Does Repeated Flight Searching Make Prices Go Up? Let’s Decode It

It’s a common fear: you search for a flight, check back later, and suddenly the price has jumped. Naturally, the thought creeps in - “Are airlines tracking my searches and raising the price on purpose?”

Let’s decode this myth and uncover what’s really happening with flight pricing.

The Myth: Airlines Use Cookies to Hike Prices

Many travellers believe that airlines and booking sites use cookies (data from your browsing history) to track interest in specific routes. The theory is that the more you search, the higher the price climbs - pressuring you to book quickly.

While it sounds sneaky (and believable), there’s little evidence to suggest that repeated searching alone raises flight prices.

The Reality: Why Flight Prices Really Fluctuate

Flight prices do change frequently, but not because you’ve searched multiple times. Instead, prices rise and fall due to:

• Dynamic pricing systems: Airlines use algorithms that constantly adjust fares based on demand, availability, and booking patterns.

• Seat inventory: As the cheapest fare classes sell out, only higher-priced seats remain.

• Time until departure: Prices often increase as the departure date gets closer, especially for popular routes.

• Competitor pricing: If another airline adjusts fares, rivals may follow.

So when you see a price change after multiple searches, it’s most likely a coincidence—or the result of natural market fluctuations.

How to Outsmart the Price Fluctuations

Even if repeated searching doesn’t directly cause higher prices, you still want to avoid overpaying. Here’s how:

• Use Google Flights price tracking – get email alerts when fares rise or drop.

• Be flexible – flying midweek or from alternate airports often saves money.

• Clear your cache if you’re worried – while unlikely to affect pricing, it removes any chance of targeted offers.

• Act fast on mistake fares – some deals vanish within hours.

So, Should You Worry?

The short answer: no - searching for the same flight multiple times won’t make the price go up. Flight prices fluctuate naturally, but not because you’ve shown interest.

The long answer: if you find a good deal, don’t wait too long. Prices can still rise quickly due to demand and limited availability.

Secret Flight Club Tracks Prices for You

Why stress over price changes when you don’t have to? At Secret Flight Club, we monitor thousands of routes every single day, catching the drops, spotting error fares, and alerting you before they disappear.

We do the hard work so you don’t need to worry about cookies, cache, or algorithms. Just check your inbox, book, and save.

Start your free 7-day trial today and never second-guess flight searches again.