Google Flights - Changes, Updates, Glitches and Help [consolidated thread]
Jul 5, 2018, 8:44 pm
#226
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
ITA Matrix has a redeye argument so I was hoping Google Flights might have similar.
Jul 5, 2018, 8:53 pm
#227
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,889
Not that I recall, but if you exclude both late night departures and also early morning arrivals, I would think that gets the job done in most cases even involving a connection? Unless it's a double connect maybe.
Jul 5, 2018, 9:06 pm
#228
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
Yes, this works most of the time, but I still see some redeyes. Hence my original request.
Jul 13, 2018, 2:28 am
#229
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 186
Is that the map feature gone now too? (mobile version). I can't seem to find it anywhere.
I was annoyed to be forced to use this new, ugly, extremely slow monstrosity, now I'm at the point where I've given up and just wish they found themselves new project and stopped working on it altogether... It's bad, but just leave it already, it's worse every time you touch it!
To destroy a good thing for no reason whatsoever. They must have too much time on their hands.
I was annoyed to be forced to use this new, ugly, extremely slow monstrosity, now I'm at the point where I've given up and just wish they found themselves new project and stopped working on it altogether... It's bad, but just leave it already, it's worse every time you touch it!
To destroy a good thing for no reason whatsoever. They must have too much time on their hands.
Jul 13, 2018, 5:13 am
#230
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
If travelers were GF's paying customers, they would be doing what's good for the travelers.
Jul 18, 2018, 8:34 am
#231
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BAEC back to silver, Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 406
This is still possible but now you have to enter one 3-letter code, wait a while for search result, then add another 3-letter code, wait a while, etc.
It was so much quicker and easier and once again I fail to understand how the perfect way it once worked would be a disadvantage to those travel providers.
Jul 18, 2018, 10:30 am
#232
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
As far as the ticket buying & searching, we are at the opposite ends of the transaction. Any tool that gives advantage to the buyer is automatically a disadvantage for the seller. GF put themselves in the middle of this somewhat similar to the mob. At first they just trashed the sellers business by giving the buyers a free access. Now that sellers are willing to pay up for some protection, GF has to make things more difficult for the buyers without shutting down the traffic completely.
Sep 2, 2018, 10:02 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 8
Google Flights and booking flights via the phone
I've been looking at business class seats from JFK to FCO for a potential trip in May 2019. Google Flights is suggesting combinations like Virgin Atlantic and BA (JFK-LHR-FCO), however when it comes time to book, it gives me Virgin's phone number. Is this something I can actually do via the phone (given that both airlines are competing brands) or is it Google just being weird? I looked up the flights separately but could not find a price anywhere near as cheap as the combo.
Sep 3, 2018, 7:51 am
#234
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA, CX, AS, DL / Hilton, SPG
Posts: 153
I've been looking at business class seats from JFK to FCO for a potential trip in May 2019. Google Flights is suggesting combinations like Virgin Atlantic and BA (JFK-LHR-FCO), however when it comes time to book, it gives me Virgin's phone number. Is this something I can actually do via the phone (given that both airlines are competing brands) or is it Google just being weird? I looked up the flights separately but could not find a price anywhere near as cheap as the combo.
Sep 17, 2018, 1:47 pm
#235
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Don't know if anyone else has noticed, but GF likes to error out on me when doing perfectly valid multi city searches. Results show for a split second, and if you don't click them in that split second, it will error out. Being able to click a result though makes it magically work.
Just another disappointment.
Just another disappointment.
Sep 17, 2018, 4:50 pm
#236
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,470
I also noticed that GF started to supress certain search results. I was looking at some routes between US and Africa the other day, and the fully expanded view of results showed no flights by the ME3 -- which was a bizarre outcome. Had to go to the multi-city option to get the desired flights.
Sep 20, 2018, 10:42 am
#237
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
GF has become increasingly useless as features have been progressively gutted. Today I saw that the Explore option (where you leave the destination empty but specify the dates) now ignores the dates and defaults to 'any time in the next 6 months'. Then you have to go back and fix it for the dates you actually want.
For anything other than vanilla returns or one-ways you should just forget it, and even for those you can no longer rely on them as they withhold results.
Google basically took the 30 pieces of silver and turned a decent tool into a big heap of useless.
For anything other than vanilla returns or one-ways you should just forget it, and even for those you can no longer rely on them as they withhold results.
Google basically took the 30 pieces of silver and turned a decent tool into a big heap of useless.
Sep 24, 2018, 2:24 pm
#238
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
What is a better alternative to Google Flights? I suspect that user friendliness has taken a backseat to monetization but I'm not sure what's better.
Sep 24, 2018, 10:24 pm
#239
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 186
I still use Google Flights for few certain things, but when it comes to majority of simple searches I just have no time or patience for it anymore.
Last edited by skyhighlander; Sep 25, 2018 at 12:02 am
Oct 1, 2018, 10:22 pm
#240
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,408
Google Flights - setting dates for search
Google Flights recently changed their search options (for me, anyway). When I enter specific dates and click search, the program defaults back to a "one week trip within next six months". 
Is there a way to change the search default to accept the days I want, without having to fix it every time?
I should add this only happens when I do a broad search without a destination selected. It doesn't happen when I choose both departure and destination airports.
Is there a way to change the search default to accept the days I want, without having to fix it every time?
I should add this only happens when I do a broad search without a destination selected. It doesn't happen when I choose both departure and destination airports.
Last edited by DavidDTW; Oct 1, 2018 at 11:15 pm