How to Use the Search Stop Rule When Looking for Flights
Before you search, set a target fare based on what your route usually costs. Check a few sources, book the moment a fare meets your target, then stop searching.
- Budget
- Mostly time saved
- Duration
- A few days of light checking
- Best Time
- When the fare is typical or low for your route
- Visa Required
- No visa impact from search strategy
Step by step
Research the baseline price for your route
Google Flights tells you whether today's price is low, typical or high compared with the past 12 months for similar flights. Set your target near the low end of typical.
Set your maximum acceptable price before searching
Write down the exact dollar amount you're willing to pay. If historical lows were $400, your stop-search price might be $450. Stick to this number.
Search systematically, not repeatedly
Check a few sources once a day at most. Research on airline pricing found no evidence that your browsing history raises fares, so there's no need for extra browsers or cleared cookies.
Book immediately when you hit your target price
When a fare hits your target, book it. US rule: if you book one week or more before departure with an airline flying to, from or within the US, it must either hold the reservation at the quoted fare without payment or let you cancel without penalty for at least 24 hours after booking.
Stop all searching once you've booked
Delete flight apps from your phone. Avoid checking prices after booking. What you don't know can't stress you out.
Questions people ask
What if prices drop after I book using the stop rule?
This will happen sometimes, and it's normal. The stop rule protects you from the much more common scenario of prices rising while you endlessly search. You saved time and mental energy.
How do I pick a realistic target?
Ignore one-off lows like flash sales and look at what the route usually costs for your season. If fares never reach your target, raise it.
Should I use price alerts instead of active searching?
Price alerts work well with the stop rule. Set alerts for your target price, then stop manually searching. Book when the alert hits your predetermined threshold.
What if I'm booking for a group?
With a group, agree the target fare with everyone before searching so nobody holds up the booking.
Packing
- Notebook for writing down your target prices
- Phone with flight apps deleted after booking
- Browser bookmarks cleaned of flight sites post-purchase