How to Use a VPN to Get Cheaper Flights in 2024

The quest for affordable airfare feels like an endless journey with flight costs soaring higher each year. But what if there was a hack to help you score cheaper tickets? Enter virtual private networks (also known as VPNs). 

By learning how to use a VPN to get cheaper flights, you can unlock potential savings that might have been hidden from you otherwise. Read on as we dive into this approach to help you cut down on your flight expenses.

What Causes Flight Ticket Prices to Change?

Several factors influence the fluctuating nature of airfare, including:

• Dynamic Pricing: Airlines employ advanced algorithms that adjust prices in real-time based on demand. As seats on a flight get booked, prices might soar for the remaining ones, especially as the departure date looms closer.

• Location-Based Pricing: Your geographical location can heavily influence the price you see. Airlines often offer different rates for the same seat depending on where the booking is made from, considering the purchasing power and average incomes of people in that region.

• Search History: Airlines and booking websites might increase prices if they detect repeated searches for a particular route or destination. For this, cookies are used to track your browsing habits. 

Related Read: How to Save Money with a VPN

How Do Airline Websites Know Your Location?

Airline websites use a variety of techniques to determine where you are located, such as:

1. IP Addresses

Every device has a unique IP address that offers clues about the user’s geographical location. Airline websites use this address to pinpoint where you are accessing their site from. Through this, they can adjust prices based on regional factors, such as the average income and purchasing habits of people in that area.

2. Wi-Fi

Your Wi-Fi connection can reveal more than you think. When connected to public Wi-Fi or even your home network, travel websites can deduce your position based on the Wi-Fi’s SSID and other router details. Services like Google have mapped countless Wi-Fi hotspots to specific geographical points, providing yet another data point for airlines to use.

3. Cookies

While cookies serve as helpful tools in retaining user preferences and enhancing the browsing experience, they can also remember your search patterns on travel sites. For instance, if you have a habit of searching for flights to a specific destination, the website might remember this and subtly raise the prices on subsequent visits.

4. Mobile Tracking

Using flight booking apps on mobile devices gives these services access to your precise GPS location. This accuracy allows them to tailor content and offers according to where you are, potentially altering prices based on your proximity to airports or popular destinations.

5. HTML5 Geolocation

Modern browsers are equipped with the HTML5 geolocation feature that pinpoints your exact location, sometimes down to the specific street. With your permission, browsers can use GPS or Wi-Fi data to offer this detailed insight. Airline websites can leverage this to adjust offers based on how close you are to certain flight routes or promotional areas.

How Can You Get the Best Airfare?

Airline websites are getting smarter, continuously fine-tuning their tracking abilities to collect more data on users and tailor their pricing accordingly. The good news is that you can dodge these potential price hikes with these savvy strategies:

1. Delete Your Cookies

Cookies remember your browsing patterns and location. Therefore, removing them can prevent sudden price increases. It is a swift move that can make all the difference in your online experience.

Related Read: How to Delete Cookies on Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari

2. Clear Browsing History and Cache

Ever noticed prices going up after revisiting a site multiple times? It is because they are analyzing your browser’s cache to find out about your browsing habits. You can counter this by clearing your browsing history and switching to incognito mode whenever possible. 

3. Try Flight Comparison Sites

Platforms like Kayak and SkyScanner are goldmines for bargain hunters as they often offer special deals. However, make sure you are on a reputable site – a quick background check can save you from falling prey to scams.

4. Use a VPN

One of the best tricks to get cheaper flights is to use a VPN. It conceals your location, preventing airlines from adjusting prices based on where you are browsing from. With a VPN, your online searches remain private. Plus, you can switch to a different country’s server, allowing you to check flight prices worldwide and snag the best deal.

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How to Use a VPN to Get Cheaper Flights (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step #1: Subscribe to PureVPN

PureVPN gives users unlimited access to 6,500+ servers in 70 countries, including those that are known to offer affordable flight fares. Here is how to get started:

1. Go to our order page and select a plan that suits your needs. We offer a 31-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can test PureVPN to book any flights you want risk-free.

2. Fill out the necessary information and checkout using your desired payment method. You will receive an email with your login credentials after successfully creating an account. 

3. Download the correct software for your device. If you want to use PureVPN on your mobile, download the Android or iOS app. There are apps available for macOS and Windows too.

4. Once installed, open the PureVPN app and log into your account using your credentials.

Step #2: Connect to a server in a different country

To score cheap flights, simply connect to a server in another country. However, which countries offer the cheapest flight tickets? 

We recommend connecting to low to mid income countries as they often have the most economical flights. Also, fares vary depending on your destination. 

Domestic flights are typically cheaper when booked from the same country. You might also find better prices by booking from an airline’s home country. 

To connect to a PureVPN server in a particular country, simply click or tap the Globe icon and make your pick!

Step #3: Compare prices and book the best deal 

There are many flight comparison websites that you can use. Once connected, head over to sites like Kayak and Skyscanner to compare flight prices.

We conducted a test comparing flight prices for a route between Mumbai and Hamburg. When we initiated the search from India without using a VPN, the most favorable rate we found was $582. However, upon repeating the search while connected to a PureVPN server located in Bangladesh, the flight cost was reduced to $562.

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Is it Illegal to Book Cheap Flights with a VPN?

No, using a VPN to browse for flights is not illegal, but it can breach the terms of service of some booking websites or airlines. While you are not breaking the law, there is a chance your booking could be canceled if detected. Always check the terms to avoid any potential issues.

Related Read: Are VPNs Legal?

Can I Use a Free VPN to Get Cheap Flight Tickets?

While you might be tempted to use a free VPN to hunt for cheap flights, it is not always a wise choice. Free VPNs often have limited server options and slower speeds, which might not let you access the best deals from various locations. 

Moreover, they might not offer the same level of security as paid versions, potentially exposing your personal details. Remember, in the online world, if you are not paying for a product, you might be the product.

What Other Benefits Does a VPN Have?

here are some additional benefits of using a VPN:

• Online Privacy: A VPN masks your IP address, ensuring your online activities remain private and preventing websites and third parties from tracking you.

• Enhanced Security: Since VPNs encrypt your data, they make it difficult for hackers to intercept, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks.

• Bypass Geo-restrictions: By connecting to a VPN server in a different location, users can access movies or TV shows that might be blocked in their country.

• Safer Online Transactions: If you often do online banking or shopping, a VPN can add an extra layer of security to protect your financial details.

• Freedom from Censorship: In countries with internet restrictions, VPNs allow users to bypass government censorship and access the entire web freely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a VPN help you get cheap flights?

Using VPN, you can change up your IP address, making it look like you are browsing from a different country. This allows you to get cheaper flights by connecting to a server in countries with the lowest airfare. 

Which countries have the cheapest flights?

Low to mid-income countries, such as those in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Africa, often have more affordable flight prices. 

Which is the best VPN for cheaper flights?

PureVPN is the best VPN to book cheap flights as it offers one of the largest networks, with more than 6,500 servers in 70 countries around the world. 

Do airlines track IP addresses?

Yes, airlines and booking sites do track IP addresses. They use this data for dynamic pricing based on your location, ensuring transaction security, and analyzing user behavior to enhance their services.