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crimycarny

(2,097 posts) Fri Jan 2, 2026, 07:00 PM Jan 2026

Wow! Airline ticket price difference increase of 65% before using VPN and clearing cookies [View all]

I've been wanting to fly out to Australia to visit my daughter, so I've been browsing flights for the last couple of months. I noticed the price kept increasing. I remember when I was checking business class last month, the ticket was $8,464 (which I can't afford, but I remember the price). Today I checked, and that same flight was over $13,000! An increase of $5,000!

So I did a test, I deleted all cookies and browsing data, I turned on VPN (used double-VPN), then did the same search. Business class was back to $8,464. The costs were all in USD, so there was no exchange rate issue.

So be careful if booking flights.

AI is going to make life better, right? Yeah, for corporations.

25 replies

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Highlight:

Wow! Airline ticket price difference increase of 65% before using VPN and clearing cookies [View all] crimycarny Jan 2026 OP

Current airline tickets brought to you by 40 years of America's policies deregulating business... Initech Jan 2026 #1

"Surveillance pricing" is a thing now apparently! nt Shermann Jan 2026 #2

Surveillance pricing is definitely a thing now. markodochartaigh Jan 2026 #3

Wow - is this for your whole family? waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #4

I believe that was one seat, business class. Bluetus Jan 2026 #5

My wife usually checks the cost on Expedia to get a good idea of which airline offers the best price or award tickets. waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #8

Expedia? Owned by Microsoft? Funder of OpenAI and foister of AI on everybody? erronis Jan 2026 #12

You do not have to sign in to view airline prices or award miles (just use to gauge ticket prices). waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #20

Sir, this is a Wendy's. BannonsLiver Jan 2026 #23

It was for business class crimycarny Jan 2026 #6

Are you traveling at a peak time (there are such differences based on the day of the week and time of the fight)? waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #9

Thanks for the tips--didn't think about breaking it up in Hawaii! crimycarny Jan 2026 #10

When we flew to Australia (long time ago), we touched down in Honolulu. waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #21

The purpose of A.I. is to make money for shareholders OC375 Jan 2026 #7

!!! You nailed it. erronis Jan 2026 #13

There's a company that offers discounted BC fares. We used them for a trip to Amsterdam Wonder Why Jan 2026 #11

I found a few of those companies offering discounted BC tickets but wasn't sure which were legit crimycarny Jan 2026 #19

What are BC fares (just curious)? waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #24

I had the same experience 15 years ago dickthegrouch Jan 2026 #14

My secret to international flights EuterpeThelo Jan 2026 #15

We have done not tried Air France or Virgin Atlantic (good idea). But, we do most of the other airlines. waterwatcher123 Jan 2026 #22

That's a great idea too! EuterpeThelo Jan 2026 #25

Amazon has been doing a similar thing for a long time now with moniss Jan 2026 #16

I've seen that happen too, when I searched for something repeatedly, the price went up. CaptainTruth Jan 2026 #17

Airlines will always say they don't use AI, online models, etc. to price you. And they are correct. Xolodno Jan 2026 #18