It’s an open secret that savvy travelers have been using tricks to score the best flight deals. But the digital age has caught up, and many of these sneaky strategies are no longer as effective as they once were. Understanding this can save you both time and money next time you book a flight.
This list is based on current industry trends, data from airlines and travel agencies, and insights from travel experts. We’ll take a look at once-popular flight booking strategies that no longer work, and explain why they’ve lost their edge. Strap in for a reality check on outdated flight booking hacks.
1. Deleting Browser Cookies
There was once a belief that airlines and travel agencies used cookies to track your searches, increasing prices when a specific route was searched multiple times. To avoid this, many people made a habit of deleting their browser cookies before booking a flight. This trick stemmed from the idea that airlines and travel websites were using dynamic pricing to increase fares based on demand.
Today, this trick is largely ineffective. While airlines do use dynamic pricing, they don’t manipulate prices at the individual browser level. In fact, clearing your cookies might even make you miss out on personalized deals based on your browsing history.
2. The Tuesday myth
The Tuesday myth, which suggests that airlines release their best deals on Tuesdays, has been around for years. The theory is based on the idea that airlines often announce sales early in the week, prompting competitors to lower their prices in response.
However, data has shown that this is no longer the case. Flight prices fluctuate constantly due to a multitude of factors, including demand, seasonality, and even the day of the week. There isn’t a magic day to book cheap flights anymore.
3. Round-trip Tickets are Always Cheaper
For years, conventional wisdom held that buying a round-trip ticket was cheaper than purchasing two one-way fares. This belief was based on the pricing strategies of airlines, which often offered discounted round-trip fares to attract more customers.
Today, this is not necessarily true. With the increase in low-cost carriers and changes in airline pricing strategies, you might find that two one-way tickets are cheaper than a round-trip fare. Always compare prices before booking.
4. Last-minute Deals
It was once a common practice to wait until the last minute to book a flight in hopes of getting a reduced fare. This strategy worked when airlines were trying to fill empty seats on less-popular flights.
However, in the current era of sophisticated yield management systems, airlines have become better at predicting demand and managing their seat inventory. As a result, last-minute deals are becoming increasingly rare. In fact, booking too close to your departure date could end up costing you more.
5. Booking on Incognito Mode
Just like the cookie-deleting trick, some travelers believe that searching for flights on incognito mode can yield cheaper fares. The idea is that airlines and travel websites can’t track your search history when you’re browsing in private mode.
However, airlines don’t price their flights based on individual search data. While browsing in incognito mode won’t harm your chances of finding a good deal, it likely won’t help either. Instead, it’s more effective to compare prices from different airlines and booking platforms.
6. Using Airline Credit Cards for Frequent Flyer Miles
Many travelers keep an airline-specific credit card in their wallets, hoping to earn enough frequent flyer miles for a free flight. These cards were once an easy way to rack up miles, especially if the card offered a hefty sign-up bonus.
However, the value of frequent flyer miles has been dwindling. Airlines have been devaluing their reward programs, making it harder to redeem miles for flights. Plus, these cards often come with high annual fees that can offset any potential savings. A general travel rewards card may offer better value.
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