Google AI Mode adds flight price tracking and hotel booking

Google announced on Thursday that its conversational search experience AI Mode can now handle parts of trip planning and booking. Users can ask it to track flight prices, book hotels, and display flight and hotel costs in points or miles.

Flight price tracking

Users describe when and where they want to fly, and AI Mode shows options with current prices drawn from more than 300 airlines and travel sites. Those ready to book can build an itinerary inside AI Mode, while others can say something like "track these flight prices for me" and receive an email when prices change for their chosen destination and dates. Flight price tracking is available in more than 180 countries.

Hotels and points

For hotels, users describe their trip and preferences and receive a list of options with reviews and key factors. After picking a hotel, they select "Continue on Google" next to Google's integrated partners, choose a room, review details such as the cancellation policy, and pay with Google Pay. Google notes that the hotel or booking platform handles the reservation and any customer service.

Hotel booking has started rolling out in the United States in English, with offerings from Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts arriving over the coming weeks.

AI Mode can also show how many points or miles a flight or hotel would cost, in response to requests such as finding nonstop flights between two cities using airline miles for specific dates. That update is available globally.

Full details are in the TechCrunch report.