Filling in the search form: places, dates, travelers and cabin

The search box looks simple, but each field has a few options that can make your results more useful. Here is what each part does.

Trip type

Choose the kind of trip before you pick dates:

• Return: you fly out and back. You choose a departure and a return date.
• One way: you choose only a departure date.
• Multi-city: several flights in one trip. These are built on our partner’s site; see multi-city trips in the help center.

From and To

1. Click the field and start typing a city name, an airport name or a three-letter airport code.
2. Choose a place from the suggestions. Places you searched recently on this device may appear at the top.
3. Use the swap button between the fields to turn the trip around.

City or airport?

Many cities have more than one airport. Choosing the city searches all of them, which often finds more and cheaper options. Choose a single airport only if you need to fly from or to that exact one.

If you see “No matching city or airport”, check the spelling or try the main city nearby. Very small airfields may not be listed.

Dates

1. Open the dates field. Once From and To are set, many days show a recent price.
2. Choose your departure date, then your return date.
3. Use the arrows to move between months, and Done to close the picker.

Past dates can’t be chosen. Airlines don’t always publish fares far ahead, so a date many months away may show fewer results.

Travelers

Open Travelers and cabin to set who is flying:

• Adults: 12 years and older.
• Children: 2 to 11 years.
• Infants: under 2, traveling on an adult’s lap. Each infant needs an adult, so you can’t add more infants than adults.

You can search for up to 9 travelers in total. For larger groups, search for part of the group, or contact the airline directly about group bookings.

Cabin

Choose Economy, Premium economy, Business or First. Not every route has every cabin. If you see few results for a premium cabin, try economy to check that the route has flights at all.

Common messages and what they mean

• “Choose where you are flying from.” The From field is empty or the text wasn’t matched to a place. Pick one from the suggestions.
• “From and To are the same.” Choose a different destination.
• “Choose your travel dates.” Add a departure date (and a return date for a return trip).

Tips

• Prices on results are per adult. Children and infants are priced by the partner when you book.
• If you are not sure where to go, try Explore or Deals instead of a fixed destination.
• Nearby airports can be cheaper. Our guide on nearby airports and alternative routes shows how to use them.

Still stuck? Contact us with the route, dates and what you saw, and we will help.