if you are shopping online for airline tickets, read this

[fox fox 5]

over the past few days, i've been window shopping airline tickets from both work and home. last night while at work, i noticed that the price had been increasing on a specific ticket combo, which was really surprising and upsetting me, but i came to my senses that i was willing to pay for the increased price to have my fiance with me sooner than having to wait and search for later dates for cheaper ticket pricing.

i went home to buy the tickets, thinking that i would have to pay the higher price, but when i was checking up on the price before purchase, i noticed that the price was back at the original price i found when i first started researching prices.

moral of the story: it might be a good idea to check the pricing on another computer if you notice the price is going up on one specific computer

i think that the websites are keeping track of how many times a certain computer is visiting the website and is increasing the prices.

we're not talking about airline ticket prices that fluctuate like the stock market people.

all i know is that something was fishy, but good thing i bought the tickets from home. it saved me over $200

[When2RNLove 6]

over the past few days, i've been window shopping airline tickets from both work and home. last night while at work, i noticed that the price had been increasing on a specific ticket combo, which was really surprising and upsetting me, but i came to my senses that i was willing to pay for the increased price to have my fiance with me sooner than having to wait and search for later dates for cheaper ticket pricing.

i went home to buy the tickets, thinking that i would have to pay the higher price, but when i was checking up on the price before purchase, i noticed that the price was back at the original price i found when i first started researching prices.

moral of the story: it might be a good idea to check the pricing on another computer if you notice the price is going up on one specific computer

i think that the websites are keeping track of how many times a certain computer is visiting the website and is increasing the prices.

we're not talking about airline ticket prices that fluctuate like the stock market people.

all i know is that something was fishy, but good thing i bought the tickets from home. it saved me over $200

I experienced the same thing in 2008 when I flew to the Philippines, but I was using the same PC. I think it's just a market think like supply and demand. I would check ever 30 minutes and the prices would change. Too, from day-to-day by hundreds of dollars.

[Kevin-n-Merlaine 14]

I read here before and believe it's true - when you visit the site and search those prices, the tracking cookies mark your search then when you return and check again, the price increases. Each time you check the price on the same computer the price will increase. That explains some of why the price was back down low when you checked it from home. It is supply and demand too and I think it's partly determined by the airline by the number of inquiries made on the flight.

[Glynn & Jean 5]

over the past few days, i've been window shopping airline tickets from both work and home. last night while at work, i noticed that the price had been increasing on a specific ticket combo, which was really surprising and upsetting me, but i came to my senses that i was willing to pay for the increased price to have my fiance with me sooner than having to wait and search for later dates for cheaper ticket pricing.

i went home to buy the tickets, thinking that i would have to pay the higher price, but when i was checking up on the price before purchase, i noticed that the price was back at the original price i found when i first started researching prices.

moral of the story: it might be a good idea to check the pricing on another computer if you notice the price is going up on one specific computer

i think that the websites are keeping track of how many times a certain computer is visiting the website and is increasing the prices.

we're not talking about airline ticket prices that fluctuate like the stock market people.

all i know is that something was fishy, but good thing i bought the tickets from home. it saved me over $200

Yes, You are being tracked because of the cookies left on your computer for that particular web addy. Go to your tools menu click on it and then click on internet options. Delete out the history,cookies, and web information each time after visiting the online air sites. This will stop them from tracking you and showing higher prices each time you visit the site.

[And_Sam 44]

Hmm that is something to think about. I too was searching at home and at work, but both times I ended up purchasing from the same computer. Only difference is the time frame. One ticket was during peak traveling months and the other was off season. Needless to say, the off season ticket was way much cheaper.

[DouglasFiel 53]

This is because,,, all of the airlines have a specific number of seats for sale at the lower price point... As you use different search engines to look for flights,,, Those seats are pulled from inventory for 20-30 minutes,,, In case you buy them. Otherwise the search engine fares would not be valid for purchase. After a prefefined time limit. They will be back available at the previous price.

Moral of the story, go ahead and search,, but, if prices start to creep up,, wait 30 mins or so and then purchase. I have heard of others buying tickets at inflated prices because of this,,, and then checking again a few hours after the purchase and the fares dropping back down.

I book maybe 20 t0 30 flights a year,, and I see this pricing model repeated over and over.

Regards,

[Scott and Mhay 57]

That's why i called the site I was looking at. Actually asaptickets.com you have to call to book tickets. When you get a quote online you need to call to get the total price with taxes.

[ruby_7 45]

over the past few days, i've been window shopping airline tickets from both work and home. last night while at work, i noticed that the price had been increasing on a specific ticket combo, which was really surprising and upsetting me, but i came to my senses that i was willing to pay for the increased price to have my fiance with me sooner than having to wait and search for later dates for cheaper ticket pricing.

i went home to buy the tickets, thinking that i would have to pay the higher price, but when i was checking up on the price before purchase, i noticed that the price was back at the original price i found when i first started researching prices.

moral of the story: it might be a good idea to check the pricing on another computer if you notice the price is going up on one specific computer

i think that the websites are keeping track of how many times a certain computer is visiting the website and is increasing the prices.

we're not talking about airline ticket prices that fluctuate like the stock market people.

all i know is that something was fishy, but good thing i bought the tickets from home. it saved me over $200

It depends on what day it is and the time...plus, the sched travel....I had that experienced when I went vacation to my country (Phils.) last June and purchased ticket online in April....To get cheaper tickets as experts advised (Radio), try to look up prices on Tuesday from midnight to 4AM , you can see lot of cheaper tickets online...

[fox fox 5]

i'm back at work now and checked the price again. same flights, same date, same website....it's $200 cheaper now than when i last searched at work, same price i paid from home. geez. everyone spread the word on how these online bookies go about pricing tickets. i did buy my tickets around 3am central time, USA btw.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Charmaine+James

[charlie&pam 1]

That's why i called the site I was looking at. Actually asaptickets.com you have to call to book tickets. When you get a quote online you need to call to get the total price with taxes.

I have used them a coulpe of times and if they cant get u a cheaper airfare they tell you !!! I have this one girl there I call all the time she is great !!!! the last time she told me they couldnt beat the price from expedia so I booked that flight and the previous 2 times she got me on the flight I was looking at for a little more than 100 less each time

[Scott and Mhay 57]

Yeah asaptickets was by far cheaper (i got it for about 100 less than on expedia or travelocity). Although the girl I was supposed to talk to (Susan T) wasnt around when I called so the guy had to do all the searching and I was on the phone for about 30 mins because I couldnt have him call me back. I did have to tell him to look up a certain flight and it saved me another $15-20 taking a later flight VS the redeye out of fairbanks. I wish i could have bought my ticket over a month ago...I could have saved $200 on the price of the ticket. Oh well, at least my wife will be able to get the medical knocked out when I am down there.

I had been using bookingbuddy.com and asiatravel.com to do some searches. I have looked on about 20 different sites. I have noticed on how the price changes from around midnight to early in the day....i have also seen where the taxes go up too.

Less than 2 weeks I will be with my wife!! After that, we will have to wait for the interview and then I will try to go back to the philippines in may to get her (hopefully she has the visa by then).

[Zen Den 18]

This is because,,, all of the airlines have a specific number of seats for sale at the lower price point... As you use different search engines to look for flights,,, Those seats are pulled from inventory for 20-30 minutes,,, In case you buy them. Otherwise the search engine fares would not be valid for purchase. After a prefefined time limit. They will be back available at the previous price.

Moral of the story, go ahead and search,, but, if prices start to creep up,, wait 30 mins or so and then purchase. I have heard of others buying tickets at inflated prices because of this,,, and then checking again a few hours after the purchase and the fares dropping back down.

I book maybe 20 t0 30 flights a year,, and I see this pricing model repeated over and over.

Regards,

this is very helpful...thanks for the info!