I wasn’t even thinking about planning a mother-daughter getaway to Paris. I was just playing around with flight searches. I had opened Google Flights and decided to test out its AI Flight Deals feature to see the most heavily discounted nonstop flights from Montreal during the upcoming March spring break. I wasn’t searching for a specific destination, just the best value for direct routes to anywhere.

That’s when Paris appeared. A nonstop, round-trip flight for just over $600 Canadian, luggage included. A few clicks later, I had booked my first solo trip with my seven-year-old daughter. And mais oui, we’re squeezing in a day at Disneyland Paris between croissants and strolls in the Jardin de Luxembourg. 

Why AI works so well for finding travel deals

Previously, my deal-hunting mania revolved around refreshing pages, tracking one route, locking in exact dates. AI works differently. so instead of asking for one specific outcome, your best bet is to give it a bit of flexibility and let it scan patterns at scale.

AI is especially good at:

• Comparing huge amounts of pricing data quickly

• Flagging unusual price drops or underpriced routes

• Responding well to flexible, human-style requests

The trick is learning how to ask better questions.

Here’s a travel prompt you can steal

If you’re using an AI chatbot or planning tool, try something like:

“Find the best-value nonstop flights from Montreal during (insert dates). I’m flexible on destination, prefer flights under X hours, and want luggage included. Focus on routes with recent price drops.”

This works because it mixes clear limits with openness. 

You can easily tweak it:

• Add the length of your trip, with flexibility (sometimes, the prompt above will show you trips that are unreasonably short, so you can try specifying a range of how long you’d like to be away).

• Add that you’re looking for warm weather, cultural cities or beach destinations

Where AI fits into trip planning

AI isn’t a booking engine, and it doesn’t need to be. Its real strength is helping you decide where to look before you decide what to book. Even if you prefer to use a travel agency for the actual booking of your trip, it can be useful for helping you spot which destinations will be accessible within your budget.

It’s especially helpful for:

• Finding destinations you hadn’t considered

• Comparing direct flights versus connections

• Confirming what a good value is in terms of fare pricing

• Narrowing options before heading to airline sites or your agent

Once a flight looks promising, it’s worth clicking through nearly to checkout to confirm the price is still valid. More than once, I’ve followed a deal only to discover the fare disappeared by the time I reached the booking page.

A few practical tips before you book

• Flexibility matters (a lot). Even a one-day shift can change pricing.

• Nonstop flights are not always the expensive option, especially on routes airlines want to fill.

• Always check baggage rules before celebrating a low fare.

• Think about value, not just price. Better timing or fewer connections can make a slightly higher fare worth it. You’ll end up spending that extra $100 on a mediocre airport lunch.

Happy deal-hunting!