Google Flights is a very handy tool for not only vacation planning, but also determining the best day of the week to fly. But there are also some lesser-known features that can save you significant money when booking airfare, especially for a large family. Google Flights tricks that will maximize your savings and help you get the most bang out of your travel dollar. Hope these help you save a big wad of cash.

Google Flights Tips & Tricks:

Fly On the Cheapest Day

After you enter your flight departure and arrival cities, and the days you want to travel, you can check out what it costs to fly on different days.

Just click on your departure date, in the case of the image above, I clicked on September 8th and Google Flights drops down a calendar.

Not just any ordinary calendar though. It actually shows you the cost to fly on any day over the next 6 months.

In my case, I could wait a week and fly out on September 15th and save almost $50. Or I could save $50 by flying out a couple days earlier on September 5th.

This is a really cool feature if you have flexibility in your schedule as you can save a lot of money by knowing which days are the cheapest to fly.

Monitor Airfare and Get Price Alerts

After you enter your preliminary travel dates and destination you’ll be asked if you want to save your trip and track price changes.

The short answer is “YES!”.

Once you toggle ON your airfare alerts, Google Flights will send you an email when the fare changes.

Once it drops to an airfare you can’t refuse, go and book it.

See Also: Here’s How Costco Travel Works PLUS Insider Tips to Save BIG

See the Flight/Airport Changes That Save You Cash

Before you finalize your flight, pay close attention to the “Airport Tip” as it’ll tell you exactly how much money you can save by flying out of a neighboring airport.

In my case, I can drive down to Oakland and fly out, instead of the Sacramento airport, and save a cool $135.

A total no-brainer, especially for family vacations as you typically have a little more flexibility in your schedule.

For my family of five, I’d save $675 by driving to Oakland.

Get Alerted Right Before an Airfare Increase

When using Google Flights on your smartphone, pay CLOSE attention to price increase warnings.

Based on years of historical data, Google will let you know of a highly likely increase in your selected route.

When you see an alert it’s probably time to book your flight before you end up paying more.

Maximize Your Airline Miles

There’s nothing worse than spending the time to research the cheapest flight only to realize you WON’T earn airline miles on the flight.

So take this scenario out of the equation by clicking on the Airline tab and get a drop-down of all alliance programs and airlines available.

Pick the one you’re affiliated with and Google Flights will automatically filter your search so you’re guaranteed to earn those valuable miles on your next flight.

Let Google Show You the Cheapest Destinations

Let’s say you’re booking a trip to Europe and you really don’t care what city you start your adventure in.

This is when the Google Flights destinations map can really help you save money.

In my image above, I chose Madrid as my starting point, but then when I look at the map showing the cost to fly into other cities, I realize I can fly into Milan for $834 round-trip and save $235.

Or heck, I can even fly into Rome and save $160.

To get to this map, just click on Explore Destinations after you’ve entered your preliminary flight information.

On a desktop, Explore Destinations is located within the small map on the right side. On mobile you’ll want to tap “Explore” to get a list of other city options.

Find “Hidden” Layover Cities

If you’re a savvy traveler, you’re probably already aware of the trick of booking a flight with a long layover in a city you might want to tour for a few hours.

Google Flights lets you filter your search results in order to look for long layovers that afford you this cool luxury.

Just click on More and pick the layover cities that interest you.

The longest layovers tend to be at the bottom of the search results with the longest typically being in the 8-12 hour range.

Use Price Graphs to Get Lowest Airfare

The Price Graph feature on Google Flights is a cool visual tool that helps you determine when to book your airfare.

In my example above, if I flew round-trip to Maui one day later, I’d pay $392 instead of $502. For a family of 5 like mine that’s a savings of $550.

The graph also quickly shows me that I should travel before October 1st as the cost of airfare goes way up after that.

Bonus: Check Out “Discover Destinations”

The Discover Destinations tool on Google Flights is a slick tool for vacation planning.

Simply click on when you think you’ll be traveling and Google will tell you what destination have the best airfare deals. The defaults are “this weekend”, 1 week, 2 weeks, and any of the next 6 months.

Travel where the best deals are located and save a butt load of money on your next family vacation.

It’s like my buddy Clark Howard always says about vacation planning, “Buy the offer immediately and then figure out why you want to go there!”

Ask the Reader: Have you used Google Flights to book airfare? If so, how much money did you save?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Steve p2008 and Google.

My wife turned me onto Sonic Drive-In a few years ago as she absolutely loves their drinks, especially their slushes. In particular, she’s a big fan of their Happy Hour where from 2-4 pm all drinks are 50% off. So it just made sense that I add the Sonic secret menu to my ever growing list. I think you’ll find the secret menu at Sonic to be socked full of fun new drinks, burgers, and treats. Hopefully you’ll find your favorite item from the secret menu below and order it the next time you pull your car in.

The Sonic Secret Menu:

Dr. Pepper Orgasm

A very strange name to a popular Sonic secret menu drink.

The Dr. Pepper Orgasm consists of Dr. Pepper (obviously), lemonade, and Powerade.

The color won’t be pretty but the taste will be divine.

Extreme Popcorn Chicken

This is the regular popcorn chicken with chili and cheese on it.

Apparently, according to a reader, if you dip it in some ranch sauce, heaven awaits.

See Also: Dairy Queen Secret Menu: Get Your Blizzard On With These Tasty Treats

Extreme Tots

Who doesn’t love the tots at Sonic Drive-In? Bueller. Bueller.

Take it up a notch and try the “Extreme Tots” from the secret menu and get tots topped with chili, cheese, jalapenos, onions, and some ranch dressing for good measure.

Anyone have any Pepto-Bismol?

Frito Pie

As the name implies, Frito Pie is Frito chips topped with chili and melted cheddar cheese.

Makes for a tasty alternative to standard nachos I suppose. The salt and Fritos crunch make for a party in your mouth.

Note: Not all Sonic locations have Fritos on hand.

Grilled Ham & Cheese

If you ever get tired of a plain ol’ grilled cheese sandwich, try ordering it with yummy sliced ham added.

I make the “Grilled Ham & Cheese” at home all the time with sliced fresh tomatoes and now I can do it at my local Sonic too. Winning.

Heart Attack

Thanks to employee Jasmine for this one.

It’s an order of large chili cheese tots with 5 chicken strips on top. Then add ranch, bacon, and some jalapenos if you’re feeling crazy.

See Also: The Shake Shack Secret Menu Will Make You Drool

Hickory Burger

This one is pretty simple as it’s just a regular burger but with Hickory Smoked BBQ sauce instead of your standard condiments.

If you’re a big fan of the Carl’s Jr. Western Bacon Cheeseburger, have Sonic throw on some onion rings as well.

Pickle O’s

I’m the dude who’ll eat just about anything if it’s fried.

So when I heard about deep-fried sliced pickles at Sonic I was intrigued.

Most Sonic enthusiasts call them “Pickle O’s”.

But if the Sonic employee gives you a blank stare when you order them, just tell them to deep fry some pickles in their yummy batter.

Most will happily oblige if the batter is still available for frying.

Pink Flamingo

The Pink Flamingo is a drink that has become quite popular in recent years.

Order it and you’ll get a Sprite with the following added: pineapple, orange, and some cherry juice.

Pink Lady

Sticking with the pink theme, order a Pink Lady and you’ll essentially get a Sprite with cherry juice and vanilla cream added.

This drink was on the regular menu at Sonic so many employees are still versed in how to make this tasty concoction.

Purple Sprite Attack

Order a “Purple Sprite” and get a Sprite with some Powerade, cranberry juice, and lemonade added.

It’s a highly refreshing drink on a hot summer day…trust me on that one as I order it all the time.

Some employees might not know it by name so you’ll want to order by ingredients.

Ring Leader Loaded Burger

Perhaps the Sonic secret menu item with the most flavor, this burger is loaded with yummy goodness.

Order the “Ring Leader” and you’ll get a burger topped with onion rings, grilled onions, and of course BACON.

Have the defibrillator at the ready.

Sonic Sunrise

The Sonic Sunrise is kind of like a Tequila Sunrise without the tequila.

It consists of a Cherry Limeade with some orange juice added which gives the drink a “Sunrise” effect.

Note: Also known as the Cherry Lime Mimosa.

Sunshine Smoothie

Order this secret menu item and score a yummy smoothie made with strawberry, banana, and orange cream slush.

The Sunshine Smoothie use to be on the regular menu so many Sonic employees still know how to whip one up in a jiffy.

Vanilla Cream Dr. Pepper

This really yummy drink tastes like a Dr. Pepper float but with no ice cream added.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever been brave enough to order something from the Sonic secret menu? How did it go and more importantly, how did it taste?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Michael Coté.

On the surface, the Lowe’s return policy seems pretty straight forward. But once you dig into it a little bit you realize it has some nuances to it that are worth knowing, especially if you shop at Lowe’s regularly. I originally wrote this article back in 2017, and unfortunately their policy has gotten much worse in recent years, especially with how they handle no-receipt returns and major appliance returns. Let’s break it all down.

How Many Return Days Does Lowe’s Give You?

90 days.

The Lowe’s return policy stipulates that you have 90 days to return items to their store.

What is the Return Policy on Major Appliances?

48 HOURS.

You only have 48 HOURS from time of delivery or pickup to return major appliances.

(NOTE: This is new as of early 2023, it used to be 30 days on appliances.)

So you’ll want to inspect appliances VERY closely upon delivery and refuse delivery if you notice something you don’t like.

If you notice damage after the delivery team leaves, you have 2 days from the time of delivery to call Lowe’s at 1-800-445-6937 to report the damage -OR- any missing parts.

The MAJOR exception to this is appliances returned in original, unopened, undamaged, and factory-sealed packaging, they still have 30 days.

This got me wondering what qualifies as “Factory-Sealed Packaging” on a refrigerator that they take out of the box BEFORE they wheel it into your kitchen.

So I called Lowe’s and was told the following, “If you did not receive the refrigerator in a box, then you are not required to return it in a box. Do not worry about that. This only affects customers who throw the packaging away.”

This leads me to believe that they’re talking about small appliances that you bring home yourself. Things like a microwave, small refrigerator, or a mixer that come in a box when you buy them and bring them home. You have 30 days to return these items as long as you don’t open them.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve had a different experience on this new twist in their return policy.

PRO TIP: CONSIDER LOWE’S CREDIT CARD FOR APPLIANCE PURCHASE

If you’ve read any of my articles on here, you know I’m not a big fan of store credit cards as the APR is astronomical and the terms typically suck. The one big exception is with the MyLowe’s Rewards credit card. If you open a new credit card, not only will you get 20% off your first purchase, but you’ll get a 30 day return policy on major appliances.

See Also: Employees Tell Me 9 Clever Ways to Save at Lowe’s

Do You Need Your Receipt to Make a Return?

Yes.

This is where their return policy started changing FOR THE WORSE in mid-2023.

In the past, if you didn’t have your receipt, Lowe’s would attempt to use your credit card, MyLowe’s card, or phone number to find your order details and issue store credit.

Those days appear to be LONG GONE as I’ve personally had them refuse my return twice when I didn’t have my receipt and they couldn’t find my order.

The last time I tried this type of return they would NOT even attempt to look up my order and I was told that their return policy regarding no-receipt returns is changing and rolling out to all stores by early-2024.

I was told that they were getting hit hard by scammers trying to return stolen merchandise, or used products well past 90 days, and they have changed their return policy because of this.

It’s too bad that a small percentage of returners have ruined their once useful policy for the rest of us.

Note: As of January 2024, from talking to many Lowe’s shoppers, this new policy is still being rolled out nationwide and some stores still have the old return policy posted but are adhering to the “new” policy and not allowing ANY returns without a receipt.

Let me know in the comments if your local Lowe’s is adhering to the old or new policy regarding this issue.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS GET RECEIPT EMAILED TO YOU

When checking out, always opt to get a printed receipt and one sent to your email. Then create a “Lowe’s” folder in your email account and drag all your receipts into it so you can quickly retrieve a receipt when you need it.

See Also: Home Depot Return Policy: It’s Now Clearly Better Than Lowe’s

What If You Paid with Cash or a Check?

You will DEFINITELY need your receipt to get a refund or exchange if you use cash or a personal check.

The days of Lowe’s looking up your purchase with your phone number, or Lowe’s account, are long gone it appears.

Obviously this only applies to in-store purchases.

Are There Other Exceptions to the 90 Days?

Yes, there are quite a few exceptions and here they are…

Winter/Holiday Seasonal Items – Must be returned by December 31st of the same holiday season.

TVs and Electronics – 30 days. Does Lowe’s actually sell TVs?

Outdoor Power Equipment – 30 days.

Trailers – 30 days.

Air Conditioners and Evaporative Coolers – 30 days.

Water Heaters – 30 days.

Paint – 30 days.

Plants – 365 days. More on this below.

FYI: You can only return trailers to a Lowe’s store in the same state that you bought it.

Can I Return Used Outdoor Power Equipment?

If you bought a lawn mower, chain saw, weed eater, blower, pretty much anything that takes gasoline, I was told by a manager that you can return it within 30 days.

But you MUST drain all the gas from it before you bring it back and you MUST have the receipt.

What About Online Purchases?

The same 90-day return policy exists on purchases made via Lowes.com.

Most items bought online come with a prepaid shipping label which is WAY cool.

Just repackage the item with the original box, manual, and parts and send it back at no charge.

Or even easier, return the item to your local Lowe’s store if you have one in your area.

Unfortunately, when you return an item via the mail you’re out the original shipping charges (if any).

See Also: Lowe’s Employee Discount: What Is It? How Do I Get It?

Can You Return Items Bought In-Store via the Mail?

If taking items back to the store is not convenient, you can indeed return items via mail.

Because you won’t have a prepaid shipping label, you’ll have to call Lowe’s directly at 1-800-445-6937 to initiate the return process.

What About Defects That Happen After 90 Days?

You just might be eligible for some relief if your product/appliance has a manufacturer defect after your 90 day return window expires.

Just call Lowe’s at 1-888-77-LOWES to schedule a factory-certified service appointment.

If the repair is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty you won’t be charged a cent.

What’s the Return Policy on Plants?

1 year from date of purchase.

This 1-year “plant guarantee” does not include annuals or clearance plants.

Just bring the dead plant back along with your receipt and you’ll get your money back.

If you still have the plant’s original container bring that back too, it will make the return process much easier.

PRO TIP: CLEVER “RECEIPT HACK” WHEN BUYING PLANTS

When buying plants from Lowe’s, keep your receipt in a save place. When buying indoor plants, my favorite tip is to put it in a Ziploc bag and tape it to the bottom of the container so you’ll never lose it.

Gift Cards…Can You Return Them?

The only way you can return a lost or stolen gift card is by presenting the original receipt.

Once presented, Lowe’s will reissue a new gift card for the remaining balance.

4 Lowe’s Return Policy Insider Hacks:

Here are some insider tips and hacks to make their return policy work best for you.

1. Return Item When Competitor has Lower Price?

If you notice that a local competitor like Home Depot or Ace Hardware has the item you bought at a lower price, you can get a price-match without returning the item. Just bring in proof of the lower price and you’ll get cash back for the difference PLUS an extra 10%.

2. Double Dip Your Savings with Store Credit (Not a Return)

Shop online at Lowe’s.com, but first use my favorite cashback site TopCashBack as they’ll give you 5% back on your Lowe’s online purchase.

When you’re checking out online, choose “store pickup” then stop by your local Lowe’s and pick-up your order.

Next, walk around the store for a few minutes, then return to the customer service desk and ask for “store credit” as you changed your mind on the purchase.

Result? You’ll still score the 5% cashback and have store credit to use on your next purchase. Rinse and repeat.

3. Lowe’s vs. The Home Depot

Whose return policy is better?

From talking to store employees, it seems to come down to individual store managers and how they handle returns.

Some managers (at both retailers) are very willing to bend over backwards to keep the customer happy and accept a return on darn near any product, regardless of age or condition.

The takeaway here is to get familiar with both retailers in your area and figure out which store is more lenient on returns (ESPECIALLY RETURNS WITHOUT A RECEIPT) and take your business there.

4. Pay Attention When They Scan Your Stuff

When you’re checking out and have multiple items that are only slightly different (color, size, etc) make sure they scan each item individually.

If they try and take a shortcut and scan the same item repeatedly, thinking they’re all the same, it will be VERY difficult to try and return any of the items as the SKU won’t be on your receipt.

Ask the Reader: Do you have any tips to make the Lowe’s return policy even more useful? Let me know in the comments section below.

By Kyle James