Does your browsing history determine price?
Jun 9, 2017, 4:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 186
Does your browsing history determine price?
I was trying to book a "cheap" "Premium Rouge" seat from Toronto to Las Vegas a bit out. For a date I put in I got a not-stop for $562. This was just before I left for a luncheon appointment so I figured I'd go to lunch and book after lunch. After lunch I spent some time on United.com seeing if I could get the seat with United's Mileage Plus and I also spent some time on Aircanada.com looking at alternates, such as Ottawa to Las Vegas and different dates. Deciding that the $562 cash fare was the best deal, I went to book it. Now the price was $682. Did the price really jump that much in the interval?? So, I went on to a different computer with no history of browsing Aircanada.com recently and there was the $562 fare.
Jun 9, 2017, 4:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I was trying to book a "cheap" "Premium Rouge" seat from Toronto to Las Vegas a bit out. For a date I put in I got a not-stop for $562. This was just before I left for a luncheon appointment so I figured I'd go to lunch and book after lunch. After lunch I spent some time on United.com seeing if I could get the seat with United's Mileage Plus and I also spent some time on Aircanada.com looking at alternates, such as Ottawa to Las Vegas and different dates. Deciding that the $562 cash fare was the best deal, I went to book it. Now the price was $682. Did the price really jump that much in the interval?? So, I went on to a different computer with no history of browsing Aircanada.com recently and there was the $562 fare.
Ive also seen fares go up from a while then down. It's all load based, well that and AC IT.
Also seen one seat go for $400 while two cost $1000... as the $400 is the last one in that cheaper fare class.
Try incognito or similar mode?
Jun 9, 2017, 4:46 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,926
Yes.
Cookies. The cutsiepie name software writers gave to the data packet the website you visit injects into your computer. This allows your browsing activity, data entered, and pages visited to be identified. It's a lot like visiting a person of loose morals who records the lustful lascivious liason and uses it against you.
Clear your cache. Delete your browser history. Download a decent quick cleaner and use it regularly.
Cookies. The cutsiepie name software writers gave to the data packet the website you visit injects into your computer. This allows your browsing activity, data entered, and pages visited to be identified. It's a lot like visiting a person of loose morals who records the lustful lascivious liason and uses it against you.
Clear your cache. Delete your browser history. Download a decent quick cleaner and use it regularly.
Jun 9, 2017, 6:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,429
Jun 9, 2017, 6:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,507
Whether or not it's actually true and actually a strategy AC employs, it's certainly something that's possible using modern technologies. And clearing your cache or using incognito mode is pretty common advice when you read "how to save money on flights" articles. It's roughly the same reason that the ads you see above and below this post are probably related to things you just searched for on Google or Amazon. You're always being tracked.
My guess is that AC doesn't use it, because I've found pricing very consistent, even when searching repeatedly over the course of a day.
My guess is that AC doesn't use it, because I've found pricing very consistent, even when searching repeatedly over the course of a day.
Jun 9, 2017, 6:32 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,403
No, they don't.
I noticed something similar once. I was searching at 14 days plus 30 minutes.
I decided to book at 14 days minus 30 minutes.
I lost the 14 day advance purchase fares.
I noticed something similar once. I was searching at 14 days plus 30 minutes.
I decided to book at 14 days minus 30 minutes.
I lost the 14 day advance purchase fares.
Jun 9, 2017, 6:33 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Jun 9, 2017, 7:25 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brunei
Programs: Enrich Sapphire. Kris Flyer Silver.Le Club Accorhotels,Starwood.
Posts: 2,201
Jun 9, 2017, 7:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 643
Browsing history does play a role in what ads you see, but the agencies who bid in the exchanges for programmatic ads generally only update their propensity scores nightly, so you generally won't see changes in the space of a few hours like this. Also, just because advertisers use your browsing history doesn't mean AC or any other airline does. We aren't privy to their pricing algorithms, but it seems a bit counter intuitive to raise the price when you've just demonstrated price sensitivity by shopping around 