Google AI Can Search Award Flights. But Can You Trust It?

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Google is officially getting deeper into the points-and-miles world, and Ed and Richard have plenty of questions.

Google is adding travel functionality to AI Mode that can search for points-and-miles availability directly from participating airlines and hotel programs. Initial integrations include Alaska, Hawaiian, American, Choice, Hilton and Wyndham, with Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM and Lufthansa among those expected to follow. And the results can be fast—Richard gets award pricing back almost instantly during the show.

But fast doesn't necessarily mean accurate.

Ed puts the new functionality through a series of tests and finds incorrect Hilton award prices, missing hotels, problems with dates and days of the week, and incomplete results. Richard gets Google to find an Alaska Mileage Plan redemption on American—but only after specifically asking about it, and even then Google provides the wrong partner booking fee. They also conduct a live experiment looking for Marriott award availability during Atlanta Braves home games, with some interesting results.

So, is Google AI ready to replace dedicated award-search tools? Not yet. But Ed and Richard agree that if Google can make the data more reliable, the ability to ask a broad question like "Show me every date in October when I can fly this route for 7,500 miles" could become extremely useful.

Richard also breaks down Bilt's new partnership with Blacklane, which allows members to book the chauffeur service directly through Bilt and use Bilt Cash or points toward rides. He explains why a premium airport pickup can be particularly valuable at airports where rideshare pickup is a hassle—and acknowledges that the convenience comes at a price.

Plus, a $10 Uber Eats order somehow becomes a $29 order, the guys discuss air traffic controllers reportedly leaving work early before a fatal airport accident, and Ed celebrates a very points-and-miles-specific parenting achievement.

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