Arriving late at Chicago O'Hare, columnist Joy Schwabach had to meet her stepson at a distant terminal without knowing his gate. She asked Gemini through the phone app's microphone and listened to its answers, so she could follow its directions without looking down at her screen.
I've just landed at [AIRPORT] at [TERMINAL / GATE] and need to get to [WHERE YOU'RE MEETING SOMEONE OR CONNECTING]. Give me step-by-step walking directions, including any trains or shuttles between terminals, roughly how long it will take, and what signs to follow. Keep each step short so I can listen while I walk.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.
How to try it
- Open the Gemini app and tap the microphone so you can talk rather than type.
- Say where you are and where you need to get to, and ask for short spoken steps.
- Follow the airport signs as well, and ask again whenever you reach a new point.
More travel use cases
Use Perplexity as a pocket tour guide while you explore a city
On a trip to Udaipur, one traveller used Perplexity to research every place worth visiting and then used it as a tour guide while sightseeing, inspired by Perplexity's CEO touring Hanoi by rickshaw while asking it about the city's history.
I'm standing at [PLACE] in [CITY]. Tell me its story in a few short paragraphs: when and why it was built, who used it, and two or three details I should look out for while I'm here. Then suggest what's worth seeing within a [NUMBER]-minute walk. Include sources so I can read more later.
Chase a cancelled-flight refund with ChatGPT
After JetBlue cancelled his flight at the last minute, one traveller later asked ChatGPT to go and get his refund. He ended up with $866.36 back plus a $100 flight credit.
My flight [FLIGHT NUMBER] on [DATE] was cancelled by [AIRLINE]. I paid [AMOUNT] and [DID/DID NOT] accept an alternative. Tell me what I'm entitled to, then draft a short, firm refund request that quotes my booking reference [REF], asks for a cash refund to my original payment method within a set time, and says what I'll do if they don't respond.
Compare bookable New Year’s Eve events abroad, with prices and availability, using Perplexity
Planning New Year's Eve in Bangkok with a €400-per-person cap, central areas only and nothing ultra-luxurious, a travel editor let Perplexity's agent browse venue and booking pages. It shortlisted around ten rooftop bars, checked which still had tickets, and set out what each package included, from free-flow drinks and food to how long it lasted.
I'll be in [CITY] for [EVENT OR DATE]. Find [TYPE OF VENUE OR EVENT] that I can actually book, with a maximum of [BUDGET] per person, in [AREAS], and [ANY STYLE TO AVOID]. For each option, check whether tickets are still available, then compare in a table: price, what's included (drinks, food), time window, how to book and a link to the source.
Reference: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Joy Schwabach)