Google Flights rolls out three new features

August 28, 2026 | View Online

It certainly doesn’t feel like summer is coming to a close in LA. Temps are still in the very high 90s, and September is set to be the hottest month. Still, I’d love to know how your summers went and where you all traveled. 

Submit your favorite travel photo here, and I’ll share my favorites in upcoming newsletters!

In today's edition:

• Expedia's last-minute Labor Day deals

• Google Flights rolls out three new features

• All the travel news you may have missed

📸 Say cheese,

Arijana

I hope you're all out there taking full advantage of the last week of August but if you need some inspo, here’s what to do this weekend:

🧘 Are you taking off this weekend? Review these quick and simple exercises you should do so you’re not stiff after a flight.

🌲 There is still time to celebrate National Park Week, and I hope you’re all able to enjoy the Great Outdoors somehow this weekend. If you’re forced to stay inside, at least take some time to read up on some cool, lesser-known facts about our national parks.

🍇 Need an idea for a last-minute getaway? Plan a quick trip to this newly renovated Napa Valley winery.

Still looking to escape for Labor Day Weekend? Book a last-minute hotel deal with Expedia.

You Shouldn’t Have To Be Well-Off To Be Well

Most of what Americans pay for GLP-1s isn't the medication; it's the markup.

Collective, founded by Thrive Market co-founder Gunnar Lovelace, applies the same model that made organic groceries affordable for over 1.6 million Americans: a low $199 annual membership that lets Collective pool members' buying power to negotiate the best wholesale prices from trusted US pharmacies.

Members pay $59-$69/month for doctor-prescribed, third-party tested, compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, and the price stays the same at any dose.

Experience Collective membership for yourself for 21 days free before you commit.

Unlock savings. 

Google rolls out three new ways to plan your travels

Google Flights is a staple in any avid traveler’s toolkit, and the tech giant keeps thinking up new ways to expand its capabilities. This month, Google is rolling out three new tools to make planning your next trip a little easier. Take a look.

✈️ Ask AI to track flights for you

Flight tracking is one of the most valuable things that Google Flights offers, but now AI mode makes it possible to set up price alerts through its chat capabilities. Just describe where you want to go, and Google will show you the latest prices from more than 300 partner airlines and travel sites. Once you book, you can also build your full itinerary in AI mode.

My verdict? This update is a little unnecessary. I like the toggle button Google already has that you can press to track the flight for the date you’re already searching. But I understand this might be more of a smoother user experience for some. 

💸 Compare your flight cost in cash versus miles

Usually when you search for a flight with Google, you can compare cash prices quite easily, but now you can also search and compare your flight with points.

My verdict? This is a wonderfully helpful update. More and more travel sites are starting to do this, and I think they are all late to the game. Using your points shouldn’t be so complicated, so the easier it is to see how much a flight would cost points-wise, the better!

🏨 Let AI help you book your dream hotel

If you are particular about hotels, you’ll like this next tool. You can now use Google’s AI mode to search for your dream hotel stay. You can search by price, area, amenities, etc.

My verdict? Overall pretty good. Sometimes hotel filters are not very helpful, and it’s hard to search for hotels across multiple brands, so this at least speeds up the process a bit. Just be sure to always double-check the work of AI.

Yes, please. Learn more about the history of these toboggan rides here.

We keep up so you don't have to. Here's all the travel news you need to know just in case you missed it. 

• DHL plane’s tires catch on fire at LAX

• What happens if you miss your connecting flight?

• I don’t understand how this man thought hiding these in socks would get him through TSA

• How to beat the first-night sleep effect

• All you stargazers need to add this Nantucket site to your bucket list

• Beware of these common Italian scams used to target tourists

📍 São Miguel Island, Portugal

Thank you to Ingrid for sending in this picture from São Miguel Island in the Azores, which is a group of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean. This picture and the video above are inspiring me to revisit Portugal!