| name | serpapi |
| description | Google Flights cash prices, Google Hotels, and Google Travel Explore via SerpAPI. Use for award-vs-cash comparison, hotel search, and destination discovery. |
| category | hotels |
| summary | Google Hotels search and destination discovery. |
| api_key | SerpAPI |
| license | MIT |
SerpAPI Skill
Scrape Google Flights, Google Hotels, and Google Travel Explore via SerpAPI. Provides cash flight prices (for Chase/Amex portal comparison), hotel pricing, and destination discovery.
Source: serpapi.com — Free tier available, paid plans for higher volume.
Authentication
SERPAPI_API_KEY is set in .env. All requests use api_key query parameter.
API Base
https://serpapi.com/search
Google Flights (Cash Prices)
Search for flight prices and schedules. Essential for comparing: "Is 88,000 United miles better than paying $900 cash through the Chase portal?" (Chase portal pricing is now dynamic via Points Boost, ~1.5-2.0 cpp on select bookings; verify the actual quote.)
One-Way Search
curl -s "https://serpapi.com/search?engine=google_flights&departure_id=SFO&arrival_id=NRT&outbound_date=2026-08-10&type=2&adults=2&travel_class=1¤cy=USD&stops=2&sort_by=2&api_key=$SERPAPI_API_KEY" | jq '{best: [.best_flights[]? | {price: .price, duration: .total_duration, stops: (.layovers | length), flights: [.flights[] | {from: .departure_airport.id, to: .arrival_airport.id, airline: .airline, flight: .flight_number, depart: .departure_airport.time, arrive: .arrival_airport.time}]}], price_insights: .price_insights}'
Parameters
| Param | Required | Description |
|---|
engine | Yes | google_flights |
departure_id | Yes | Airport code(s), comma-separated: SFO,PDX |
arrival_id | Yes | Airport code(s), comma-separated: NRT,HND |
outbound_date | Yes | YYYY-MM-DD |
return_date | Round trip | YYYY-MM-DD (required if type=1) |
type | No | 1 = round trip (default), 2 = one way, 3 = multi-city |
adults | No | Default 1 |
children | No | Default 0 |
travel_class | No | 1 = economy, 2 = premium economy, 3 = business, 4 = first |
stops | No | 0 = any, 1 = nonstop, 2 = 1 stop or fewer, 3 = 2 stops or fewer |
sort_by | No | 1 = top flights, 2 = price, 3 = departure, 4 = arrival, 5 = duration |
include_airlines | No | IATA codes: SK,KL,UA or alliances: STAR_ALLIANCE,SKYTEAM,ONEWORLD |
max_price | No | Maximum ticket price in USD |
max_duration | No | Maximum flight duration in minutes |
bags | No | Number of carry-on bags |
deep_search | No | true for browser-identical results (slower) |
currency | No | Default USD |
Multi-City (Open Jaw)
Use type=3 with multi_city_json:
curl -s "https://serpapi.com/search?engine=google_flights&type=3&multi_city_json=%5B%7B%22departure_id%22%3A%22SFO%22%2C%22arrival_id%22%3A%22NRT%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222026-08-05%22%7D%2C%7B%22departure_id%22%3A%22ICN%22%2C%22arrival_id%22%3A%22SFO%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222026-08-26%22%7D%5D&adults=2&travel_class=1¤cy=USD&api_key=$SERPAPI_API_KEY" | jq '.'
The JSON value for multi_city_json is URL-encoded. Decoded:
[{"departure_id":"SFO","arrival_id":"NRT","date":"2026-08-05"},{"departure_id":"ICN","arrival_id":"SFO","date":"2026-08-26"}]
Response Fields
Each flight in best_flights[] and other_flights[]:
| Field | Description |
|---|
price | Cash price in USD |
total_duration | Total minutes |
flights[] | Array of legs with airline, flight number, times, airplane, legroom |
layovers[] | Array with duration and airport for each connection |
departure_token | Token to get return flight options (round trip) |
booking_token | Token to get booking options |
price_insights includes lowest_price, price_level (low/typical/high), and typical_price_range.
Portal Comparison Math
Chase Sapphire Reserve: dynamic Points Boost pricing, typically 1.5-2.0 cpp on select bookings (not a fixed floor). Verify actual portal price for the specific booking.
If cash price is $900, portal cost = 60,000 UR points.
If award price is 88,000 United miles, cash via portal is better value.
Amex: typically 1 cpp via portal (worse value, use transfers instead).
Capital One Venture X: 1 cpp via portal, but transfer partners can be better.
Google Hotels
Search hotels and vacation rentals with pricing from multiple OTAs.
curl -s "https://serpapi.com/search?engine=google_hotels&q=hotels+Tokyo+Japan&check_in_date=2026-08-10&check_out_date=2026-08-13&adults=2¤cy=USD&sort_by=3&api_key=$SERPAPI_API_KEY" | jq '[.properties[]? | {name: .name, type: .type, rating: .overall_rating, reviews: .reviews, price: .rate_per_night.extracted_lowest, class: .extracted_hotel_class, amenities: .amenities}] | .[0:10]'
Parameters
| Param | Required | Description |
|---|
engine | Yes | google_hotels |
q | Yes | Search query: hotels Tokyo Japan |
check_in_date | Yes | YYYY-MM-DD |
check_out_date | Yes | YYYY-MM-DD |
adults | No | Default 2 |
children | No | Default 0 |
sort_by | No | 3 = lowest price, 8 = highest rating, 13 = most reviewed |
min_price / max_price | No | Price range filter |
hotel_class | No | 2,3,4,5 (comma-separated) |
rating | No | 7 = 3.5+, 8 = 4.0+, 9 = 4.5+ |
vacation_rentals | No | Set to true for Airbnb-style results |
property_token | No | Get details for a specific property |
Google Travel Explore
Discover destinations and cheapest flights from an origin. Great for "where can I fly cheaply in August?"
curl -s "https://serpapi.com/search?engine=google_travel_explore&departure_id=SFO&outbound_date=2026-08-05&return_date=2026-08-26&adults=2&travel_class=1¤cy=USD&api_key=$SERPAPI_API_KEY" | jq '[.destinations[]? | {name: .name, country: .country, airport: .destination_airport.code, price: .flight_price, duration: .flight_duration, stops: .number_of_stops, airline: .airline}] | .[0:15]'
Parameters
| Param | Required | Description |
|---|
engine | Yes | google_travel_explore |
departure_id | Yes | Airport code or kgmid |
arrival_id | No | Specific destination |
arrival_area_id | No | Region kgmid (e.g., /m/02j9z for Europe) |
outbound_date | No | YYYY-MM-DD |
return_date | No | YYYY-MM-DD |
month | No | 1-12 for flexible dates |
travel_duration | No | 1 = weekend, 2 = 1 week, 3 = 2 weeks |
interest | No | /g/11bc58l13w = Outdoors, /m/0b3yr = Beaches |
include_airlines | No | Filter by airline or alliance |
max_price | No | Maximum price |
stops | No | Same as Google Flights |
Workflow: Compare Award vs Cash
- Search cash prices on Google Flights via SerpAPI
- Estimate portal cost. Chase uses dynamic "Points Boost" pricing (~1.5-2.0cpp on select bookings, not a flat rate). Amex/Capital One ~1.0cpp. For rough math, run the actual portal quote against the cash price; do not assume a flat cpp on Chase.
- Compare with award price from Seats.aero
- Lower number wins (accounting for the value you place on each currency)
Notes
- Cached results are free (1hr cache). Set
no_cache=true to force fresh.
deep_search=true gives browser-identical results but is slower.- Results include
price_insights with historical price data and trend.
- Multi-city supports open jaw itineraries natively.
- Hotels support vacation rentals mode for Airbnb-style results.
