Fli install and usage skill

Use this skill when the goal is to install Fli and use its CLI or MCP server correctly.

The primary path is:

install with
```
pipx install flights
```
use
```
fli
```
for terminal searches
use
```
fli-mcp
```
for Claude Desktop or other STDIO MCP clients
use
```
fli-mcp-http
```
only when an HTTP MCP endpoint is specifically needed

Do not default to cloning the repository or using a source checkout. Only mention cloning the repo when the user explicitly wants to contribute to Fli itself.

What Fli is

Fli is a Python package for accessing Google Flights data through direct API interaction.

It has three public surfaces:

CLI via
```
fli
```
Python library via the
```
fli
```
package
MCP server via
```
fli-mcp
```
and
```
fli-mcp-http
```

For this skill, focus on the CLI and MCP server first.

Core install rule

If the user wants to use Fli as a tool, recommend

pipx install flights

Why:

it is the documented recommended install path for CLI and MCP usage
it keeps the install isolated from other Python projects
it exposes
```
fli
```
,
```
fli-mcp
```
, and
```
fli-mcp-http
```
on the user's PATH

Only fall back to

pip install flights

uvx

when:

```
pipx
```
is unavailable
the user wants library-only usage
the user explicitly prefers another Python package manager

Standard installation flow

Preferred install

bash

python3 -m pip install --user pipx
python3 -m pipx ensurepath
pipx install flights

pipx

is already installed, skip directly to:

bash

pipx install flights

Verify installation

Run these checks after install:

bash

fli --help
fli-mcp --help
which fli-mcp

If the commands are not found after

pipx install flights

, have the user run:

bash

python3 -m pipx ensurepath

Then restart the terminal session.

What the install provides

After

pipx install flights

, these commands should be available:

```
fli
```
- main CLI for flight searches
```
fli-mcp
```
- MCP server over STDIO
```
fli-mcp-http
```
- MCP server over HTTP, defaulting to
```
http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp/
```

Important naming detail:

the package to install is
```
flights
```
the commands to run are
```
fli
```
,
```
fli-mcp
```
, and
```
fli-mcp-http
```

Do not tell users to run

pipx install fli

CLI usage

Basic flight search

Use:

bash

fli flights JFK LAX 2026-10-25

Cheapest-date search

Use:

bash

fli dates JFK LAX --from 2026-01-01 --to 2026-01-31

Common filters

Use filters like these when the user asks for them:

bash

fli flights JFK LHR 2026-10-25 \
  --time 6-20 \
  --airlines BA KL \
  --class BUSINESS \
  --stops NON_STOP \
  --sort DURATION

Supported language to map correctly:

cabin classes:
```
ECONOMY
```
,
```
PREMIUM_ECONOMY
```
,
```
BUSINESS
```
,
```
FIRST
```
stop filters:
```
ANY
```
,
```
NON_STOP
```
,
```
ONE_STOP
```
,
```
TWO_PLUS_STOPS
```

sort options:

CHEAPEST

DURATION

DEPARTURE_TIME

ARRIVAL_TIME

CLI shorthand

Fli supports a convenience shorthand where a non-command invocation is treated as a flights search.

Example:

bash

fli JFK LAX 2026-05-15

This behaves like:

bash

fli flights JFK LAX 2026-05-15

Use the explicit

flights

subcommand in examples unless the user asks for shortcuts.

MCP usage

Default MCP mode

Use

fli-mcp

for Claude Desktop and other STDIO-based MCP clients.

bash

fli-mcp

This is the default recommendation for local assistant integration.

HTTP MCP mode

Use

fli-mcp-http

only when the user needs an HTTP endpoint.

bash

fli-mcp-http

By default, it serves at:

```
http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp/
```

For HTTP integrations, the client should send:

Accept: application/json, text/event-stream

Claude Desktop setup

When the user wants Claude Desktop integration, recommend this config first:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fli": {
      "command": "fli-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Suggested config paths:

macOS:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows:

%APPDATA%\\Claude\\claude_desktop_config.json

Linux:

~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

After editing the config:

fully quit Claude Desktop
relaunch it
start a new conversation
ask for a flight search

Good validation prompt:

Can you search for flights from JFK to LHR on 2026-03-15?

Optional MCP environment variables

If the user wants defaults, these environment variables are relevant:

```
FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_PASSENGERS
```
```
FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_CURRENCY
```
```
FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_CABIN_CLASS
```
```
FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_SORT_BY
```
```
FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_DEPARTURE_WINDOW
```
```
FLI_MCP_MAX_RESULTS
```

Example:

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fli": {
      "command": "fli-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "EUR",
        "FLI_MCP_DEFAULT_CABIN_CLASS": "BUSINESS",
        "FLI_MCP_MAX_RESULTS": "10"
      }
    }
  }
}

How to guide users well

If the user asks to install Fli

Give them the

pipx install flights

path first.

If the user asks how to use the command line tool

Show

fli flights ...

and

fli dates ...

examples first.

If the user asks how to connect Claude or another assistant

Show

fli-mcp

and the Claude Desktop config first.

If the user asks for a web endpoint

Then show

fli-mcp-http

and mention the

/mcp/

path and

Accept

header.

If the user asks how to contribute or hack on the codebase

That is outside the primary scope of this skill. Only then discuss cloning the repository and using development commands.

Common mistakes to prevent

telling users to clone the repository when they only want the tool
telling users to install
```
fli
```
instead of
```
flights
```
focusing on the Python API when the user asked for CLI or MCP setup
giving HTTP MCP instructions when STDIO MCP is enough
forgetting to tell Claude Desktop users to fully restart the app
omitting the PATH fix when
```
pipx
```
installs successfully but commands are not found

Troubleshooting

fli

fli-mcp

not found

Try:

bash

python3 -m pipx ensurepath

Then restart the terminal.

Python version problems

Fli requires Python 3.10 or newer.

Check with:

bash

python3 --version

Claude Desktop does not show the tools

Check these in order:

```
fli-mcp --help
```
works in a terminal
the Claude Desktop config file path is correct
the JSON is valid
Claude Desktop was fully quit and reopened

Rate limiting or temporary failures

Fli includes automatic rate limiting and retries, but live Google Flights requests can still fail temporarily.

If a query fails:

retry after a short delay
reduce repeated back-to-back searches
do not assume the CLI or MCP setup is broken just because one upstream request failed

Public docs

Use these docs for product-facing guidance:

introduction:

https://punitarani-fli.mintlify.app/introduction

installation:

https://punitarani-fli.mintlify.app/installation

MCP setup:

https://punitarani-fli.mintlify.app/mcp/setup

docs index:

https://punitarani-fli.mintlify.app/llms.txt

Use product docs for examples and onboarding. Use the actual installed command names when writing instructions.

Summary

The default recommendation is

pipx install flights

. After that, use

fli

for terminal searches,

fli-mcp

for Claude Desktop and other STDIO MCP clients, and

fli-mcp-http

only when an HTTP MCP endpoint is specifically needed.

fli

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Fli install and usage skill

What Fli is

Core install rule

Standard installation flow

Preferred install

Verify installation

What the install provides

CLI usage

Basic flight search

Cheapest-date search

Common filters

CLI shorthand

MCP usage

Default MCP mode

HTTP MCP mode

Claude Desktop setup

Optional MCP environment variables

How to guide users well

If the user asks to install Fli

If the user asks how to use the command line tool

If the user asks how to connect Claude or another assistant

If the user asks for a web endpoint

If the user asks how to contribute or hack on the codebase

Common mistakes to prevent

Troubleshooting

`fli`
or
`fli-mcp`
not found

Python version problems

Claude Desktop does not show the tools

Rate limiting or temporary failures

Public docs

Summary

fli

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Fli install and usage skill

What Fli is

Core install rule

Standard installation flow

Preferred install

Verify installation

What the install provides

CLI usage

Basic flight search

Cheapest-date search

Common filters

CLI shorthand

MCP usage

Default MCP mode

HTTP MCP mode

Claude Desktop setup

Optional MCP environment variables

How to guide users well

If the user asks to install Fli

If the user asks how to use the command line tool

If the user asks how to connect Claude or another assistant

If the user asks for a web endpoint

If the user asks how to contribute or hack on the codebase

Common mistakes to prevent

Troubleshooting

fli or fli-mcp not found

Python version problems

Claude Desktop does not show the tools

Rate limiting or temporary failures

Public docs

Summary

`fli`
or
`fli-mcp`
not found