What Are Cookies?
Essentially, a browser cookie is a data file created by a website and stored by your web browser. It’s where your preferences are stored (like login details, usernames, and passwords) so you don’t have to fill these details in every time you visit a specific site. It also means that when you search for something, like flights, your preferences are stored for the next time you visit (destination, dates, number of passengers).
There are two main types of browser cookies: session cookies and persistent cookies. The former have a very short shelf life and are designed to store information for the duration of your time searching, but are deleted as soon as you shut down. The latter last a little longer but usually have an expiration date, which could be a few days to a few months in the future, after which they’re deleted.
Does Skyscanner use Browser Cookies to Increase Flight Prices?
Skyscanner is only able to show prices passed on to us by the travel providers whose prices we display. It isn’t possible for the Skyscanner cookie to influence these prices because until the point of visiting the provider website to book, your session is anonymous. So, the only source that dictates the flight price you see on Skyscanner is what our providers provide us with.
Flight prices are highly dynamic, and so can go up or down very quickly. We keep a close eye on all prices shown by the travel providers and should we spot any behaviours that were in some way unfair, we would take immediate action.
Will Clearing my Cookies Help me Find a Cheaper Flight?
No. Skyscanner is unbiased and, as mentioned above, the flight prices we display are based on what travel providers (online travel agencies and airlines) tell us they are.
Then why do Flight Prices go up?
This can be complicated and depends on a number of different factors. It’s always worth remembering that flight prices change in real time. Skyscanner makes every effort to ensure the price you see on our site is the price you pay with the airline or travel agent, inclusive of all fees and charges.
As your departure date approaches, prices might increase because there’s less availability on a particular flight. So less availability equals expensive flight prices? Yes… and no. If there are lots of available seats on a flight then partners might increase the cost of a ticket to recuperate some of the costs of having to fly the plane half full. So when should you book to find the cheapest flights? Well, funny you should ask…
When’s the Best Time to Book a Cheap Flight?
We’ve searched our data and analyzed millions of routes and can say that, in general, you should be looking to book your flight no later than seven weeks before you want to jet off. However, the exact time frame does differ according to your chosen destination; this is how to get cheap flights to Europe, for example!
How Can I Make Sure I Find the Best Deal on Flights?
Skyscanner has lots of tools that will help you do just that:
- Sign up for price alert emails so that’ll you’ll know as soon as flights to a specific destination have changed.
- If you’re flexible on the dates you can travel, search for flights on Skyscanner across a whole month or even year! This way you’ll find the cheapest days on which you should fly to bag that bargain.
- Not fussed where you go as long as the weather is warm and the wine is cheap? Use our ‘Everywhere’ search tool to find flights to, well, everywhere, and we’ll show you the cheapest flight prices for a range of destinations in a given date period.
