How Airlines Track Your Searches (and What You Can Do About It)

Have you ever noticed that the more you search for a flight, the higher the price seems to climb? Some travelers swear that airlines track their searches and increase prices as a way to push you into booking. Is it true, and what can you do about it?

Do Airlines Really Track Your Searches?

While airlines haven’t explicitly confirmed they increase prices based on your search history, it’s widely suspected that they use dynamic pricing algorithms that adjust based on demand, route popularity, and—potentially—your repeated searches.

When you visit flight booking websites, cookies can be stored on your browser, tracking your behavior. It’s possible that these cookies signal an increasing interest in a particular route, which could lead the algorithm to show higher prices in response.

How to Avoid Search-Based Price Increases

Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to avoid the possibility of search-based price hikes:

• Use Incognito Mode: When browsing for flights, use an incognito window (private browsing) to prevent the site from storing cookies on your device. This ensures your search history isn’t tracked.
• Clear Your Cookies: If you’ve already been searching for flights, clear your browser cookies before continuing. This removes any stored data that might impact pricing.
• Set Price Alerts: Instead of manually searching over and over, let a tool like Airfare Alerts do the work for you. You’ll get notified when prices drop without needing to constantly check and risk price fluctuations.

Dynamic Pricing Is Here to Stay

Even if airlines aren’t tracking your individual searches, dynamic pricing isn’t going anywhere. Airlines adjust prices based on factors like demand, time of day, seasonality, and even competitors’ pricing. Staying informed with real-time price alerts is one of the most reliable ways to snag a good deal.

Takeaway: Whether or not airlines are tracking your searches, dynamic pricing can still work against you. Using strategies like incognito mode and setting up flight alerts can help you get the best price without the stress of constant searching.