I recently searched for flights via Google Flights (for Frontier). The price shown for the exact same itinerary was ~$50 more on Google Flights than when I used my smartphone on a different network (disabled WiFi), going directly on Frontier's website. This could be because Google counted for things like, for example, 1 checked bag when comparing all flights. I don't have enough knowledge on the matter, but I will ab…
counter to that, I was looking at flights yesterday and Google Flights and compared it directly to the airlines prices on their site. I saved nearly a grand.
Once their algorithm can predict prices to a certain level of accuracy, they can effectively offer investment hedging to the public for free, and use the publicity to drive commissions on referrals. Unlike other commodities whose value is subject to numerous economic forces, the pricing is set directly (by the airlines), and it is likely that simply by observing their pricing over time a sophisticated Google algorith…
But can't the airlines then introduce random price spikes into their own algorithm just to abuse Google?
That's ridiculous, if they had an AI that could accurately predict prices, they would quickly become one of the largest, most powerful corporations in the world.
Once their algorithm can predict prices to a certain level of accuracy, they can effectively offer investment hedging to the public for free, and use the publicity to drive commissions on referrals. Unlike other commodities whose value is subject to numerous economic forces, the pricing is set directly (by the airlines), and it is likely that simply by observing their pricing over time a sophisticated Google algorith…
But can't the airlines then introduce random price spikes into their own algorithm just to abuse Google?
This will abuse the airline's other customers as well. Nobody likes prices that jump around wildly for no reason.
I would never book flight or hotel through 3rd party portal unless there's a substantial discount. Booking direct work better 90% of the time.
I feel like that is a recipe for getting price gouged. Or do you search for trips with 3rd party tools and then book it directly?
Most airlines show the same price on their site that I find on the aggregators. The exception is multi-itinerary tickets that can save money, but are risky since you are booking separate, multiple tickets.
If most tickets for that airline come from Google then that airline has little incentive to burn Google with its pricing practices.
They definitely have an incentive to take advantage of Google. If an airline regularly drops the price, and Google keeps refunding the price difference out of their own pockets, word will get out. People are going to preferentially book on that airline, knowing that the day before the flight they're going to get a big rebate. That brand loyalty will remain even if Google kicks them off of their platform. Moreover, as…
But... why? Google is refunding passengers, not the airlines. The airline already sold an expensive ticket thanks to Google.
Why in the world would you attack a business partner that brings you customers in such a strange way?
My question is, with Google's pretty much non-existent customer service (unless you're on G-suite), how difficult is the process going to be to get to a human if you want to make a claim that they weren't the lowest price?
Super anecdotal obviously, but very very difficult. Bought some flights on Scandinavian Air through Google Flights that included multiple checked bags for my wife and I about a year ago. Upon arrival at the airport in Gothenburg, they were very insistent we hadn't paid for bags and had to pay the exorbitant fees for checking bags on the spot. We essentially could not figure out how to contact anyone at Google Flights…
That's also partly on the airline. I recently had a similar experience with a ticket booked through I think Expedia. Bags on the return flight were supposed to be included. When we checked in, the machine wanted to charge for bags. We showed the agent the booking email, she made a quick call, and waived the bag fee. It was odd to me from the start that bags were included only on the return flight, but I attributed it to international travel.
Some airlines such as Alaska and Southwest already offer this but the pain is monitoring the drops for your fare class etc. If Google is automating that, then more power to them!
Google Flights doesn't get pricing for Southwest: https://www.google.com/flights?hl=en#flt=/m/01cx_.CMH.2019-0...
Southwest don't distribute indirectly to leisure travellers, so you won't find them in any booking tool (except corporate travel mgmt solutions)
It is an international flight that's 6+ months away? And the exact same flights (not just same days etc) Because that's the only time I can remember seeing something like that.
It's USA to Canada in less than 2 months.
I was thinking it might be a domestic Canadian flight. The high average price and high variability fit the standard pattern for our domestic flights as well.