Does clearing your browser really lower flight prices?
I got a great question from Danielle in Austin: “Kim, every time I search for a flight and go back later, the price has gone up. Are airlines tracking me? If I clear my browser history or use incognito mode, will I get a cheaper deal?”
You’ve probably wondered the same thing. And there’s no shortage of online advice telling you to delete cookies, browse privately or even switch devices to avoid so-called price hikes.
So what’s the truth? Let’s break it down.
🧐 Is it a scam?
Airlines and booking sites aren’t raising prices just because you searched for a ticket. Prices change constantly based on demand, seat availability, time of day and, yes, your luck.
So if you search for a flight in the morning, then again at night, and the price has jumped, that’s not because of your cookies. It’s because someone else booked, or the algorithm adjusted based on how seats are selling.
Dynamic pricing is real, but it’s not personal. Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your privacy.
I still recommend using incognito mode or clearing cookies. It gives you a cleaner browsing experience without ads following you across the internet. Plus, it prevents “session fatigue” where your browser remembers your old searches and doesn’t refresh options.
💸 Find the lowest airfare
- Use flight comparison tools like Google Flights, Kayak and Skyscanner.
- Set alerts for routes you want. Prices often drop midweek.
- Search one-way tickets separately. Sometimes it’s cheaper than booking round-trip.
- Fly midweek, early morning or late at night.
- Don’t obsessively search for the same flight. You’re not being tracked. Prices change fast, and rechecking every 10 minutes will just stress you out.
- Use a VPN and you may get a lower price. See below.
🔮 Sorcery actually worked
A friend was renting a car in the U.K. Total? $900. I told her to turn on her VPN and pretend she was already in London like the cheeky traveler she is.
She refreshed, same site, same dates, and boom: $298. Now she has enough savings to buy two pints at Heathrow!
Just one more reason I always say: Never shop for travel online without using a VPN. ExpressVPN is a sponsor of my show, so you get four months free using my link.
Finally, don’t take it personally when your bargain flight you forgot to book is now extortion-level pricing. It happens to us all.
Nerd joke time: A photon walks up to an airline counter to buy a ticket, and the clerk asks, “Any baggage to check?” The photon replies, “No, I’m traveling light.”
Tags: airlines, ExpressVPN, flights, Google Flights, Kayak, VPN
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