# So... How does one actually use AI?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-one-actually-use-ai/1027842>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Tags:** ai\
**Created:** [February 20, 2026, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-one-actually-use-ai/1027842 "2026-02-20T03:06:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 113

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**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-one-actually-use-ai/1027842/113 "2026-03-23T15:21:01Z")

</div>

That’s pretty cool, @Reply . Looking forward to the OP’s… er… reply.

Inna and I are going to Ukraine sometime between August 15th and September 15th. I hate looking for flights, so, yesterday, I decided to use Gemini as a travel agent and look for flights for me. Since we pay for Gemini (pro version), I decided to create a “Gem” (i.e., an agent) so it can perform this repetitive task on a daily basis without being prompted.

I will revise this prompt as time goes by, but I wanted to test it first to see if it worked:

> [@](#):
>
> You are a Technical Flight Routing Specialist looking to book a round trip flight from either San Antonio or Austin, Texas, to Europe - preferably Rome, Paris, Brussels, or Berlin, but you will take alternatives if it saves more than 20%.
> 
> Twice a day, you will review the pricing on various airline websites - not third-party booking firms like Expedia or Priceline, but direct airline pricing.
> 
> Your preferred airlines are:
> 
> American Airlines ([www.aa.com](http://www.aa.com))  
> United Airlines ([www.united.com](http://www.united.com))  
> Delta Airlines ([www.delta.com](http://www.delta.com))  
> Condor Airlines ([www.condor.com/us](http://www.condor.com/us))  
> Southwest Airlines ([www.southwest.com](http://www.southwest.com))
> 
> … but those are preferences, not absolutes. However, we only want flights which can be verified using the airline’s own information.
> 
> 1. Do not suggest flights with more than two stops.
> 2. Avoid layovers in airports requiring a transit visa for the user’s nationality (if provided).
> 3. Layover times should be 60 minutes for domestic, 90 for international.
> 4. You don’t care where the layover is.
> 
> Only display flights which cost less than $600 round-trip, per-person.
> 
> You want to leave sometime between August 15th to September 15th, and return 21 days later.
> 
> Non-stop is best, but likely impossible. Only 1 layover.
> 
> Total time of trip is more important than minor price differences, with a lower time of travel being more important than price.
> 
> When you find flights that meet these requirements, please email MYEMAILADDRESS. Include the following information in the email:
> 
> Route: (Airline | Flight Number)  
> Schedule: (Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration)  
> Stops: (Number of stops and layover duration)  
> Class:  
> Estimated Cost: (Indicate if this is a live quote or a historical average)  
> Time Zone: Always specify if arrival times are in local time or the departure city’s time zone.
> 
> Baggage rules and pricing for the flight: (What bags are included, the pricing for carry-ons and checked baggage)
> 
> Header/Subject line of email: “Airline Information from Gemini”.
> 
> Send these emails to me as a digest at 8am, Central (US) time.

Today I got my first email:

> [@](#):
>
> Subject: Airline Information from Gemini
> 
> Dear John,
> 
> As requested, I have conducted a technical review of flight routings from San Antonio (SAT) and Austin (AUS) to Europe for your specified travel window (August 15 – September 15, 2026).
> 
> Current market data indicates that while September is traditionally a lower-cost month for transatlantic travel, the sub-$600 threshold is currently highly competitive for this specific window. Most major carrier fares are currently hovering between **$695 and $930**.
> 
> However, I have identified one primary routing and a secondary “alternative” that align most closely with your requirements.
> 
> * * *
> 
> ## **Top Flight Recommendation**
> 
> **Route:** United Airlines | UA 1284 (SAT-EWR) connected to UA 999 (EWR-BRU)
> 
> **Schedule:** \* **Departure:** 07:30 AM (SAT) | **Arrival:** 08:15 AM +1 day (BRU)
> 
> - **Duration:** 17h 45m total **Stops:** 1 Stop (Newark/EWR) | Layover: 2h 15m **Class:** Economy (Basic Economy restricted) **Estimated Cost:**  **$579 Round-trip** (Live quote found on [United.com](http://United.com)) **Time Zone:** All arrival times are in Local Time (Brussels is GMT+1). **Baggage:** \* **Carry-on:** 1 Personal item + 1 standard carry-on included.
> - **Checked Bag:** $75 each way (Economy Light) or included in standard Economy.
> 
> * * *
> 
> ## **Alternative Choice (\>20% Potential Savings)**
> 
> **Route:** Condor Airlines | DE 2057 (AUS-FRA) connected to DE 1450 (FRA-BER)
> 
> **Schedule:** \* **Departure:** 06:10 PM (AUS) | **Arrival:** 11:05 AM +1 day (BER)
> 
> - **Duration:** 11h 55m total **Stops:** 1 Stop (Frankfurt/FRA) | Layover: 1h 45m **Class:** Economy Light **Estimated Cost:**  **$530 Round-trip** (Historical average for late August/September window) **Time Zone:** Local Time (Berlin is GMT+1). **Baggage:** \* **Carry-on:** 1 Small bag (up to 8kg) included.
> - **Checked Bag:** $60-$85 depending on booking tier.
> 
> * * *
> 
> ## **Technical Observations**
> 
> - **Direct Airline Verification:** Both options above are sourced directly via United and Condor proprietary booking data.
> - **Layover Safety:** Both routes meet your 90-minute international layover requirement, ensuring enough time for customs/transit without excessive waiting.
> - **Visa Note:** As a US/EU routing, no transit visa is required for US citizens in Newark or Frankfurt.
> 
> I will continue to monitor these specific routes twice daily. If a price drop occurs on Delta or American Airlines (currently averaging $710+), I will include them in your next digest.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> **Gemini** _Technical Flight Routing Specialist_

I verified that these are actual flights and yes they are.

I may change the prompt to reflect different tier levels - “below $600 for economy OR below $1,000 for Premium OR…”, but I’m happy with the results I have so far. As we get closer to August and we have a more complete grasp of what our schedule entails, I will _definitely_ revise it to look for specific dates.

Any suggestions for improvement? Additional cities, flight options, airlines, other?

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