Google just beat the airlines at their own game - and it reveals a huge shortcoming

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Google Flights allows users to compare flight and hotel prices across providers and track prices over time.

• Google will add new features to its travel search engine, Google Flights, that may allow it to notify users of flight delays before airlines do.
• Google Flights will use historical data and knowledge of current conditions to determine the likelihood of a flight being delayed.
• If it thinks there's at least an 80% chance of a delay, it will flag the relevant flight and include its predicted reason for the delay.

Google thinks it may be able to tell travelers about flight delays before airlines do, thanks to new features it's introducing to Google Flights, its travel search engine. Google Flights allows users to compare flight and hotel prices across providers and track prices over time.

Now, Google thinks it will be able to figure out if a flight is delayed before an airline announces the delay, in some cases. The company announced Wednesday that Google Flights will use historical data about flight delays and knowledge of current conditions to determine the likelihood of a flight being delayed. If it thinks there's at least an 80% chance of a delay, it will flag the relevant flight and include its predicted reason for the delay. Users will be able to search for their flights by flight number or airline and flight route.

Google Flights will also add a function that highlights the restrictions that come with low-cost fares, such as the inability to check a bag for free or use the overhead bins.

The new features address one of the airline industry's biggest problems: transparency.

Airlines have drawn criticism over the years for making flights seem less expensive than they are by hiding added costs like baggage fees and failing to communicate clearly about delays. While airlines are required to include taxes and fees in their listed ticket prices, the US Department of Transportation announced in December 2017 that it would not force airlines to reveal the prices for "optional services" like checked or carry-on baggage at the time of purchase.

If Google, a third-party company, is able to provide more accurate pricing and delay information it will be a big win for consumers seeking transparency, but an embarrassment for the airline industry.

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