Google Flights

Google Flights Search

Search Google Flights via agent-browser to find flight prices, schedules, and availability.

When to Use

• User asks to search/find/compare flights or airfare
• User wants to know flight prices between cities
• User asks about flight schedules or availability
• User wants to find the cheapest flight for specific dates

When NOT to Use

• Completing purchases: This skill finds flights and extracts booking links, but do not attempt to complete a purchase on a booking site.
• Hotels/rental cars: Use other tools for non-flight travel searches.
• Historical price data: Google Flights shows current prices, not historical.

Session Convention

• Economy only (default for domestic): --session flights
• Economy + Business comparison (international or user requests): --session econ and --session biz
• Interactive fallback: --session flights

Domestic vs International Detection

Domestic flights default to economy only. Business class on US domestic routes is typically 3-5x the price and rarely worth showing unless asked.

A flight is domestic if both origin and destination are US airports. Common US IATA codes: ATL, BOS, BWI, CLT, DEN, DFW, DTW, EWR, FLL, HNL, IAD, IAH, JFK, LAS, LAX, LGA, MCO, MDW, MIA, MSP, OAK, ORD, PHL, PHX, PDX, SAN, SEA, SFO, SJC, SLC, TPA.

When to show business class:

• International flights (always show economy + business comparison)
• User explicitly asks for "business class" or "business"
• User asks to "compare cabins" or "show all classes"

When to skip business class:

• Domestic US flights (economy only by default)
• User explicitly asks for "economy" or "cheapest"

Fast Path: URL-Based Search (Preferred)

Construct a URL with a natural language ?q= parameter. Loads results directly — 3 commands total.

URL Template

https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+{ORIGIN}+to+{DEST}+on+{DATE}[+returning+{DATE}][+one+way][+business+class][+N+passengers]

Default: Economy Only (Domestic)

For domestic flights, run a single session - 2 tool calls total:

# Open and wait in one call
agent-browser --session flights open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+MIA+to+SFO+on+2026-04-28+returning+2026-04-30" && agent-browser --session flights wait --load networkidle

# Snapshot results
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
# Keep session alive for booking links

Then present results in compact list format (see Output Format section below).

Economy + Business Comparison (International)

For international flights, run two parallel sessions to show the price delta:

# Open both and wait in parallel
(agent-browser --session econ open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+BKK+to+NRT+on+2026-03-20+returning+2026-03-27" && agent-browser --session econ wait --load networkidle) &
(agent-browser --session biz open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+BKK+to+NRT+on+2026-03-20+returning+2026-03-27+business+class" && agent-browser --session biz wait --load networkidle) &
wait

# Snapshot both in parallel
agent-browser --session econ snapshot -i &
agent-browser --session biz snapshot -i &
wait

# Close biz (only needed for delta); keep econ alive for booking links
agent-browser --session biz close

Matching logic: Match flights by airline name and departure time. Not all economy flights have a business equivalent (budget carriers like ZIPAIR, Air Japan don't offer business). Show "-" when no business match exists.

Tip: When an airline appears in business results but not economy (e.g., Philippine Airlines), it may operate business-only pricing on that route. Include it with "-" for economy.

One Way

Add +one+way to the URL. For international, run both economy and business in parallel:

# Domestic (economy only)
agent-browser --session flights open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+LAX+to+JFK+on+2026-04-15+one+way" && agent-browser --session flights wait --load networkidle

# International (economy + business comparison)
(agent-browser --session econ open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+LAX+to+LHR+on+2026-04-15+one+way" && agent-browser --session econ wait --load networkidle) &
(agent-browser --session biz open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+LAX+to+LHR+on+2026-04-15+one+way+business+class" && agent-browser --session biz wait --load networkidle) &
wait

When User Asks for Business Only

If the user specifically asks for business class (not a comparison), run just the business session:

agent-browser --session flights open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+JFK+to+CDG+on+2026-06-01+returning+2026-06-15+business+class"
agent-browser --session flights wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
# Keep session alive for booking links

First Class / Multiple Passengers

agent-browser --session flights open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights?q=Flights+from+JFK+to+CDG+on+2026-06-01+returning+2026-06-15+first+class+2+adults+1+child"
agent-browser --session flights wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
# Keep session alive for booking links

What Works via URL

| Feature | URL syntax | Status | |---------|-----------|--------| | Round trip | +returning+YYYY-MM-DD | Works | | One way | +one+way | Works | | Business class | +business+class | Works | | First class | +first+class | Works | | N passengers (adults) | +N+passengers | Works | | Adults + children | +2+adults+1+child | Works | | IATA codes | BKK, NRT, LAX | Works | | City names | Bangkok, Tokyo | Works | | Dates as YYYY-MM-DD | 2026-03-20 | Works (best) | | Natural dates | March+20 | Works | | Premium economy | +premium+economy | Fails | | Multi-city | N/A | Fails |

What Requires Interactive Fallback

• Premium economy cabin class
• Multi-city trips (3+ legs)
• Infant passengers (seat vs lap distinction)
• URL didn't load results (consent banner, CAPTCHA, locale issue)

Reading Results from Snapshot

Each flight appears as a link element with a full description:

link "From 20508 Thai baht round trip total. Nonstop flight with Air Japan.
     Leaves Suvarnabhumi Airport at 12:10 AM on Friday, March 20 and arrives
     at Narita International Airport at 8:15 AM on Friday, March 20.
     Total duration 6 hr 5 min. Select flight"

Parse economy + business snapshots into the compact list format:

1. JAL — Nonstop · 5h 55m
   8:05 AM → 4:00 PM
   Economy: THB 23,255 · Business: THB 65,915 (+183%)

2. THAI — Nonstop · 5h 50m
   10:30 PM → 6:20 AM+1
   Economy: THB 28,165 · Business: THB 75,000 (+166%)

3. Air Japan — Nonstop · 6h 05m
   12:10 AM → 8:15 AM
   Economy: THB 20,515 · Business: —

4. ZIPAIR — Nonstop · 5h 45m
   11:45 PM → 7:30 AM+1
   Economy: THB 21,425 · Business: —

Matching: Pair economy and business results by airline + departure time. Budget carriers without business class show "—". Include "Best"/"Cheapest" labels from Google when present.

Booking Options Handoff

After presenting the results table, always offer booking links: "Want booking links for any of these? Just say which one."

When the user picks a flight, extract booking options by clicking the flight's link element in the snapshot. Google Flights shows a panel with booking providers (airlines, OTAs) each with a price and a "Continue" link to the booking site.

Workflow

# User picks flight #N — click the corresponding link from the results snapshot
# Use --session flights (domestic) or --session econ (international comparison)
agent-browser --session flights click @eN
agent-browser --session flights wait 3000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

The booking panel snapshot will show link elements like:

link "Book with Emirates THB 28,960" → href="https://..."
link "Book with Booking.com THB 29,512" → href="https://..."
link "Book with Teaflight THB 28,171" → href="https://..."

Extract the provider name, price, and href URL from each link.

Output Format

📋 Booking Options for JAL BKK→NRT (5h 55m, Nonstop)

| Provider | Price | Book |
|----------|-------|------|
| Emirates | THB 28,960 | [Continue](https://...) |
| Booking.com | THB 29,512 | [Continue](https://...) |
| Teaflight | THB 28,171 | [Continue](https://...) |

Notes

• Session lifecycle: Keep the results session (flights or econ) alive for booking links. For international comparisons, close --session biz immediately after extracting prices. Close the results session after the user gets booking links or declines.
• If booking panel fails to load: Re-snapshot and wait longer before retrying.

Interactive Workflow (Fallback)

Use for multi-city, premium economy, or when the URL path fails.

Open and Snapshot

agent-browser --session flights open "https://www.google.com/travel/flights"
agent-browser --session flights wait 3000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

If a consent banner appears, click "Accept all" or "Reject all" first.

Set Trip Type (if not Round Trip)

agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Trip type combobox ("Round trip")
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # "One way" or "Multi-city"
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

Set Cabin Class / Passengers (if non-default)

Cabin class:

agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Cabin class combobox
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Select class
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

Passengers:

agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Passengers button
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # "+" for Adults/Children/Infants
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # "Done"
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

Enter Airport (Origin or Destination)

agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Combobox field
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
agent-browser --session flights fill @eN "BKK"
agent-browser --session flights wait 2000   # CRITICAL: wait for autocomplete
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Click suggestion (NEVER press Enter)
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

Set Dates

agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Date textbox
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
# Calendar shows dates as buttons: "Friday, March 20, 2026"
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # Click target date
agent-browser --session flights wait 500
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
# Click "Done" to close calendar
agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # "Done" button
agent-browser --session flights wait 1000
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i

Search

"Done" only closes the calendar. You MUST click "Search" separately.

agent-browser --session flights click @eN   # "Search" button
agent-browser --session flights wait --load networkidle
agent-browser --session flights snapshot -i
# Keep session alive for booking links

Multi-City Specifics

After selecting "Multi-city" trip type, the form shows one row per leg:

• Each leg has: origin combobox, destination combobox, departure date textbox
• Origins auto-fill from the previous leg's destination
• Click "Add flight" to add more legs (default: 2 legs shown)
• Click "Remove flight from X to Y" buttons to remove legs
• Results show flights for the first leg, with prices reflecting the total multi-city cost

Fill each leg's destination + date in order, then click "Search".

Output Format

Always use compact list format — never markdown tables. Output is typically displayed in chatbot interfaces (Telegram, etc.) where tables render poorly.

Economy + Business comparison (default)

1. JAL — Nonstop · 5h 55m
   8:05 AM → 4:00 PM
   Economy: THB 23,255 · Business: THB 65,915 (+183%)

2. THAI — Nonstop · 5h 50m
   10:30 PM → 6:20 AM+1
   Economy: THB 28,165 · Business: THB 75,000 (+166%)

3. Air Japan — Nonstop · 6h 05m
   12:10 AM → 8:15 AM
   Economy: THB 20,515 · Business: —

Economy only

1. JAL — Nonstop · 5h 55m
   8:05 AM → 4:00 PM · THB 23,255

2. THAI — Nonstop · 5h 50m
   10:30 PM → 6:20 AM+1 · THB 28,165

Format rules

• One flight per numbered block, blank line between flights
• Line 1: Airline — Stops · Duration
• Line 2: Departure → Arrival times
• Line 3: Prices (economy, business delta if applicable)
• No code blocks around the flight list — plain text reads best
• Keep the "Best value" recommendation as a plain text paragraph after the list

Key Rules

| Rule | Why | |------|-----| | Prefer URL fast path | 2 tool calls (domestic) or 3 (international) vs 15+ interactive | | Chain open+wait with && | Eliminates a round-trip between tool calls | | Skip business for domestic | US domestic business is 3-5x price, rarely useful unless asked | | Parallel snapshots with & + wait | Both snapshots run concurrently for international | | wait --load networkidle | Smarter than fixed wait 5000 - returns when network settles | | Use fill not type for airports | Clears existing text first | | Wait 2s after typing airport codes | Autocomplete needs API roundtrip | | Always CLICK suggestions, never Enter | Enter is unreliable for autocomplete | | Re-snapshot after every interaction | DOM changes invalidate refs | | "Done" ≠ Search | Calendar Done only closes picker | | After presenting results, offer booking links | Users almost always want to book - prompt them | | Keep results session alive; close biz after results | Results session needed for booking clicks; biz only for delta |

Troubleshooting

Consent popups: Click "Accept all" or "Reject all" in the snapshot.

URL fast path didn't work: Fall back to interactive. Some regions/locales handle ?q= differently.

No results: Verify airports (check combobox labels), dates in the future, or wait longer.

Bot detection / CAPTCHA: Inform user. Do NOT solve CAPTCHAs. Retry after a short wait.

Deep-Dive Reference

See [references/interaction-patterns.md](references/interaction-patterns.md) for:

• Full annotated walkthrough (every command + expected output)
• Airport autocomplete failure modes and recovery
• Date picker calendar navigation
• Multi-city searches
• Scrolling for more results

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: skillhq
• Source: skillhq/flight-search
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.