Booking Tips

How to Set Flight Price Alerts

Set up price alerts on Google Flights in under 60 seconds — search your route, toggle "Track prices," and you'll get an email when fares drop. It costs nothing and routinely saves $50–$200 on international routes.

FlightReservationsDesk · Updated June 2026

How to Set a Price Alert on Google Flights

1
Go to Google Flights (flights.google.com) and enter your origin, destination, and travel dates.
2
Review the results. At the top of the results page, find the 'Track prices' toggle and switch it on.
3
Google will ask you to confirm your email address. Enter it and click 'Track.' You can track up to 10 routes simultaneously.
4
You will receive email notifications when the fare changes significantly — both up and down.
5
When you receive a low-price alert, click through to Google Flights and book directly with the airline or through a booking site shown in the results.

Best Flight Price Alert Tools Compared

Tool	Cost	Alert Type	Best For
Google Flights	Free	Email	Any route, flexible dates
Kayak	Free	Email / app push	Multi-site fare comparisons
Hopper	Free (premium tier)	Push notification	Mobile-first travelers, buy/wait prediction
Skyscanner	Free	Email	International routes, open-jaw searches
Scott's Cheap Flights	Free / $49/yr Premium	Email newsletter	Mistake fares and deep-discount international deals
Airfarewatchdog	Free	Email	Specific airport deals, last-minute fares

How to Get the Most from Price Alerts

Set your target price first

Before enabling alerts, look at the price calendar on Google Flights to understand what a 'good' price looks like for your route and month. Don't wait for a miracle — set a realistic target.

Track flexible dates

If you can travel anytime in a window, set an alert with flexible dates enabled. Google Flights will show you the cheapest days within your range and alert you to fare drops on any of them.

Act within 24 hours

Fare drops triggered by sales often last 24–72 hours before the airline adjusts. When you get an alert for a good price, book promptly. Fares at the low are not guaranteed to stay there.

Use multiple alert services

Different tools pull from different data sources. Google Flights + Kayak gives better coverage than either alone. Add Scott's Cheap Flights for international deal discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do flight price alerts work?: Price alert services monitor fares on your route and send you a notification when the fare drops below a threshold you set or below the historical average. You can then book at the lower price.
Is Google Flights price tracking free?: Yes. Google Flights price tracking is completely free. Search your route, toggle 'Track prices,' and Google sends you email alerts when fares change significantly on that route.
How far in advance should I set a price alert?: Set alerts as early as possible — ideally 3–6 months before travel for international, or 2–3 months for domestic. This captures the full range of fare movements before departure.
What is a good target price for a flight alert?: Use Google Flights' price graph to see the historical fare range for your route. Set an alert 15–20% below the typical price. For example, if JFK–LAX usually runs $300 RT, target $240–$260.
Should I set alerts on multiple tools?: Yes. Different services pull data from different GDS systems and may find different fares. Running alerts on Google Flights and Kayak simultaneously gives the most complete coverage.

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