Flight Price Drop Email Alert System using SerpAPI and Gmail - n8n Workflow

Travel hackers seeking deals and wanting reliable, automated alerts.
Users who need scheduled data monitoring integrated with an email service.
Developers looking for practical n8n templates integrating external search APIs like SerpAPI.
Anyone wanting to build automated financial or travel tracking alerts using the n8n workflow platform.

This robust n8n workflow solves the common issue of manually tracking volatile flight prices. By utilizing the SerpAPI integration via an HTTP Request n8n node, the automation checks the real-time cost of a specified flight route (BLR to DEL in this example) every day. This scheduling is handled perfectly by the Cron n8n trigger. If the current price, extracted and analyzed by a custom function n8n node, falls below a predetermined threshold (4000 INR), the system instantly fires an email notification using the Gmail n8n node. This essential n8n template demonstrates effective data extraction, custom processing, and conditional alerting, streamlining your travel preparation with a powerful n8n automation.

The entire process is controlled by a structured flow designed within the n8n environment:

1. Scheduled Start: The n8n workflow begins execution via the Cron n8n trigger, which is configured to run daily at 8:00 AM.


2. Data Retrieval: The Fetch Price - SerpAPI n8n node executes an HTTP request to SerpAPI, querying the Google Flights engine for the specific itinerary (BLR to DEL, specific date). This step fetches the raw pricing data.


3. Price Analysis: The results flow into the custom Check Price Drop Function n8n node. This n8n node uses JavaScript to parse the complex JSON response, extract the lowest price, and compare it against a static threshold of 4000 INR. It outputs a simple boolean variable (priceDrop) and the current price.


4. Conditional Gate: The IF Price Dropped? n8n node acts as a gatekeeper. It checks if the priceDrop variable is true. If the condition is met, the n8n workflow proceeds down the successful path.


5. Alerting: The final Send a message Gmail n8n node formats a personalized email alert, dynamically injecting the exact current price, and notifies the specified recipient that the target price has been reached. This completes the loop of the daily scheduled n8n automation.

To deploy this n8n template, follow these steps:

1. Import: Copy the provided n8n workflow JSON code and paste it into your n8n instance using the 'New' -> 'Import from JSON' option.


2. SerpAPI Setup: Configure the Fetch Price - SerpAPI n8n node. You will need to set up a new credential for SerpAPI, providing your API key.


3. Gmail Setup: Configure the Send a message Gmail n8n node. Set up OAuth2 credentials for your Gmail account to allow n8n to send emails on your behalf. Ensure the Send To email address is correctly updated.


4. Customization (Optional): Update the input parameters in the Fetch Price - SerpAPI n8n node (departure/arrival codes, date) and adjust the price threshold within the Check Price Drop Function n8n node script (currently set to 4000).


5. Activation: Ensure the n8n workflow is set to Active.

Cron: The primary n8n trigger for this automation. It ensures the n8n workflow runs reliably every morning at 8:00 AM, providing consistent monitoring.
Fetch Price - SerpAPI (HTTP Request n8n node): Responsible for contacting the SerpAPI service to obtain real-time Google Flights data. Key configuration includes using the predefined SerpAPI credential and setting specific query parameters for the flight route and date.
Check Price Drop (Function n8n node): This crucial custom n8n node handles the core logic. It parses the API response and implements the price comparison, outputting the priceDrop boolean flag used for flow control.
IF Price Dropped? (IF n8n node): A standard n8n node used to conditionally execute the alerting step, only proceeding if the extracted price meets the low-price criterion.

• Send a message (Gmail n8n node): The final action n8n node. It sends the email alert, dynamically utilizing data from previous n8n nodes, such as the currentPrice, to generate a detailed notification.