- The finance-content creator Sam Jarman shared a Google Flights "hack" to save money on travel.
- In a viral TikTok, Jarman suggested avoiding airlines' websites when searching for cheap airfare.
With travel costs up since the start of the pandemic, it may be time to employ some travel hacks to land the best deals. And for travelers with some degree of flexibility, a TikToker's recent "hack" — and a new feature from Google Flights — could help save hundreds of dollars.
Sam Jarman, a finance-content creator with more than 4 million followers on TikTok, shared a hack he said "airlines do NOT want you to know." Instead of searching for flights directly on an airline's website, Jarman suggested using Google Flights' map feature to find more affordable airfare.
As of Wednesday, the video had 1.2 million likes and more than 14.3 million views. And while some users commented that his suggestion was less of a "hack" and more just "using Google Flights," the tip can save some money while booking flights — especially if your travel plans are flexible.
@sam_jarman Google flight hack has saved me BIG $$$
♬ original sound - Sam Jarman
How to use Google Flights to land deals
In his video, Jarman suggested opening a browser and searching for the Google Flights webpage. He used his mobile phone, but you can search on a desktop as well.
On the website's search page, select the "roundtrip" option, and choose your departure city — but do not enter a destination.
Instead, open Google Flights' map feature. This step will prompt Google to search for the cheapest locations it can find, according to CNBC.
It's at this point that Jarman's "hack" comes into play. Pull up Google Flight's calendar setting, and instead of choosing specific dates, select "one week" for your trip's duration and "all" for the month you'd like to travel. This prompts Google to search for the best deals throughout the year.
Plus, there are other features you can select while using Google Flights, Jarman said in his video. For example, by selecting "nonstop," you can search for flights without lengthy layovers. You can also search for flights that allow carry-on bags to avoid paying added fees for your luggage.
The key to Jarman's travel hack is flexibility — and the best deals require more freedom. If you don't have a destination in mind, you can choose from the cheapest locations Google can find. And if you don't have a date set, you can choose the most affordable time of the year to travel.
A new Google Flights feature will help you score the cheapest flights
On Monday, Google Flights announced a new feature meant to help save travelers money.
Starting this week, Google Flight users can now see when flights will be the cheapest, according to Google.
For example, as Insider previously reported, data from Google now shows that the best time to book your flights for Christmas is around 71 days before departure — so if you're planning to travel between December 23 and 25, it'd be best to book tickets around October 13 and 15.