Travel math is pretty simple: The more money you save getting to your destination, the more you have to spend once you arrive. Unfortunately, airfare prices are up and only projected to get more expensive as the summer progresses. But a simple tech hack could help you score a seat at a discount.
Using a virtual private network (VPN) will scramble your IP address and make it look like you're browsing from another country, where the cost of flights might be drastically cheaper.
- Airlines use dynamic pricing—the ticket cost depends on what country you're flying out of, your destination, the route's popularity, the frequency of flights on that route and your browsing history.
- Think of a VPN as next-level incognito mode since it hides your location and your personal info.
How it works:
- Once you've set up your VPN, you can choose the country you want to book a flight from. Some of the cheapest choices are reported to be Latin or South American countries (Mexico, Peru or Argentina) and Asian or Southeast Asian countries (India, Philippines, Thailand.)
- Do a search and scan prices. If you think you can get a better deal, switch your VPN to another country and repeat.
- Book it once you've found a ticket you like for a price you can live with!
According to NordVPN, this flight search technique can reduce your ticket price by up to 47%.
Yes, but: As with all travel hacks, some risk is involved. Some banks and credit card companies will charge a transaction fee for international purchases, and booking through a VPN might nullify any consumer protections around the trip.