Know whether to book your holiday flight now or wait
Google shows whether your fare is likely to rise or fall before departure, based on past years' prices.
Published . Steps as of November 2026.
Should I book my holiday flight now or wait for a lower price?
It depends on your exact dates, so check before you buy. AI Mode in Google Search and Google Flights show how today's price compares with past years and whether it's likely to rise or fall, as of October 2026. Use Google Search when you know your destination and dates. Use Gemini or ChatGPT afterward if you want help weighing midweek or one-stop options against your schedule.
A picture made with AI to show the idea.
Your prompt
Fill in your details. Skip any you like.
ChatGPT opens with your prompt already typed in. Gemini can't be filled in from a link, so its button copies your prompt: paste it into the new chat.
The prompt that gets copied
I want to fly from [FLYING FROM, e.g. my nearest big airport] to [FLYING TO, e.g. my parents' town] leaving [DEPART DATE, e.g. Dec 21] and coming back [RETURN DATE, e.g. Dec 28], for [NUMBER OF TRAVELERS, e.g. 2 adults]. How does today's price compare with past years for these dates? Is it likely to rise or fall before I leave? Would shifting by a day or two, or flying midweek, or taking one connection save real money? Give me a clear verdict: book now, or wait until a date you name. Keep it to a short list.
Ask AI Mode in Google Search about your exact route and dates, and it shows how today's price compares with past years and whether it's likely to rise or fall. Then get a clear book-or-wait call.
Step by step
- Open Google Search and switch to AI Mode, or open Google Flights
- Paste the prompt below with your exact route and dates
- Look for the cheapest time to book insight in the answer
- Book now or set a price alert, based on the verdict
What you'll get
A price check against past years, a likely direction for the fare, cheaper date options, and a book-now-or-wait verdict.
The cheapest time to book insight needs an exact destination and travel dates.
- Made for
- Everyone
- Works in
- Google Search, Gemini, ChatGPT
