Google has added flight price tracking, hotel booking help and rewards-price comparisons to AI Mode, its conversational search tool. You can describe a destination and dates, review options from more than 300 airlines and travel sites, and ask Google to email you when a tracked fare changes.
The flight-tracking feature is available in more than 180 countries, according to Google's announcement reported by TechCrunch on August 27. AI Mode can also show flight and hotel costs in points or miles, which helps when deciding whether to use cash or travel rewards.
Hotel booking has a narrower rollout. For users in the US searching in English, AI Mode is starting to show hotels, reviews and booking options from partners including Booking.com, Expedia and major hotel chains. After choosing an option, the user moves through a "Continue on Google" step to review the room and cancellation terms and pay with Google Pay. The hotel or booking partner remains responsible for the reservation and customer support.