Google is expanding its AI Mode conversational search tool to handle flight price tracking, hotel bookings, and loyalty points comparisons, the company announced Thursday. The updates move the feature beyond information discovery into actively managing portions of the trip-planning and reservation process. Google is positioning AI Mode as something resembling an AI-powered travel agent, according to the announcement.
Users can now describe their travel dates and destinations to AI Mode, which will surface top options with current pricing from over 300 airlines and travel platforms. If they're not ready to commit, they can request price tracking by asking the tool to monitor flight costs, and they'll receive an email notification when prices shift for their selected destination and dates. Flight price tracking in AI Mode is now live in more than 180 countries. For hotel reservations, users describe their trip and lodging preferences to receive a list of properties with reviews and important details. Once they select a hotel, they can ask AI Mode to facilitate the booking, then choose the "Continue on Google" option that appears next to Google's integrated partners—including hotel chains and travel sites—and finalize the reservation using Google Pay. Hotel booking through AI Mode has begun rolling out in the U.S. in English and will become available over the coming weeks with inventory from Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
According to Google, AI Mode can now show costs in loyalty points or miles for flights and hotels when users specify their rewards program. The tech company notes that the hotel or booking platform will manage the reservation and any customer service issues. Google also stated that if users want to build an itinerary in AI Mode and are ready to book, they can proceed directly within the tool.
The shift reflects Google's effort to capture transaction value in the travel sector, not just search traffic. By embedding booking capabilities directly into its conversational AI interface, the company is inserting itself into the final purchase step rather than handing users off to third-party sites. The loyalty points feature addresses a common friction point for travelers trying to compare cash and miles pricing across different platforms. The updates arrive as conversational AI tools compete to demonstrate practical utility beyond answering questions, with travel booking representing a high-intent, high-value category where users are already accustomed to digital self-service.
Google's expansion into trip reservations puts it in more direct competition with online travel agencies and metasearch platforms that have dominated flight and hotel comparison for years. The rollout's staggered international availability—flight tracking in over 180 countries but hotel booking initially limited to the U.S.—suggests Google is scaling the feature gradually, likely testing user adoption and partner integrations before broader deployment. The airline rewards integration is available globally now, potentially giving Google an edge with frequent travelers who prioritize points optimization. For consumers, the feature could streamline the often-fragmented process of comparing prices, tracking deals, and completing bookings across multiple tabs and platforms. The question facing Google is whether users will trust a search tool to handle transactions traditionally managed through specialized travel sites. The delegation of customer service to hotels and booking platforms may also shape user confidence in the feature's reliability.