How To Use Kayak’s Boeing 737-9 Max Filter
Online travel site Kayak offers an enhanced filter that allows you to exclude the Max 8 and 9 planes from your search.


Online travel booking website, Kayak, says it has seen a massive uptick on one of its flight search features: A filter that allows users to include or exclude certain aircraft models — including Boeing 737-9 Max planes — from their search.
The travel search engine, where customers can also book hotels and rental cars, saw a 15% spike in usage of the filter for 737 Max planes, following a January 5 incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight in which the plug door detached during flight. The government's investigation of Boeing following the Alaska flight is ongoing.
Here's how it works: When booking flights through Kayak, input your desired destination and travel dates into the search page, then scroll to the bottom left corner and look for the “Model” category filter (under the Aircraft category filter).
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
From there, you can pick and choose which aircraft you'd like to include or exclude from the search.
Kayak has offered the filter since 2019, but following an uptick in usage, it moved the filter up so that it's more prominent for travelers when they search for a flight, a spokesperson told Kiplinger in an email. The company also added the ability to filter specifically by the 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft models.
Steve Hafner, Kayak’s CEO, said in a statement that customers should still be diligent when scheduling travel.
“Kayak makes it easy for concerned travelers to avoid 737 Max flights,” he said. “We've increased the prominence of the MAX filter on site. Airlines do often substitute equipment — so travelers should double check before departure.”
Alaska, United resume some Max flights
It’s a good time to be aware of this feature, as Alaska and United airlines have now begun to return some of its Max 9s to service, following a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved inspection and maintenance process.
The incident caused extensive delays and groundings, which lasted for much of January. This included weeks of updates, inspections and reassurance from the airlines that they were taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the planes, as recommended by the FAA.
In other travel news, anxious flyers may want to take note of another site: Turbli. As Kiplinger recently reported, the site provides forecasts of turbulence for flights along with wind, thunderstorms, takeoff and landing crosswinds,
And if you're looking for accessible travel, AccessibleGo travel website has launched a major expansion. The site, which bills itself as a “one-stop shop for all your disability travel needs,” can now be used to book equipment rentals, flights, rental cars with hand controls, wheelchair van rentals and more.
RELATED CONTENT
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Jamie Feldman is a journalist, essayist and content creator. After building a byline as a lifestyle editor for HuffPost, her articles and editorials have since appeared in Cosmopolitan, Betches, Nylon, Bustle, Parade, and Well+Good. Her journey out of credit card debt, which she chronicles on TikTok, has amassed a loyal social media following. Her story has been featured in Fortune, Business Insider and on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CBS News, and NPR. She is currently producing a podcast on the same topic and living in Brooklyn, New York.
-
Here's Why I'm Upgrading to the iPhone 17
The iPhone 17 is here. Learn what's new, where the best deals are and whether it's worth the switch.
-
September Fed Meeting: Live Updates and Commentary
The September Fed meeting is a key economic event, with Wall Street keyed into what Fed Chair Powell & Co. will do about interest rates.
-
Is It Worth Upgrading to the iPhone 17?
The iPhone 17 is here. Learn what's new, where the best deals are and whether it's worth the switch.
-
I'm an Investment Strategist: This Is How the Fed's Next Rate Move Could Impact Your Wallet
Interest rate cuts might be coming, which could affect everything from your credit card debt to your mortgage. It's smart to prepare now — here's how.
-
Seven Surprising Reasons Retirees Are Going Back to Work
Sure, money is a big reason to come out of retirement, but it's not the only reason retirees are doing it.
-
US Increasing ESTA Fee to Nearly Double Starting in September
New fee structure hikes ESTA from $21 to $40, adding a new layer to visitor costs under the One Big Beautiful Bill.
-
The Real Cost of Streaming Live Sports in 2025
Streaming your favorite team keeps getting more expensive. Here’s the true cost of sports — and how to save.
-
Flight Refunds Could Soon Be Harder to Get
The Department of Transportation's deregulation efforts are taking aim at your rights to compensation for delays, canceled flights, lost baggage and more.
-
Beyond Banking: How Credit Unions Serve Their Communities
Credit unions differentiate themselves from traditional banks by operating as member-owned financial cooperatives focused on community support and service rather than shareholder profit.
-
Press Pause on Spending: Reset Your Financial Mindset with a No-Spend Challenge
Use a month-long spending freeze to break habits, reclaim control over your money and lay the groundwork for smarter, lasting financial habits.