Google now tells you the cheapest dates to book a flight: Here’s how

Google recently updated Google Flights with more information that can help you save money by booking a trip during certain windows of time.

Say, for example, you’re planning a family vacation to Florida in the winter and want to book your flights. Google will tell you whether prices are lower or higher than average right now, as well as when to book the flight to secure the best deal.

I tested it myself using a trip to Miami from Dec. 5 to Dec. 19 as an example. Google said the prices are lower than usual, about $58 for a round trip on Frontier Airlines. That suggests it’s worth booking now.

In a separate example, I tried booking a trip to Cancun from March 6 to March 13. Google said the price, about $282, was typical, but that prices would likely go down if I could wait to book the flight between Nov. 11 and Feb. 9.

“The lowest prices for similar trips to Cancun are usually found about 1-4 months between takeoff,” Google’s Flights page told me. “Prices during this time are around $40 cheaper on average.”

• You can try it for yourself by going to https://flights.google.com on your phone.
• Enter where you want to go and your departure dates, then tap “Done.”
• Google will tell you at the top, before the list of departing flights, whether the prices are typical or not. Tap the down arrow to learn more, such as when it’s the best time to book.

That’s it!

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