Google Flights’ newest feature refunds travelers if booked flights become cheaper

Ah, the classic tale of booking a flight early to save some bucks, only to see the price drop later and realize you’ve been fooled. We’ve all been there at some point, and this type of buyer’s remorse just hurts a bit differently.

 Google Flights now offers a feature that takes the guesswork out of booking your flight with the new “Price Guarantee” badge that tells you when to seize the deal because the price isn’t expected to get any lower. If the price happens to drop later, Google still has your back and will refund you the difference via Google Pay.

Under this new pilot program, Google is determined to make booking flights a little less stress-inducing for travelers, so if you’re browsing Google Flights for domestic US or select international flights departing from the states, keep an eye out for the flashy new badge.

What’s the catch? 

While Google is still rolling out the “Price Guarantee” feature, it is currently limited to airlines that use “Book on Google,” like Alaska, Spirit, and Hawaiian. This feature is only available for flights departing from the US, and the price difference must exceed $5 for you to qualify for a refund. 

There’s also a cap of $500 per year for a maximum of three bookings using the “Price Guarantee” feature. If you qualify for a refund, you’ll have to download the Google Pay app to receive your refund through email updates or in-app notifications.

For now, excuse me while I cry thinking about all the flights I could’ve saved hundreds of dollars on. Luckily, I still get the best flight deals right in my inbox thanks to Dollar Flight Club.