When booking flights for your next adventure, you may have noticed that prices sometimes seem to rise the more you search. This can be especially frustrating when you’re trying to get the best deal. But there’s a simple trick that can help you avoid price hikes and potentially save you money: using Incognito Mode while searching for flights. This article will explain why Incognito Mode can be a game-changer in securing affordable flights, and how it can make your flight booking experience smoother when using platforms like Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Airbnb, and GetYourGuide.
What is Incognito Mode?
Incognito Mode (also known as Private Browsing) is a feature offered by most web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. When you browse in Incognito Mode, your search history, cookies, and site data are not stored. This means websites won’t track your search behavior, which could otherwise influence the prices shown to you during subsequent searches.
How Incognito Mode Affects Flight Prices
Airlines and booking sites use sophisticated algorithms to track your browsing history and adjust prices based on demand and behavior. If you search for a particular route or destination multiple times, the website may recognize your interest and raise prices as a way to push you into booking quickly. This is especially true for popular destinations or high-demand flights.
When you use Incognito Mode, you prevent websites from storing cookies and tracking your previous searches, meaning prices are less likely to increase due to repeated searches. Essentially, you’re seeing the prices as if you were a new user, which can result in a more honest and lower price.
How to Use Incognito Mode for Flight Bookings
Using Incognito Mode is simple and works across all browsers. Here’s how you can activate it:
- Google Chrome: Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser, and select New Incognito Window.
- Mozilla Firefox: Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner, and select New Private Window.
- Safari: Click on File in the top menu, and select New Private Window.
- Microsoft Edge: Click on the three dots in the top-right corner, and select New InPrivate Window.
Once in Incognito Mode, go ahead and search for your flights, whether you’re using Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, or any other platform. You’ll have the peace of mind that your search history won’t influence the prices.
Why It’s Important for Flight Bookings
- Prevent Price Increases Due to Cookies When you repeatedly search for the same flight, airlines and booking platforms assume you’re getting closer to booking and may raise the prices to create a sense of urgency. Incognito Mode helps prevent this from happening by masking your search history.
- Fairer Prices With Incognito Mode, you can see fairer prices that reflect the actual cost of a ticket, rather than inflated rates based on your previous searches. It ensures that the pricing you see isn’t artificially adjusted because the system has detected your interest.
- Avoid Dynamic Pricing Dynamic pricing is common on booking platforms like Expedia and Booking.com, where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand and user behavior. Using Incognito Mode ensures that you’re not penalized for showing interest in a specific flight by being shown inflated prices later.
Should You Always Use Incognito Mode?
While Incognito Mode can be extremely useful when searching for flights, there are some situations where it might not be necessary. If you’re a frequent flyer and are logged into a frequent flyer account or are taking advantage of loyalty program discounts, using Incognito Mode may prevent you from accessing personalized discounts or offers available to you. In such cases, logging into the site might be more beneficial.
That being said, for one-off bookings or if you’re trying to secure the best possible price on a budget trip, using Incognito Mode is a simple and effective way to avoid being overcharged.
Conclusion
If you’re planning your next trip and want to get the best possible deal on flights and hotels, consider using Incognito Mode while browsing. This simple tool can prevent price hikes, avoid dynamic pricing, and help you secure more affordable options when booking through Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Airbnb, and GetYourGuide. By masking your search history and browsing anonymously, you ensure you’re seeing the most accurate and unbiased prices for your flights and accommodations.
Next time you’re booking a flight, remember this tip—Incognito Mode could be the key to saving big on your travel plans. Happy travels!
