If you are thinking about paying for Going, the real question is not whether flight deal alerts sound useful. It is whether Premium is enough or whether Elite adds features you would actually use.
That is an important difference, because this is not a booking site. Going helps you spot deals faster. You still book the flight yourself.
So before you pay for another travel subscription, the better question is simple: Do you mainly want cheaper economy fares, or do you actually care about premium-cabin alerts too?
Quick answer: Which Going plan makes the most sense?
For most travelers, Going Premium is the better buy. If you usually fly economy, want both domestic and international deal alerts, and just want a smarter way to catch good fares without overpaying for features you will not use, Premium is usually the sweet spot.
Going Elite only makes sense for a narrower group. If you actively care about premium economy, business class, or first class deals, Elite is where the upgrade starts to matter. If you almost always fly economy, the jump from Premium to Elite is usually hard to justify.
What Going actually is (and what it is not)
Before comparing tiers, it helps to clear up one thing: Going is not a travel agency or booking engine. It is a flight deal alert service.
You choose your US departure airports, Going watches fares across hundreds of destinations, and when prices drop, it sends you the deal details and booking links. You still complete the booking yourself, usually directly with the airline.
That matters because Going only creates value if you are flexible enough to act when a strong fare appears. If you want a service that books everything for you, this is not that.
If you are trying to decide whether a subscription like this belongs in your budget at all, here is what I found when I did a full subscription check.
Going Premium vs Elite: the core differences
| Feature | Premium ($49/yr) | Elite ($199/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Deals | Domestic & International | Domestic & International |
| Premium Economy Deals | No | Yes |
| Business & First Class Deals | No | Yes |
| Points & Miles Deals | Economy only | All fare classes |
| Mistake Fares | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Flight Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Best Fit | Economy-focused travelers | Premium-cabin travelers |
Who should choose Going Premium?
Premium makes the most sense if your goal is simple: find cheaper flights without turning another subscription into dead weight.
- Best for: Economy travelers, families, casual travelers, and budget-conscious solo travelers.
- Why it works: You get domestic and international economy deals, custom flight alerts, points-and-miles economy deals, and mistake fares without paying for premium-cabin features you may never use.
If your idea of a win is a cheaper round-trip fare to Europe, Japan, Hawaii, or a domestic getaway, Premium is usually enough.
Who should upgrade to Going Elite?
Elite is not the “better” plan for everyone. It is the better plan for a very specific traveler.
- Best for: Travelers who actively look for premium economy, business class, or first class deals.
- Why it works: You get everything in Premium, plus deal alerts across higher fare classes and broader points-and-miles value for travelers who care about flying up front.
If you rarely pay attention to premium cabins, Elite can easily become the kind of aspirational subscription that sounds exciting but does not change your actual travel spending.
When the free plan is enough
You do not have to pay right away.
Going Limited is enough if you mostly want to test the service, see how the alerts work, and get a lighter stream of domestic economy deals from the contiguous US. If you are still unsure whether you would actually book based on alerts, starting free is the safer move.
When Going is not worth it
At Decision Log, the point is not to recommend every subscription. It is to make the decision easier.
Going is probably not worth paying for if:
- Your dates are completely rigid: If you must fly on exact dates no matter what, deal alerts become less useful.
- You only use one airport and never flex: The narrower your routing options, the lower the value of alert-based tools.
- You already enjoy searching manually: If Google Flights is already part of your routine and you do not mind the time, you may not need another subscription.
- You like the idea of travel more than the actual booking behavior: A deal alert service only works if deals influence what you book.
If you are stuck between keeping, downgrading, or skipping a subscription like this, start with the questions I ask before deciding what to keep.
Free trial, renewal, and refund basics
Both Premium and Elite can start with a 14-day free trial. If you cancel before the trial ends, your account drops back to Limited.
After that, paid memberships renew automatically each year unless you cancel before the listed renewal date. Going says membership payments are generally non-refundable, though some web purchases made recently may be able to request a refund exception through the billing page if they meet the stated conditions.
My take
Most people should choose Going Premium.
It covers the core value of the service without pushing you into a much more expensive membership built around premium-cabin deal hunting.
Choose Elite only if premium economy, business class, or first class deals are the reason you are joining. If that is not how you actually travel, the upgrade is probably more fantasy than value.
Still unsure? Start with the free plan or trial first. A travel subscription is only useful if it changes what you actually book.
Planning a broader reset of your recurring costs? Start with Am I Overpaying for Subscriptions? A Simple Monthly Check.
FAQ
Is there a free version of Going?
Yes. Going Limited is the free plan. It gives you a lighter version of the service focused on domestic economy deals from the contiguous US.
Can I try Premium or Elite before paying?
Yes. Going offers a 14-day free trial for both Premium and Elite if you have not redeemed one before.
Is Going worth paying for if I only fly economy?
Usually yes, but Premium is the better fit than Elite for most economy travelers.
When does Elite make sense?
Elite makes sense when premium economy, business class, or first class deal alerts are something you would realistically use, not just something that sounds nice in theory.