Clearing Your Search History Won't Get You a Cheaper Flight — Here's What to Do Instead (2024)

When it comes to travel advice, there are a lot of common misconceptions floating around the web. And Scott's Cheap Flights is here to bust them all. "Airfare is incredibly volatile," Scott Keyes, the founder and chief flight expert, tells Travel + Leisure. "It's always yo-yoing around. And it doesn't follow the same patterns as most other things we buy."

Indeed, there's a lot of bad travel advice out there, and yes, there are a few myths we've fallen for too. It's OK, everyone wants to get the best deal possible, so why not try everything, right? But, to save you some time, Scott's Cheap Flights has debunked three more booking myths so you can skip these and get onto the good stuff instead.

No, your search history doesn't affect flight prices.

According to the flight search company, many people incorrectly assume that the airlines are manipulating prices based on a customer's past flight searches. But "if this was true, the Flight Experts at Scott's Cheap Flights would have a much harder time finding deals," the company said in an email. "We run thousands of searches every day, day after day. If prices were rising based on those previous searches, we'd see it."

Yes, the company adds that airlines and online travel agencies (OTA) usually access a person's IP address, but the airline or OTA uses that information to provide accurate location-related details like language and currency — not to manipulate prices based on your activity.

If the price changes mid-search, it's likely a coincidence.

If a person sees significant changes to airline ticket costs between searches, Scotts Cheap Flights says it's likely a coincidence.

"If the price happens to change between searches, there could be a number of factors at play," the company says. It notes that prices fluctuate all the time, and it's possible that the price simply increased in the few minutes between searches. Then, the price could have increased due to demand. If a seat is sold, the price rises to the next bracket.

"While airline and OTA sites are tracking things like your location, they aren't obsessively tracking your searches to sneakily increase the prices on flights they know you're interested in," the company says.

Sure, you can clear your cookies if it makes you feel better.

According to Scott's Cheap Flights, there's no harm in clearing your cookies or searching for a flight in your browser's incognito mode, but know it won't do anything for you. However, there are other things you can do to save. First, try searching in what they call the "Goldilocks window," which sits 2-8 months ahead of international flights and 1-3 months for domestic. Next, try to remain flexible with dates and always try your best to avoid peak travel times. Of course, always be ready to click "buy" the second you see a deal that suits you. Check out Scott's Cheap Flights for more way to save on air travel.

Clearing Your Search History Won't Get You a Cheaper Flight — Here's What to Do Instead (2024)

FAQs

Clearing Your Search History Won't Get You a Cheaper Flight — Here's What to Do Instead? ›

“What people see when they shop multiple times and prices are changing is a reflection of inventory changes, data caching techniques and the fact that prices generally get more expensive closer to departure date, even within a day.”

How do I clear cookies when searching for flights? ›

How to Clear Cookies on Your Web Browser For the Cheapest Flights
  1. Click the menu button on your browser's toolbar.
  2. Click on "Settings"
  3. Click "Show Advanced Settings"
  4. Find the "Privacy" section, and click "Content Settings"
  5. Find the "Cookies" section, and click "Delete Cookies"
Nov 25, 2019

Why do flights get more expensive when I search? ›

“What people see when they shop multiple times and prices are changing is a reflection of inventory changes, data caching techniques and the fact that prices generally get more expensive closer to departure date, even within a day.”

How can I make my flight more affordable? ›

  1. Ignore the Myths. ...
  2. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates and Times. ...
  3. Be Flexible with Your Destinations. ...
  4. Keep an Eye for Special Deals. ...
  5. Fly Budget Carriers. ...
  6. Don't Always Fly Direct. ...
  7. Remember Not All Search Engines are Equal. ...
  8. Take Advantage of Student Discounts.
Jun 7, 2023

Do flight prices go down on Tuesday? ›

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest days to fly domestically. The cheapest days to depart if you're flying within the U.S. are midweek — generally Tuesday or Wednesday. For economy tickets, Tuesdays are about 24% lower than peak prices on Sundays, which translates to savings of about $85 per ticket.

Does clearing cookies clear everything? ›

After you clear cache and cookies: Some settings on sites get deleted. For example, if you were signed in, you'll need to sign in again. If you turn sync on in Chrome, you'll stay signed into the Google Account you're syncing to in order to delete your data across all your devices.

How do I clear my Chrome cache for flights? ›

Google Chrome

From the menu select More tools > Clear browsing data... 3. Caution! Check only Cookies and other site and plugin data and Cached images and files.

What time of day are flights cheapest? ›

For U.S. flights, this is the best time to book your flight. More specifically, Tuesday at about 15:00 eastern time. This is because many airlines release weekly sales early on Tuesday, which creates competition between airlines to match prices.

Do flight prices go down at night? ›

What Is the Best Day of the Week to Book Airline Tickets? You may have heard that there is a cheap window of time during the week to book your airline tickets. According to CheapAir.com, that's a myth. The day and time of the week have no impact on ticket prices.

Do flights get cheaper closer to the date? ›

The closer to the departure date, the more expensive the price. More seats tend to fill the closer to the departure date. As more tickets sell for any given flight, the demand increases creating a jump in ticket prices.

What day of the week is best to book a flight? ›

Tuesdays may not be favorable for booking, but if you're hoping to score major savings, booking your departure on a Tuesday or Wednesday is a surefire way to do so. Mid-week flights offer the best deal prices in comparison to flights departing the rest of the week.

What time do flight prices drop on Tuesday? ›

Hopper has said Tuesday flights are usually cheaper only if you purchase them exactly at midnight, and even so, that saves only about $18 on average for 1.6 percent of domestic U.S. flights.

How far in advance should I book a flight for best price? ›

The general rule is that for domestic flights, travelers should start searching for flight tickets one to three months in advance. For international flights, the best prices are typically available from two to eight months in advance.

What month is the cheapest to fly? ›

♦ Cheapest month to fly: January or February

For the lowest fares on domestic flights, travel in January or February. But for international trips, you'll find the cheapest fare in August.

What month do flight prices drop? ›

For domestic flights in March and April, Google said prices are typically lowest 23 to 59 days before departure, hitting their lowest price 38 days out. Summer vacation. For domestic flights in July or August, prices are typically lower 14 to 44 days out, hitting rock bottom 21 days before takeoff.

What is the cheapest airline to fly with? ›

Low-Cost Airlines in the US: The Cheapest and Best Airlines to Fly Domestic
  1. Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines is one of the largest budget carriers in the world. ...
  2. JetBlue. ...
  3. Spirit. ...
  4. Breeze Airways. ...
  5. Hawaiian Airlines. ...
  6. Avelo Airlines. ...
  7. Delta Air Lines. ...
  8. Alaska Airlines.
Apr 28, 2023

What is the downside of clearing cookies? ›

Cons of deleting cookies

Without cookies, you'll be logged out of all your online accounts, which means you'll have to re-enter your login information and reset your website preferences. The ads and suggestions you see online may also be less relevant to you.

Is there a downside to clearing cache? ›

A common concern is that clearing your cache might delete the images, songs, documents, and other files you have downloaded from website you have visited, but those files are different to your web browser cache. So rest assured that simply clearing your cache won't affect the precious files you have saved.

Does deleting history delete cookies? ›

Clearing your website visit history is simple: click History > Clear History. In the pop-up, pick a timeframe for how far back you want to erase. This is doing a lot more than deleting the browser history, however—it also takes out your cookies and data cache.

What is the difference between cache and cookies? ›

The cache stores the website content only on a user browser. Cookies store their content on both- a server as well as a browser. One needs to delete the cache manually. It does not expire automatically.

How do I clear my travel cache? ›

How to clear your cache in Chrome
  1. Open the Chrome browser.
  2. Click the three-dot “More” icon on the right side of the browser.
  3. Go to More tools > Clear browsing data.
  4. Select a time range, or choose “All time” to delete everything.
  5. Check the box next to “Cached images and files.”
  6. Click “Clear data.”
Mar 6, 2023

How do I force a website to clear cache? ›

Here's how to clear the browser cache for just one web page: Open the webpage you want to clear the cache for, and go into Chrome Developer Tools. That's CMD+Option+I on a Mac, and CTRL+Shift+I or F12 on Windows, Linux, and Chromebooks. Click Empty Cache and Hard Reload in the list of options, and you're done.

Is it cheaper to fly in the morning or at night? ›

The early bird may be known for catching the worm, but it also catches the best flights. In fact, people who get the first flight in the morning can usually expect a smoother trip, friendlier staff, a cleaner plane and, often, a cheaper ticket.

Will flights become cheaper in 2023? ›

In 2023, we expect that [trend] to reverse and year-over-year fares to fall,” Keyes said, pointing to Federal Reserve data indicating recent, modest drops in airfare—a shift that comes as airlines have begun to add more flights, fueling competition.

Why are late night flights cheaper? ›

Because of their obscure flight times, red eye flights are usually less in-demand. Therefore, airlines offer red eye flight tickets at a cheaper price as an incentive for passengers to book flights during these off-peak hours.

What days are the cheapest to fly Delta? ›

Fares are usually lower on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and highest on Fridays and Sundays. Flights later in the evening are also usually lower demand. Search nearby area airports. Low fares sold out at one airport, may be available at another nearby airport.

Do flights go up after midnight? ›

Tuesday Around Midnight is the Cheapest Time to Book

However, this is only applicable to about 1.6% of U.S. markets, meaning that it's not likely you'll find the same savings on your specific route. And midnight later in the week actually gets more expensive. So put the "always book at midnight" myth to bed.

Do seat upgrades get cheaper closer to flight? ›

Ask at check-in. Airlines may sell upgrades at a discount when you check-in, either online or at the airport. The closer to the flight departing, the less likely the airline is to sell a cash fare in the upgraded cabin. Thus, they may be open to the idea of offering it to an existing passenger for a discounted price.

Can you negotiate airline ticket prices? ›

You can use travel agents, the true champions of negotiations, to fetch the best deals for you. You can even try bargaining directly with the airline's representative on the toll-free number. Be patient and polite, and ask them about the possibilities of getting the flight at a lower fare.

Do airline tickets fluctuate daily? ›

The airlines update fare information 3 times a day. They do not necessarily change airfare prices all three times, but they certainly can, and often do.

How many months out is the best time to book a flight? ›

Start looking at flight prices at least six months out, if you can … and try to book at least two months before your trip. After that, you're less likely to come across a cheap, last-minute fare. According to Google Flights data, the cheapest international airfare is found about four months out, on average.

What is the easiest day of the week to fly? ›

Best Day of the Week to Fly Domestic

While it's important to note that the best day of the week to fly varies based on the route, typically, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The general rule is that mid-week flights will be cheaper and quieter.

Do Expedia prices go down? ›

Prices can fluctuate in the lead-up to departure, but with Expedia's Price Drop Protection travelers can get refunded for the difference if the flight becomes cheaper after they book.

What is the most expensive day to fly? ›

Generally, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the cheapest days to fly, while Fridays and Sundays are pricier, according to travel deal site FareCompare. Leisure travelers tend to fly on the weekends, either starting their vacations on Friday or taking a long weekend Friday to Sunday.

How far in advance should I book a flight 2023? ›

Time your booking right

“For international flights — [it's] four to 10 months.” If you're traveling during an off-peak season, you're going to want to look at airfares one to three months in advance for domestic flights, and two to eight months ahead of the flight for international trips.

What is the cheapest month to fly to New York? ›

THE CHEAPEST TIME TO VISIT NYC

As you might well have guessed, the cheapest months of the year to holiday in NYC are from January through March. It's in these 3 months that the costs of both a flight and hotel are on average the lowest for the whole year.

What is the most expensive month to fly? ›

For most destinations, peak summer is madness for travel. And that high demand for peak season raises flight prices for you. Typically, flight prices increase from mid-May or maybe early June through to mid-August or early September as families get out for summer break and other travelers set out for sunny adventures.

What is the cheapest day of the week to fly on Southwest airlines? ›

Watch for sales (They happen frequently)

Southwest has an unofficial but predictable fare sale calendar that drops the prices on some routes nearly every Tuesday. While it's not a published policy, these generally run from Tuesday through Thursday and offer one-way prices on select routes as low as $39.

What days of the week do flight prices go down? ›

Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the cheapest days to fly domestically. For international travel, midweek is also best. Hopper recommends departing earlier in the week (between Monday and Wednesday) and returning later in the week (between Tuesday and Thursday) for international flights.

What state has cheapest flights? ›

New Jersey happens to be the cheapest state to fly out of nationally with an average domestic flight price of just $205.60, according to a study by loan company NetCredit that was shared with Travel + Leisure.

What is the most expensive airline in US? ›

"I do think Delta goes a step above and beyond," Kelly said. "They're also the most expensive airline, and they're profitable.

What is the cheapest airport to fly out of in the US? ›

The cheapest airports in the U.S.

Pete Clearwater International Airport in Florida is the cheapest U.S. airport to travel out of, according to the report. It has an average flight cost of $147. The airport serves the Tampa Bay area and is a destination for low-cost carriers like Las Vegas-based airline Allegiant Air.

How do I clear cookies on my iPhone for flights? ›

Clear the history and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
  1. To clear your history and cookies, go to Settings > Safari, and tap Clear History and Website Data. ...
  2. To clear your cookies and keep your history, go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data, then tap Remove All Website Data.
Dec 16, 2021

How do I clear cookies on an iPhone? ›

How to clear cache and cookies on iPhone or iPad
  1. Open the Settings app, then select Safari.
  2. Scroll down, then select Clear History and Website Data.
  3. Tap Clear History and Data to confirm.
Jun 7, 2023

How do I clear my entire search history? ›

Delete Search history
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google app .
  2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or initial. Search history.
  3. Choose the Search history you want to delete. You can choose: All your Search history: Above your history, tap Delete. Delete all time.

Should you delete cookies on iPhone? ›

While it's not strictly necessary, deleting your iPhone's cookies from time to time can help you save space and fix some browsing issues. What are cookies? These are small files that keep track of what you do online.

How often should you clear cookies? ›

As a general rule, you should clear your browser cache and cookies at least once a month, or more often if you experience any of the following: slow running or crashing browsers, difficulty loading websites or features, outdated or incorrect information or images on some websites, the need to free up storage space on ...

Should I delete cookies on my phone? ›

When you use a browser, like Chrome, it saves some information from websites in its cache and cookies. Clearing them fixes certain problems, like loading or formatting issues on sites.

How do I clear my iPhone cache without deleting apps? ›

Fortunately, you can manually clear the cache on an iPhone. If you frequently use your browser, you can clear its cache by going to "Settings > Safari > Clear History & Website Data". You can also restart your device to delete some temporary files.

How often should you clear browsing history? ›

It's best to delete your search history at least twice a month to reduce the chances of getting hacked.

What do you lose when you clear cookies? ›

So, what happens when you clear cookies? The information stored by websites and advertisers on your computer is removed. You'll enter your login information each time you visit a new website and it may take longer to load. More importantly, it can fix performance issues, especially as it relates to erroneous cookies.

What happens if I delete all cookies on my iPhone? ›

After you clear cache and cookies: Some settings on sites get deleted. For example, if you were signed in, you'll need to sign in again. Some sites can seem slower because content, like images, needs to load again.

How to clear Safari history? ›

In the Safari app on your Mac, choose History > Clear History, then click the pop-up menu. Choose how far back you want your browsing history cleared.

How to clear Safari cache? ›

Clear the Web Browser Cache - Safari
  1. Click on the Safari drop-down menu and select Preferences.
  2. Click the Advanced tab. Select the Show Develop menu in menu bar checkbox and close the Preferences window.
  3. Select the Develop drop-down menu. Click Empty Cache.
  4. Note: You may want to also clear your browser history.

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