How to find cheaper flights using a VPN

You might have heard that searching for flights more than once can increase ticket prices. While experts often say this is a myth and that price fluctuations happen regardless of user behavior, many flyers would beg to differ. 

Either way, it’s frustrating. A VPN can help you get around these price differences, regardless of how many times you’ve checked the flights or which country you’re booking from. This guide will show you how to use a VPN to find cheaper flights effectively.

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How to use a VPN for cheaper flights

Using a VPN to find cheaper flights is a straightforward process that involves masking your real location to avoid price discrimination. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you get the best deals on your next flight.

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN and download the app to your device. 
2. Open the app and log in. 
3. Connect to a server in a different location. You can choose any location, but consider countries with lower living costs, as flight prices may be cheaper.
4. Start a new incognito or private browsing session. This ensures any previous browsing history does not influence your search.
5. Search for flights. Visit multiple flight comparison websites and airlines’ official sites to compare prices.
6. Repeat. Connect to different VPN server locations and compare the prices. Be sure to delete your cookies and cache if searching multiple sites while connected to a VPN server, so you don’t get stung with higher prices.

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How to choose a server to get the cheapest flights

Knowing where to look to find the cheapest flights can be overwhelming, so here are some tips to help you get started:

• Choose a developing country. Sometimes, airlines price their flights according to the purchasing power of the customers, so choosing a developing country could be a good way to take advantage of this.
• Choose your destination country. Airlines often run sales or price flights differently, so trying your destination can be a great way to find better prices.
• Choose the airline’s home country. Some airlines price their flights cheaper to people in their home country. It could be due to local regulations or even just because there’s overcapacity.
• Choose your own country. Don’t underestimate the power of connecting from your own country. Choose a VPN server in your home destination and you may still see cheaper flights. That’s because a VPN masks your IP address with another, so airlines can’t see that you’ve been searching for flights recently. 

Does Incognito or Private Mode get you cheaper flights?

Using Incognito or Private Mode can prevent the booking system from seeing that you’ve recently searched for flights. These modes prevent your browsing history from being saved, but they don’t hide your IP address or location. You’re still restricted to searching for flight prices in your home country, and some airlines may not let you purchase tickets from an incognito window. 

Combining Incognito mode with a VPN is best for more effective results, because you can try servers in other countries to see if you can get cheaper flights. You can connect to any of ExpressVPN’s servers in 105 countries to explore more flight prices and track down the best deals.

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How effective is searching for cheaper flights with a VPN?

Using a VPN can be highly effective for sourcing cheaper flights. Airlines and travel websites often use dynamic pricing, adjusting ticket prices based on factors like location, browsing history, and customer demand. Connecting to a VPN allows you to change your location, so you can see where flights are the most reasonably priced. 

Even if you connect to a server in your home country, you may still see reduced prices. ExpressVPN changes your IP address, so airlines can’t trace your previous internet search history to this new IP address. They won’t know you’ve been searching for flights for days on end, since your internet history is tied to your actual IP address, not our VPN server’s IP address. This can help you find cheaper flights at home too.

Remember, sites can still trace your history if you’re logged into your browser—for example, if you’re signed into your Google account and use Chrome to find flights while connected to a VPN. Airlines still know it’s you even if you’ve changed your IP address, so your activity can be linked to your profile. This is why it’s important to also delete cookies and cache data, so there’s no history tied to your profile. You can also browse in Incognito Mode to avoid this.

9 ways to book cheap flights

Booking cheap flights requires a blend of timing, technology, and a bit of strategy. A bit of luck never hurts, either. Let’s go through our top tips.

1. Book on a Sunday or late at night

Sunday is the best day to fire up your laptop for the cheapest fares. If you’re really committed to getting the best deal, wait until late night or very early morning to search for flights. Prices fluctuate through the week and day, and these are considered the best moments to hunt for good prices.

2. Use a VPN

Using a VPN can change flight prices by masking your actual location and letting you use an IP address from another country. You can connect to different VPN servers to explore the best airfares, as prices often fluctuate in other countries.

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3. Clear cookies, history, and cache

Airlines and booking sites often track your browsing behavior through cookies, potentially raising prices based on your search history. By clearing your cookies, history, and cache, you reset this tracking, preventing the sites from using your past searches against you to inflate prices.

4. Book in advance

Booking your flights well in advance can lead to significant savings. Airlines often offer lower prices for flights booked several weeks or months ahead of the departure date. As the flight date approaches, ticket prices tend to increase due to higher demand and lower seat availability. 

5. Consider an “open jaw” trip

Open jaw is a type of itinerary where you fly into one city (say, London) and out of another (such as Manchester), and how you get between those two cities is entirely up to you. Such tickets are often cheaper than buying a round trip, plus they allow you to travel around a country or region without having to get back to your starting point.

6. Be flexible with travel dates

Airline prices fluctuate based on demand, which varies depending on the day of the week, time of year, and even time of day. You can take advantage of lower-priced flights by being open to traveling on different dates or times. Utilizing flight comparison tools that compare prices across multiple dates can help you identify the cheapest times to fly, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.

7. Use a flight comparison tool

Flight comparison tools aggregate prices from various airlines and booking sites, allowing you to quickly identify the cheapest options for your travel dates and destinations. These platforms often offer filters to adjust for flight duration, stops, and times, helping you find your ideal balance between cost and convenience.

8. Wait for Black Friday flight deals or other airline sales

Airline sales, especially during events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or other promotional periods, can offer substantial discounts on flights. Keeping an eye on these deals and being ready to book when prices drop can lead to significant savings. Airlines and travel agencies often announce these sales in advance, so signing up for newsletters and alerts from your preferred airlines can ensure you take advantage of these limited-time offers.

9. Check for error fares

Error fares occur when airlines mistakenly post incorrect ticket prices, which can result in significantly discounted flights. To catch these deals, follow travel deal websites and forums, and act quickly when you spot an error fare, as airlines may correct the mistake within hours. While airlines sometimes honor these fares, they also have the right to cancel them, so it’s wise to wait before making additional travel arrangements.

What causes changes in airline ticket prices?

Airline ticket prices are influenced by a complex mix of factors, including demand, competition, fuel costs, and even global events. Airlines use dynamic pricing algorithms that adjust fares in real-time based on how many seats are sold and how quickly. 

Seasonality and holidays also play a significant role, with prices typically increasing during peak travel periods. Understanding these factors helps travelers make more informed decisions and find better deals by timing their purchases or choosing less popular travel times

Airlines consider your search history, location, and potential interest in a particular itinerary, which is why deleting your cookies and cache and using a VPN can get you better prices.

To help you get the best deals, you can download ExpressVPN. We have servers all over the world, so you can easily connect to a location of your choice and head over to the airline website to see if you can make any flight savings. Don’t forget to delete your cookies and cache to stop price fluctuations! 

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How do airline websites determine your location?

Airlines can track your location in many ways. The most common way to find your location is via your IP address. That said, airlines can still work out where you are even if you hide your IP address, thanks to cookies and other geolocation data. 

IP address

Your IP address gives away your approximate location. Everything you do online is tied to your IP address, including your search history and online behavior. IP addresses provide websites with information about your device and your approximate location, so they can estimate where you are. This is why airlines know where you’re searching from. They also know if you’ve been looking for flights before since this activity can be traced to your IP address.

Cookies

Cookies are small bits of data stored in your web browser. You’ll often see popups on web pages asking you to accept cookies when you visit them. These cookies track your online behavior and store your IP address to show you personalized content depending on what you’re looking at and where you are. This can cause airlines to increase flight prices because they know you’ve been searching for trips recently. 

Browser HTML5 geolocation

Browsers usually have HTML5 geolocation features which are used alongside your IP address to track your location. Although your IP address only offers approximate location data, the HTML5 feature can pinpoint your exact whereabouts, including the street you’re on. If you use a browser with this feature installed to find flights, you can bet the airline knows where you are.

Wi-Fi connection

Sometimes the network you’re connected to gives away your location. Airlines can figure out where you are by seeing which Wi-Fi you’re using. These networks are often tied to specific buildings or organizations, making it easier to see your location. 

Other benefits of using a VPN when shopping online

Besides helping you get cheaper flights, using a VPN has major benefits for your security and privacy online, including:

• Enhanced privacy. ExpressVPN masks your IP address and online activity, stopping your browsing history and location from being tracked by ISPs, governments, and other third parties.
• Improved security. VPNs encrypt your internet connection, safeguarding your data (including credit card information) from hackers, especially on public Wi-Fi networks. Our Aircove Go portable VPN router is a great gadget for travelers looking for better security. Just connect it to a public Wi-Fi network, and all your devices using Aircove Go will be protected by strong VPN encryption. (You must have an active ExpressVPN subscription to use the VPN functionality of Aircove routers.)
• Access restricted content. VPNs allow you to securely bypass censorship and restrictions like those in school and office Wi-Fi networks, so you can surf the web freely.
• Better deals. It’s not just flights. You can use a VPN to try to search for different prices on hotel stays, streaming subscriptions, and goods.

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Is it legal to use a VPN to buy cheaper flights?

Yes, using a VPN to shop, including for flights, is legal. You should note that it’s always a good practice to review the terms and conditions of the airline and booking platforms before using a VPN to ensure compliance and avoid potential issues.