Finding flights is a part of the journey, but when I feel like I’m playing cat and mouse with Google’s algorithm, things can rapidly go south. Log off. Activate the VPN. Use a browser window that is incognito. I alternate between my iPhone and MacBook. These days, all attempts to “trick” the algorithm so that it doesn’t increase the flight’s price after seeing your recurrent interest in that route and those dates often fail.

My preferred booking website is Google Flights, therefore I was curious whether an AI chatbot might assist me save money on a subsequent trip. Could the most underappreciated travel tip of 2025 be using Google’s AI, Gemini? I really hoped so, considering the cost of flying these days.

One of the largest AI models available, Gemini was first published in March 2023 (for a short while, it was called Bard). If you have a Google or Workspace account with admin-enabled access to Gemini, you may use it for free. Additionally, there is a $20 monthly subscription edition that comes with a two-month free trial.

Also see: Traveler’s Prep Checklist: Strategies for Simpler Road Trips and Flights

Flying home and back costs thousands of dollars for me, an Australian living in the United States. AI’s ability to uncover savings would have a huge impact on my finances.

How to use AI to locate inexpensive flights

I had anticipated that Gemini would take me to the greatest offers as it featured a dedicated Google Flights addon. Even after spending the whole day tinkering with my Google admin dashboard, I was unable to get it to function despite following the instructions to allow extensions.

It’s worth trying out to check whether this tool works for you since a CNET editor was able to utilize it as intended (see image below).

Flights from Newark to Sydney are shown in the Gemini response.
Karma, an AI coupon code plugin that I could simply install, was found during my “travels” when I became frustrated with the lack of simplicity and quickly searched for AI tools that might help me save money on airline tickets.

I looked for flights using Expedia after seeing it on its list of linked companies. For a fictitious return trip to Australia, I chose dates that were four months away. $1,443 was the least expensive return ticket. Not terrible, but I got a voucher from Karma. What I did was click “apply coupons.”

Also See: Concerned About High Vacation Airfares? Five Simple Ways to Reduce the Cost of Air Tickets

I thought the coupon would be applied automatically at the checkout page, so I copied it and kept using Expedia, but there was nowhere to apply a code. It turns out that not all Expedia transactions can be made using Karma coupons. I may have been able to utilize one in some fashion, but this flight choice wasn’t one of them.

It’s strike number two for me, however.

Back to Gemini, but this time for some guidance.

How can AI help me save money on flights? I asked Gemini. Although the responses were predictable, I was intrigued by two words: “secret fares.”

Google Gemini’s reaction to discovering undiscovered travel discounts
After verifying that the two URLs Gemini mentioned were dated 2018, I replied to Gemini by inquiring about whether sites provide “secret fares.”

Google Gemini’s reaction to hidden fares

I’m too elderly to go without checked baggage or risk getting placed on an airline’s blacklist, even though skiplagged seems like an adventure in and of itself. The possible gain wasn’t worth the danger since flying is the only (feasible) means to enter my nation.

Despite being the initial source of the “secret fares” information, it was intriguing that Hopper was left off of Gemini’s list. I chose to give it a try since it had came up in my own studies.

The Hopper’s Price Prediction feature is exclusive to the app. I got it.

Also See: AI-Powered Travel Planning: I Tried It for a City I Know Completely

I quickly searched Google Flights after setting up in Hopper and saw a decent deal for $1,256. The lowest option offered by Hopper was $1,272 (for the same ticket), but if I waited longer before booking, I could save up to $199. I activated the Price Watch alerts.

and bided their time. I went back in a day later and it hadn’t changed, then the next day it had gone up. I checked the app a few days later and again it had gone up, not down.

Hopper could take a few weeks to find a better deal if you have more time. As always, there is no assurance.

Verify AI flight prices again.
AI elements are integrated into flight booking websites such as Google Flights, Skyskanner, and Expedia. This might be plenty, and you can get travel advice from AI chatbots on such websites.

I verified with ChatGPT to be sure. It provided me with tools that I had previously tested.

Answer to a query on AI-powered flight cost-saving technologies from ChatGPT
The new Google Flights refund function for trips leaving from the US is what I did learn about via ChatGPT. You get a refund via the Google Pay app if the price of a reservation that has a price guarantee badge reduces.

Very nice.

Along with getting guidance from AI chatbots, that feature alone is what keeps me using Google Flights. AI may also be used to devise a plan for using credit card points to reduce airfare costs. Before applying for a new credit card, it’s crucial to check AI since it has been known to get information on past card perks and benefits.

The conclusion on using AI to locate inexpensive flights

I unloaded my things after trying many times to utilize AI to reduce flying costs. Even with the options available in my Google account, I was unable to get Gemini’s Google Flights extension to function as well as Google Flights itself.

Additionally, Gemini acknowledges that it is not always accurate, so be sure to check the flight information on the airline’s website. You don’t want to make any blunders since airline tickets may cost hundreds of dollars.

In summary, there is more work to be done in the area of employing AI to locate airline discounts. However, I did discover some intriguing features using AI, like the refund function.