drive vehicle from the right side of the road definitely increases the danger.
TwoAmps@reddit
I’d love to find that setting because Google Maps, with its stairstep approach in the destination, keeps insisting on unprotected left turns in the middle of a block…when there’s a stoplight with a left turn signal two blocks and 30 seconds away.
Wise-Reflection-7400@reddit
Everyone here is giving you general reasons but the one related to this actual post is that Google Maps always shows you hotel prices from some dodgy website first so when you click on a cheap price on the map and look at how to book the official website is always really expensive. Makes using Google Maps for finding hotels based on price practically unusable
SongBirdplace@reddit
Waze is now the best Google Maps for driving. The base maps is best for public transport and walking.
TemperMe@reddit
Isn’t Waze powered by Google Maps?
SongBirdplace@reddit
Yes. However, the routing information is different. Waze is built to be car only. Google Maps does everything.
Few-Passenger6461@reddit
They send you whatever way they feel like it. Not the fastest route.
Prize_Box4233@reddit
I took a trip recently (Chicago metro - not a remote location) and Google Maps consistently did me wrong on routes. It was a frustrating disaster. I’ve never liked Apple Maps but that was enough to convince me to give it another try.
Direct_Researcher901@reddit
Tell me about it. Recently moved and there is only one possible way to get to my house. However, Google Maps believes that people can totally get there by driving into a random neighborhood on the other side of a literal canal. Google Maps thinks people can just jump the canal I guess with their cars?
whatanugget@reddit
I'm so sick of Google maps saying to turn at [insert store name here] instead of the street name. It's so distracting and annoying. I wish I could opt out of it
SeaDry1531@reddit
I think Google is getting us prepared to pay for to a "premium maps" that works like the old version.
mostlyfire@reddit
I swear it was perfect until one day after an update on my OS on my iPhone all of a sudden Google Maps was glitchy and weird and not as good as before the update.
My tinfoil hat theory? Apple found a sneaky way of hindering it so people were forced to use Apple Maps instead. Which is worse
Vintage-X@reddit
Nah, it's bad on Android too. I mean, Apple maps once routed me into a lake (my job provides me with an iPhone so I try out both), so it's not that bad, but it feels like it's giving directions for Waymo and not humans now.
xdavidwattsx@reddit
Actually you can thank the EU for this. Their endless competition lawsuits means Google must include results from all 3rd parties as equal results even though they may be scammy sites
Ill-Refrigerator9653@reddit
The UI is cooked now
BubblyCactus123@reddit
Add to that that the airlines don’t list all their flights in the aggregators like Google, Kayak, etc. I learned this during the blizzard in February. The only way to know is to go each airlines’ pages directly and search. (There are sites that show you every route that’s out there, but they don’t show you availability or cost, just that the route exists).
alliephillie@reddit
I'm interested in a site that shows every available route. Where can I go to see that? Then I can just go to the carrier site and book directly
Resident-Banana-7883@reddit
AI bro
Difficult_Tea6136@reddit
0% confidence in the output of AI for stuff like this
Resident-Banana-7883@reddit
ok so find a website that just uses AI instead lol
Difficult_Tea6136@reddit
Just keeping on recommending AI is idiotic
Resident-Banana-7883@reddit
don't worry, you won't even know the website is using AI
rickyman20@reddit
Most don't use AI for this kind of shit because it would be expensive and unreliable. This isn't a complicated problem that requires AI mate...
Difficult_Tea6136@reddit
This contradicts your previous post. Hard to find a site that uses AI if you wouldn’t even know it uses it
Resident-Banana-7883@reddit
yeah dude.. I was chuckling to myself that you won't ask AI when chances are what ever website you'll find probably uses... AI
its called irony
Difficult_Tea6136@reddit
There's no irony.
I check on the airlines websites directly. I also check an the aggregators.
AI isn't necessary for price comparisons. There's no "irony" here. You just keep randomly saying "AI" without any knowledge of what it is supposed to achieve.
djolk@reddit
I tried using AI for this, I was looking for flights to certain airports that only used a single airline, AI just lied to me.
DKtwilight@reddit
You mean Always Incorrect? 😂
BubblyCactus123@reddit
Flight Connections (as another commenter mentioned) is the one I’ve used
ht7896@reddit
FlightConnections is your best bet
Ekalips@reddit
Sometimes Google flights will put such options way down the list below all 96h trip with 24 flights instead of 1h direct flight for x100 the price with "price unknown" label.
So your search result might be
a few normal flights
egregious flights for x10 the cost and x5 the transfers
actually more normal flights but with "price unknown"
PhineasQuimby@reddit
I use ITA Matrix. It is the same search engine as Google Flights minus the ads. Once I find a few flights that look good, I switch to the airline sites, although they are getting dodgy too with dynamic pricing.
MastodonAccomplished@reddit
They try to scale flight costs according to your specific person. You have to do it at a library, so they have no knowledge of your history of flying.
ExternalEcstatic1451@reddit
Skyscanner for me is the best.
Vivid_Sun_5636@reddit
A while ago, Google acquired ITA software - which made an amazing tool that directly queried GDSs (global distribution systems that airlines use for ticketing and travel agents used for reservations). Tool (ITA matrix was a public version) was mostly text based, but was very flexible and powerful. Google used this as the basis of google flights and although the results were not quite as good, the interface was so easy with no learning curve.
More recently Google flights has moved away from using this direct GDS search at its core to being more Google-like: it is no longer trying to be an unbiased, hyper-flexible computational search engine, instead, it has morphed into a curated advertising and booking marketplace. This means that it doesn’t just give you the raw info ordered by cheapest, it decides in some way what it thinks are the best flights for you (or the ones that make money for google) .
It has also reduced the use of GDS (these cost the agent and the airlines money) and uses more airline direct API. Part of that means that special prices available to travel agents including OTAs are not available (unless the travel agent has have some deal with Google), and some routings can’t be ticketed directly by an airline even though it can be priced.
Presumably this has been the plan all along - make an amazing free search tool that people come to rely on and become habitualised to. Before making it worse but much more profitable for the company. We might end up back at the situation where a good travel agent will beat a a google search followed by buying direct from an airline/OTA.
grimgroth@reddit
You can still use ITA Matrix, although it is not as straightforward to use as Google Flights
Vivid_Sun_5636@reddit
There are also browser extensions that can translate Matrix itineraries into bookable ticketing links with OTAs/airlines
But it’s very much not as simple as Google Flights which used to get basically the same results. The mass market is going to stay with now impaired Google Flights or move to SkyScanner or Kayak. Nice that Google let ITA Matrix carry on, but annoying they nerfed their own user-friendly tool that was originally based on it. But it might reward people who put some effort in with better routings and prices.
vegiemite@reddit
Suggested extensions to massage the data and purchase links?
manlikethomas@reddit
I would recommend trying out Skyscanner. It's better than Google Flights in certain aspects.
tesadactyl@reddit
Agreed! For tickets to Europe I also suggest flying to Portugal (or another cheap location, but Portugal keeps coming up as the cheapest for me when I look) and then flying within Europe on a different budget airline.
K04free@reddit
Just give me direct
ginsunuva@reddit
Yeah no way I’m ever taking slow-ass, price-gouging, baggage-weighing TAP Airlines ever again
Up2Eleven@reddit
Google is the epitome of enshittification.
greyhounds1992@reddit
The fact you can't put your destination and fly from x to y only y to x
CajunDragon@reddit
Google Hotels also defaults the map price to the lowest, skeezy fly by night agency.
MoonbeamStarcrush@reddit
And hotels have learned to scam the system to show lower rates than they are actually selling. Google doesn’t care its products are going to shit.
reol7x@reddit
I haven't been able to use that for a long time.
I wonder if there's a skyscanner for hotels?😅
ChestChance6126@reddit
I still use it for the date flexibility and map view, but I rarely book through the random third party sites anymore. Feels like every great deal disappears the second you click it. Lately, I’ve had better luck using Google Flights to spot patterns, then going directly to the airline site. Not always the absolute cheapest, but way less stressful when plans change. Summer Europe pricing this year also feels brutal in general.
Successful_Spirit361@reddit
Idk if it's just me but their services has been so sh*tty lately
MotorChampionship735@reddit
Do not use Go To Gate to book flights, I made the mistake of trusting google flights results as it hasn’t failed me until now and it was a huge scam.
Fit-Drop-6577@reddit
Can you share more details?
MotorChampionship735@reddit
I was booking a multi-city itinerary and Flights suggested Go To Gate in addition to booking directly through multiple airlines separately. Tried it, first attempt said transaction failed. It didn’t seem weird (yet) so I tried again, this time successful. I get a confirmation email, then almost immediately get a cancellation/transaction refunded email. This all showed up right on my credit card, except that I was also charged for the failed transaction with no refund. I call, was told that it was past the deadline to request a refund (bc I didn’t see this until my cc statement a week or two later), ask for a manager, was told one would call and never did. I keep trying to call back, but the automated voice message that picks up changed to saying something about their system being overwhelmed by calls related to Middle East flight delays (this was right when the Iran war started) and just hangs up on you with no chance to talk to a person. Eventually my credit card refunded me through a fraud claim.
Temporary_Error_3780@reddit
Traveling to Europe is just expensive rn with all of the fuel shortages. Your best bet is just to use the filters for google flights. Travel credit cards have portals that work well and sometimes have offers too.
fleeabroad@reddit
Ha, the switching prices are not really Google's problem its that the airlines change them really quickly now (there might only be a couple left for a given fare class and you literally might have been beaten by seconds) also Google's cache might be an hour or two out of date.
Familiar_Eggplant_76@reddit
Maybe you’re too early to shop for next summer? Because it’s certainly quite late to find anything like a decent fare to Europe this summer.
Yamilgamest@reddit
Google Flights is basically useless now. Try Momondo and Kiwi instead, try comparing them and I'm sure you'll find something
SCDWS@reddit
Uhh Momondo also lists tons of OTAs and Kiwi is an OTA itself lol
alliephillie@reddit
What's ota mean?
lilbitindian@reddit
OTA are generally much cheaper and if someone cares about price then that is a major component.
SCDWS@reddit
I'm on the same page as you. I don't have issues booking with OTAs, but I know plenty of people on reddit do.
baskaat@reddit
You can filter out OTA‘s on momondo by clicking the airlines only filter .
SCDWS@reddit
Yeah I mean if that's your goal, then it's probably the best flight aggregator to use
_kirillv@reddit
From which airports?
User5281@reddit
No one, not even google, can keep with the constantly shifting prices. My hypothesis is that this is dynamic pricing bullshit from the airlines more than a change in google flights’ algorithms.
adeadhead@reddit
Nah. Enshitification at it's absolutely most textbook right here.
dwyrm@reddit
enukid@reddit
You have to try 2-3 different sources, if u want to find good deals
MolimoTheGiant@reddit
All services are intentionally being made worse to push AI usage and make the general population become reliant upon it. Then, when people stop double-checking AI answers and just take them as truth, it's all over.
WarmAcadia4100@reddit
I always am sure to filter by stops and duration (and usually departure and arrival times)
english_gritts@reddit
Just stick with the "Best" view as opposed to "Cheapest" and the OTA's are filtered out.
kloppie@reddit
Why dont people use Skyscanner? Its been almost perfect for me for a couple of years.
NoSuggestion2836@reddit
I used Skyscanner years ago, then got in the habit of Google Flights because it was so much smoother of an experience. Might have to go back to Skyscanner and give it another try based on this thread
develop99@reddit
This has always been the case for me with Skyscanner. The prices differ and the calendar shows tons of dates with just a magnifying glass, rather than a price. Google Flights is still better (and has always had the Kiwis of the world in their booking options)
gothaggis@reddit
i haven't seen this at all, still works good for me - for us domestic flights anyway
Golly902@reddit
I used Google Flights for the first time to book an excellent price to and from Hawaii. Yay spring break! I knew I was purchasing 2 one way tickets. I did NOT realize one was being booked through a travel agency until I received confirmation emails.
The travel agency was Adamsvacations for our return flight. Received all the confirmations for the tickets. I bought early in July 2025. In January 2026 I went to add the tickets in the Hawaiian Airlines app and the locator code was not recognized. It’s a very long story after that but just know we ended up having to dispute this charge with our cc (we won) and had to buy a new more expensive flight. If you search that travel agency you will see I’m not the only one who had this problem. We were lucky we discovered it well before our trip and not when we were trying to check in for our flight.
Never again Google flights.
Plantirina@reddit
Yeah, sometimes I'm confused by Google flights... I was looking for a domestic flight, and all the flights were over 1500$ with a layover in various neighboring countries but if I go direct with the airline, the flight was max 100$.