HOUSTON — Finding a deal on plane tickets can be painful. That’s why so many of us look for tricks to save some money.
One popular tactic is to use incognito mode when you search. The theory behind it that airlines use cookies on websites to track your search history and then raise the price on the ticket you want.
While we may be distrustful of airlines thanks to all those fees, the experts say they don’t raise prices based on your search behavior.
Economist from Yale, Berkeley and the University of Chicago actually studied what does affect plane ticket pricing. The research looked at an unnamed large US airline. It found that your personal interest in a flight did not affect price.
What does raise the price is overall bookings for that flight. One researcher told Gizmodo that you searching for a flight does nothing. You booking the last seat at the lowest price will raise prices for customers who book after you.
So how can you save money on flights?
According to NerdWallet, using airline miles and credit card points can save you big. Also set up prices alerts for destinations you are interested in. Google Flights will automatically notify you when flights are cheaper.
You will also need to book at the right time. The Points Guy recommends for domestic flights to start tracking prices three to four months out, but don’t track too long. You should hit the purchase button at least one month before.