How do you search flights by describing the trip?
As of November 7, 2026, Skyscanner's homepage links to a beta page titled Search with AI. It asks for the vibe, when, and where, and it says the answer is for guidance only. The homepage does not list a fee to search, and it says you book with the airline or the other provider. KAYAK and Google Flights were not reread today. On October 21, KAYAK's header said Ask AI, and Google Flights said you can describe an ideal trip. Neither of those pages listed a search fee.
Checked Nov 7, 2026
Comparison
| Tool | Price | Best for | Platforms | Listing checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyscanner | Free The homepage and the Search with AI page on November 7, 2026 do not list a fee to search. You pay the provider if you book. Price Alerts are described with no separate price. | A cash fare, a stay, or a car, including a sentence when you do not have a city yet. | Website at skyscanner.com, including the beta page at skyscanner.com/search-with-ai. The Price Alert FAQ mentions the app and does not name the stores. | November 7, 2026 |
| KAYAK | Free The FAQ on November 11, 2026 says there is no extra fee from KAYAK, and it does not list a separate price for Price Alerts. You pay the airline, hotel, or rental company if you book. | Comparing live flights, hotels, and cars, then saving a search for a push alert. | Website, plus homepage links to the KAYAK app on the App Store and Google Play. Last read October 21, 2026. | November 11, 2026 |
| Google Flights | Free The Google Flights page on November 11, 2026 does not list a search fee. A FAQ says you can select and book a flight from the results. The notification is not a held seat. | Checking whether a fare is typical, then turning on a price alert. | Website at google.com/travel/flights. The page we read does not name an app store. Last read October 21, 2026. | November 11, 2026 |
Open Skyscanner when you want the sentence and the fare search on the same company, and you can see the label Beta. On November 7, 2026 the homepage says Skyscanner scans airlines and travel providers, then you book on the provider's site. The FAQ says the same search covers hotels and car rentals, and that a Price Alert emails you or sends a push notification if a plane-ticket price goes up or down. Search with AI is a separate page. The heading says to tell it the vibe, when, and where. A line says the result is powered by AI and for guidance only. Neither page lists a subscription. The form on this check already had a departure airport filled in, and the pages do not say which countries see that beta.
Open KAYAK when you already know you want the chat next to a saved search. That is an October 21 reading, not a November 7 one. The header said Ask AI, and the navigation said Plan with AI. The FAQ described a push notification after you save a flight or stay search. The homepage did not list a search fee. You still book with a partner.
Open Google Flights when the job is the date grid and a tracked cash fare, and a sentence is only the start. On October 21 the page said you can describe an ideal trip and let Google Flights find deals, and that you can track a route or a flight and get notified when the price drops. It did not list a search fee. You buy the ticket from the airline or the other seller. That page was not reread on November 7.
None of the three holds the seat. Skyscanner says the AI line is guidance. KAYAK's alert is a notification. Google Flights' alert is a notification. If the fare is in points, this is the wrong page. Use the award-flight guide.
The listings
Skyscanner
Free
The homepage and the Search with AI page on November 7, 2026 do not list a fee to search. You pay the provider if you book. Price Alerts are described with no separate price.
Best for A cash fare, a stay, or a car, including a sentence when you do not have a city yet.
Platforms Website at skyscanner.com, including the beta page at skyscanner.com/search-with-ai. The Price Alert FAQ mentions the app and does not name the stores.
Search with AI is labeled Beta and says the result is for guidance only. The homepage lists no search fee and says you book with the provider. Price Alerts are email or a push notification.
Listing checked November 7, 2026
KAYAK
Free
The FAQ on November 11, 2026 says there is no extra fee from KAYAK, and it does not list a separate price for Price Alerts. You pay the airline, hotel, or rental company if you book.
Best for Comparing live flights, hotels, and cars, then saving a search for a push alert.
Platforms Website, plus homepage links to the KAYAK app on the App Store and Google Play. Last read October 21, 2026.
Ask AI is in the header. Price Alerts are a push notification after you save a search. The page does not list a search fee. Not reread on November 7.
Listing checked November 11, 2026
Google Flights
Free
The Google Flights page on November 11, 2026 does not list a search fee. A FAQ says you can select and book a flight from the results. The notification is not a held seat.
Best for Checking whether a fare is typical, then turning on a price alert.
Platforms Website at google.com/travel/flights. The page we read does not name an app store. Last read October 21, 2026.
The page says you can describe an ideal trip, and that tracking a route or a flight sends a notification when the price drops. No search fee is listed. Not reread on November 7.
Listing checked November 11, 2026
Also listed
Hopper
Not reread on November 7. The October 30 homepage HTML did not include Price Freeze or a fee. The October 18 listing says search is free and that Price Freeze costs extra. Read the fee screen.
FreemiumListing checked October 30, 2026