Looking to save 50% or more on your next flight? At SavePlus India, we help Indian travelers discover hidden hacks and smart booking tools. Google Flights is packed with powerful features that most people overlook. In this blog, we reveal 15 must-know tricks tailored for Indian routes, budgets, and travel habits to help you fly smarter and cheaper.

1. Explore the Map to Discover Cheap Destinations

Google Flights' "Explore" map is a goldmine for spontaneous Indian travelers. It lets you input a starting location and budget to find the cheapest destinations globally. This feature is particularly helpful during long weekends or holiday seasons in India. You can filter results based on price, duration, airline, and more. It's perfect for students, freelancers, and last-minute planners. Use this when you're open to multiple destinations.

• Enter "India" as your departure point to scan affordable routes and expand your reach to both domestic and international cities.
  
  
• Filter destinations based on your budget, number of stops, flight duration, or preferred airline for better control and planning.
  
  
• Great for long weekends like Independence Day or Diwali holidays, when popular travel spots are more accessible.

Pro Tip: Use the Explore Map during Indian festive sales like Holi or Diwali for last-minute getaway deals.

2. Use the Calendar Tool for Lowest Fares

The calendar view is one of the simplest yet most effective tools on Google Flights. It shows a visual fare map for every date, color-coded for pricing trends. This helps you identify the cheapest days at a glance. It is perfect for flexible travelers or budget-conscious families. The fare drops are especially noticeable around non-peak days. Use this to plan smarter and pay less.

• Avoid weekends and peak festival days to find the lowest fares and enjoy less crowded flights and airports.
  
  
• Visualize fare changes across a month using the color-coded calendar and pick the best-value dates with ease.
  
  
• Great for popular Indian routes such as Delhi-Goa, Mumbai-Kolkata, or Bengaluru-Chennai during off-peak seasons.

Pro Tip: Book your travel on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to get cheaper fares than Friday or Sunday flights.

3. Activate Price Tracking for Instant Alerts

Google Flights offers real-time price tracking that alerts you when a fare drops. This feature is essential for anyone booking in advance or planning a trip. Just toggle the "Track prices" option and link it with your Google account. You’ll receive alerts via email. This works best when fares fluctuate a lot, such as before Indian festival seasons. It’s like having a virtual fare scout.

• Turn on alerts by selecting the toggle on your chosen route and automatically receive notifications when prices dip.
  
  
• Link it to your Gmail or Google account to streamline updates and ensure you never miss a good deal again.
  
  
• Helpful for both domestic and international routes, where fares often change dramatically close to Indian holidays.

Pro Tip: Combine alerts with SBI or HDFC card offers on travel portals for double the savings.

4. Compare Nearby Airports for Lower Costs

Many Indian cities are within a few hours of alternative airports. Google Flights allows you to include nearby airports in your search. This expands your options and may reveal cheaper tickets. Cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad often have lower fares than Mumbai or Delhi. Consider connecting via road or train. Use this if you're okay with a little extra travel.

• Tick the "Nearby Airports" checkbox during your search to explore alternate departure and arrival points easily.
  
  
• Saves between ₹1,000 and ₹3,000, especially on routes with major demand fluctuations such as Mumbai-Delhi or Bangalore-Chennai.
  
  
• Ideal for budget-conscious travelers who can drive or use public transport to reach alternative airports.

Pro Tip: Use Paytm or PhonePe bus and train offers to cover intercity travel at a discount.

5. Check Stopover Flights for Big Savings

Non-stop flights are fast, but they are usually more expensive. Google Flights highlights flights with stopovers that cost significantly less. These are great for long-distance trips where layovers don’t matter. It also helps you explore a bonus city. Indian travelers flying to Europe or Southeast Asia can benefit a lot. Layovers can also reduce stress on long-haul flights.

• Choose longer layovers to find reduced fares and even squeeze in a short tour of the stopover city if visas permit.
  
  
• Works especially well for international trips such as Delhi-London or Mumbai-Bangkok via the Middle East or Southeast Asia.
  
  
• Stopovers can help with jetlag by breaking the trip and giving you time to refresh before the final leg.

Pro Tip: Look for layovers in visa-free countries like Qatar, UAE, or Turkey to explore an extra destination.

6. Browse in Incognito Mode for True Prices

Repeated flight searches can lead to fare hikes due to cookies tracking your activity. Google Flights is generally immune, but the booking platforms it links to may not be. Browsing in incognito mode hides your history and avoids inflated fares. This technique is especially useful when comparing prices across multiple OTAs. It's a must-use for frequent planners.

• Open Chrome and use Ctrl+Shift+N to enter incognito mode and prevent search history tracking for unbiased pricing.
  
  
• Comparing prices in incognito ensures you don’t see dynamically increased fares caused by repeated lookups.
  
  
• Combine incognito browsing with VPN tools to check international pricing variations on the same flight.

Pro Tip: Use this tip before major sales like Big Billion Days or Great Indian Festival to secure deals early.

7. Use “Carry-On Only” to Avoid Hidden Fees

For short trips within India, many travelers prefer traveling light. Google Flights allows filtering flights that include only carry-on luggage. This helps avoid unexpected baggage fees that some budget airlines add later. It's a smart choice for business travelers or solo adventurers. You can quickly identify which airlines offer the best base fares. Plus, less luggage means quicker check-ins and exits.

• Use the "Carry-on only" filter in Google Flights to remove expensive checked-bag fare options from the search results.
  
  
• Ideal for short-haul routes such as Mumbai-Goa or Hyderabad-Bangalore, where you don’t need extra luggage.
  
  
• Saves between ₹500-₹1,500 per ticket, depending on the airline’s baggage policy.

Pro Tip: Buy lightweight travel bags on Flipkart or Amazon using SuperCoins and discount codes for even more value.

8. Convert to Local Currency for Accuracy

International travelers often get confused by INR conversions on foreign portals. Google Flights allows switching currencies based on your destination. This ensures you view prices exactly as they’ll appear during payment. It also avoids confusion due to daily forex rate changes. A great feature for booking from India to countries like the UAE, Sri Lanka, or Singapore. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll pay.

• Change currency in the Google Flights menu to match your travel region, like USD, AED, or LKR, for clarity.
  
  
• Avoids surprise foreign exchange conversion fees at checkout or while making card payments online.
  
  
• Works best with forex-friendly cards like Niyo Global or HDFC Multicurrency ForexPlus.

Pro Tip: Check the RBI’s reference forex rate of the day before confirming international payments.

9. Set Flexible Dates to Find Hidden Deals

Flexibility is a budget traveler’s superpower. Google Flights' flexible date grid helps identify dates with the lowest prices. Rather than being locked into a fixed travel day, you can compare a full week or month. This is particularly useful for non-essential travel like holidays or leisure. Flexible booking is key during low travel periods. Use it to fly cheap and stress-free.

• Select "Flexible Dates" and view a full calendar grid showing the lowest available fares for each day.
  
  
• Traveling during off-peak times like July or February yields much lower prices on Indian routes.
  
  
• Best suited for leisure trips, solo adventures, or students with adaptable schedules.

Pro Tip: Booking mid-week flights (Tues-Wed) often saves 20-40% compared to weekends.

10. Stack with Indian Bank Offers for Extra Discounts

Beyond Google Flights' fare savings, stackable bank offers can lower your total cost even more. Indian banks partner with travel portals to give instant discounts. HDFC, SBI, and ICICI have tie-ups with platforms like Yatra, MakeMyTrip, and Cleartrip. These work seamlessly with Google Flights if it redirects you to these portals. You’ll enjoy maximum value when combining tools.

• Check SavePlus India for promo codes and combine them with HDFC SmartBuy or SBI Yatra promotions.
  
  
• Many offers run during festive seasons and weekends, offering flat discounts or cashback.
  
  
• Great for booking international travel or family group tickets where discounts scale well.

Pro Tip: Use credit cards with complimentary lounge access to elevate your travel without extra cost.

11. Filter Airlines to Prioritize Budget Flights

With rising travel costs, filtering by budget airlines is essential for savings. Google Flights makes this easy with a dedicated airline filter. You can select only low-cost carriers like SpiceJet, Akasa Air, or IndiGo. This gives you cheaper options with fewer frills. Ideal for short trips where extras aren't required. It’s efficient and wallet-friendly.

• Select your preferred airline or uncheck premium carriers to display affordable options first.
  
  
• Eliminates expensive results from business and first-class options irrelevant to most Indian travelers.
  
  
• Useful for backpackers, students, and frequent flyers on a tight budget.

Pro Tip: Check baggage allowances directly on airline sites after filtering to avoid added costs.

12. Use the “Best Flights” Tag to Avoid Overpaying

Google Flights tags certain listings as "Best Flights" based on cost, duration, and convenience. These aren't always the cheapest but are balanced options. Ideal for those who want value but not at the expense of comfort. Perfect for Indian families or senior citizens. These tags make decision-making easier and more reliable. Trust the tag when unsure.

• The "Best" tag highlights flights with the best overall value for time and money.
  
  
• Filters out illogical options with long layovers or high baggage fees.
  
  
• Ensures optimal balance between fare, duration, and convenience.

Pro Tip: Combine this tag with calendar or explore view for efficient and cost-effective planning.

13. Book Round-Trip Flights for Lower Overall Costs

One-way flights may seem cheaper, but they often cost more than round-trip. Google Flights lets you compare both seamlessly. Booking a round-trip also locks in return fares, protecting you from future surges. This is great for Indian travelers during holiday seasons. Useful for students returning home or on business trips. Booking round-trips = better rates.

• Select "Round Trip" to compare fares and get bundled return offers that lower your net spend.
  
  
• Round-trips often unlock special promo codes or card offers on portals like Cleartrip and Ixigo.
  
  
• Ideal for fixed-schedule travel like weddings, corporate events, or festive family trips.

Pro Tip: Check if your return flight qualifies for free rescheduling options in case of delays.

14. Check Historical Price Trends Before You Book

Google Flights provides access to fare history for your selected route. This helps in judging whether the current price is high or low. Indian travelers can avoid overpaying by studying these trends. It’s helpful, especially during sale periods or festival times. A strategic booking window can save you thousands. Use history to your advantage.

• Analyze price fluctuations over time using the fare graph and plan your booking accordingly.
  
  
• Avoid peak travel periods by comparing past price data on similar dates or events.
  
  
• Works well for international destinations and long-distance domestic routes.

Pro Tip: Cross-check trend info with Google Trends to align your booking with low-demand periods.

15. Use the “Explore Nearby” for Road Trip Combinations

For adventurous Indian travelers, the "Explore Nearby" tool is a gem. It helps you fly into one city and out of another, allowing for multi-city plans. Perfect for Indian road trips where entry and exit points differ. Combine this with intercity travel options like cabs or trains. It offers freedom and cost-cutting.

• Use "Explore Nearby" to find alternate cities you can travel to or from while saving on airfare.
  
  
• Useful for plans like flying into Kochi and exiting from Trivandrum after exploring Kerala.
  
  
• Works excellently with car rentals, train passes, and regional travel deals.

Pro Tip: Use Cleartrip’s flight + cab bundle or RedBus partner discounts for seamless intercity transfers.

Conclusion

Mastering Google Flights isn’t just for travel pros—it’s for every Indian shopper who values savings. From bank offers to flexible dates and carry-on filters, these hacks can cut your airfare by half. With SavePlus India’s expert insights, every journey can start with smart planning and better deals. Apply these tricks and fly further for less.

FAQ

Can I book flights directly through Google Flights in India?
No, it redirects you to partner sites like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, or airline websites.

How do I get price alerts on Google Flights?
Enable the "Track Prices" toggle for a route and link it with your Gmail to receive updates.

Are these tricks valid for domestic and international travel?
Yes! These tips work great for both India-to-India and India-to-abroad flights.

Can I use Indian bank offers after finding a flight on Google Flights?
Yes. If the booking redirects to a portal like Yatra, use SavePlus India coupons and bank cards.

What’s the best day to book cheap flights in India?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually have lower fares than weekends. Use the calendar tool to spot them.