Bookings, cookies and frequent flyer login

[wooley]

I couldn't find a topic on this so though I'd ask...

Has anyone ever noted the difference in fare prices before and after deleting cookies or without QFF login?

I've been looking at the differences between booking a direct flight BNE to JFK compared to a multi city via LAX. (Same timings, just wanted it counted as separate flights on the same booking).

Prices started at $3145 for 2 pax. Then as I tried different day and flight combinations the prices started to rise, to the point where the cheapest cost (of the original routing) was $4368 for 2 pax.

I deleted my cookies and tried exactly the same multi city routing and it came back down to $2968...

Which is the price I recall seeing last week...

I have noticed discrepancies like this in the past and have never thought much of it but will definitely be clearing cookies a lot more in the future.

Anybody else had similar issues?

 

[kermatu]

Has happened to me a couple of times and recall seeing others post about it before. Don't recall it being much of an issue of late though. One thing I've found you often need to do is click 'best price' as new searches often default to 'most flexible' which I think jacks up the prices.

 

[Mattg]

While I haven't specifically noticed this with Qantas, I have noticed that various other airlines will increase the prices you see on later searches unless you clear the cache. Often I have found that the higher prices shown when searching for the second or third time are reverted back to the original price after clearing the cache. I find this practice sneaky and won't buy at the higher price.

Having said that, sometimes the price just fluctuates. If after clearing cookies etc. the higher price is still showing, then it may just be a genuine price increase.

 

[Mattg]

One thing I've found you often need to do is click 'best price' as new searches often default to 'most flexible' which I think jacks up the prices.

^This. Do make sure you have selected "best price" if using QF's multi-city booking page. You may need to add a space for another flight, then remove it, in order to make the option appear if you don't it under the space where you enter the cities and dates.

 

[Deleted member]

Mrs GPH was mentioning that exact same thing today.
she is considering having a second computer on hand

 

[TRS-80]

Most browsers have a private mode, just do your window shopping in that, then close it at the end and all the cookies will disappear!