Flight delay predictions, mobile trip-planning, automatic itinerary management, language translation through Bluetooth earbuds, and a smartphone that enables users to learn about landmarks by tapping an icon and aiming the phone at them.
When you use an Android or iOS smartphone to search Google for a flight, a hotel or even a destination, you’ll find a blue navigation bar.
With the blue navigation bar, users can now easily move between flight and hotel options as well as an “explore” tab to check out the destination’s top sights and best times to visit, and a “your trips” tab that lets them see future and past travel reservations. The feature is being rolled out on mobile phones in the United States and plans for global in the coming months.
On Google Flights, users can now see what’s included or not with fare types like economy. For instance, you can find out whether a particular fare on an airline allows you to choose your seat or store a bag in an overhead bin. Users may also be able to find out why their flights are delayed by just searching your flight number on Google.
Google Pixel Buds, Bluetooth earbuds that work with Google Translate on the company’s Pixel 2 phone, offer translation in 40 languages, including Italian, Hindi, Chinese and Spanish. If you type in what you’re trying to say, Google Assistant will then speak aloud on the phone in French what you just said in English. When the waiter replies in French, you’ll hear his words translated into English in your ear.
Google Pixel 2 also has Google Lens technology, which enables users to tap a Lens icon and then point the phone at things such as a landmark, an artwork or a movie poster to learn more.
These are among the travel innovations Google has been introducing in recent days and weeks. In fact, they may already be on your phone, nudging Google closer to being a one-stop destination for on-the-go vacation planning.
