Exclusive:
There’s nothing more frustrating than watching the cost of your flights go up and up as you search for a holiday – but there is one way you can stop the price from changing
A tech expert has revealed a savvy way to keep your costs down when you’re booking holidays online.
Searching for flights can be the most frustrating part of a holiday as you watch the prices fluctuate with each hour and day. But there is a nifty trick that can actually prevent airlines from tracking your history and potentially hiking up the costs.
Technology expert Nick Drewe, founder of Wethrift, advises switching to incognito mode on your browser as it can prevent travel websites from sneakily increasing the prices when they notice repeat searches for certain flights or hotels. He told the Mirror: “Using incognito mode is a savvy trick to avoid the potential for dynamic pricing based on your browsing habits.”
But how do you do it? Nick explained: “Switching to incognito mode is straightforward. If you’re using Google Chrome, just click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select ‘new incognito window’.
“On Safari, choose ‘file’ and then ‘new private window’ from the menu. If you’re using Firefox, click the menu button and select ‘new private window’. Each browser generally has a similar setup for this.”
Nick also advises clearing your browser cookies regularly. He said: “This helps remove tracking data that websites may use to alter prices. Also, setting price alerts on platforms like Google Flights or Skyscanner can notify you when fares drop, ensuring you get the best rate.”
The tech expert added: “Flexibility is key as well. Travelling during off-peak times or booking flights on less popular days of the week can often present more affordable options. Plus, being open to alternative airports can lead to savings if you’re willing to travel a bit further.”
It comes as a travel expert finally settles the debate on whether last-minute holidays are actually cheaper. Gavin Lapidus, company director at eShores, told the Mirror: “Always book as far in advance as possible. While there are occasionally good last-minute deals on flights and holidays, it’s very dependent on how many seats are left on a flight.”
He went on: “There may be none, or demand may be high, so prices can spike closer to the date of travel and you can end up paying more. Last-minute deals can be great for booking cheap, impromptu trips, but relying on them for a planned holiday is a huge risk that no travel agent would recommend.” That being said, there are some occasions it’s a good idea.
As a general rule, Gavin said short-haul flights within Europe should be booked two to three months in advance to secure the best prices. Long-haul flights, such as America or Asia, should be booked four to six months in advance for the sweet spot. Peak travel, like during Christmas or the summer holidays, booking six to 12 months ahead is advisable as prices tend to rise close to departure.
If you are travelling during off-peak times, you may still find good deals a few weeks before departure, but booking at least a month ahead is usually safest. Gavin continued: “While airlines use dynamic pricing, studies suggest that midweek bookings, on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, often yield lower fares, as airlines release deals after the weekend rush.”
As for a specific time of day, Gavin explained that prices can fluctuate, but “early mornings or late at night may be better times to book, as fewer people are searching”. And what about the best days of the week to fly for cheaper fares? “Flights departing on Tuesdays or Wednesdays tend to be cheaper than those on Fridays or Sundays, as fewer people travel midweek,” he said.
