How to use AI to find cheap flights?

Google Flights added an AI-powered “Flight Deals” tool in 2026 that works differently from standard search. Instead of searching for a specific destination and date, you tell it your departure airport, whether you want to travel on specific dates or have flexible timing, and your budget. The AI then surfaces deals it predicts will be good value — routes where prices are below historical averages or about to drop. You can turn on notifications and get an alert when a deal matches your preferences.

Hopper has been using a similar approach longer: its AI analyzes billions of price points per day and tells you whether to buy now, wait, or watch specific routes. It claims to predict price movements with 95% accuracy within a 2-day window, and it will hold a fare for you at a set price while you decide.

For the best results, combine AI tools with traditional strategies: set up price alerts on both Google Flights and Hopper for the same route, be flexible with dates (flights mid-week are often cheaper), and use the AI predictions to time your purchase rather than the old “book 8 weeks in advance” rule, which is less reliable than it used to be.