Air Fares for Aussie Travellers

duluxe2000 on 19/03/2019 - 17:45
Last edited 19/03/2019 - 22:56

Ok, I heard about it but do not believe it. Now I experience it first-hand.

My friend who is travelling Southeast Asia atm asked me to buy him a flight ticket. He searched the air fare (Jetstar), it was ~48 AUD. I did the same search on Jetstar (5 mins after he did) but no where can find it at that price, the lowest is 66 AUD.

I then used different device (my phone) to search and it shows 66 AUD.

I guess my IP being from Australia meant that I have to pay the premium (that is 30% increase !).

Do you have similar stories ? Have you tried VPN to score cheaper tickets?

EDIT : My bad, it turns out that Jestar AU shows the price with tax/surcharge inclusive while Jestar website in the SEA does not. The final amounts are the same.

Case closed.

Travel Airfare

closed Comments

  • Donaldhump on 19/03/2019 - 18:27

    so get your friend to recheck, and if still 48 then yes, if it is 66, then it just went up price… possibly from your friend clicking it.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2019 - 18:56
    +2

    I'll play devil's advocate and defend the airlines. The route from Tokyo to Gold Coast is an example where it's usually cheaper for the Japanese travellers than Australians. Japan is more central and the airline has planes to fill and creating business with the Japanese tourists who could go elsewhere. The Australian tourists would probably still go to Japan as they have fewer options. It's not racist as it even happens with Tasmanian ship fares. The tasmanians don't have much choice whereas mainland tourists might go elsewhere. The prices and demand and alternatives are different.

  • Jimmycfc on 19/03/2019 - 19:08
    +1

    I've heard once you search for a fare it will leave cookies behind and then raise the price the next time.. Could be a conspiracy though

    • Presence on 19/03/2019 - 19:12

      Anecdotally I think it's true. I always browse flights using incognito mode.

      • suchis on 19/03/2019 - 20:57

        Incog what …. how do u do this?

        • Daabido on 19/03/2019 - 22:16

          File menu. Under the make new window there should be an option to create a private window or incognito windows which won't allow cookies to be stored on your computer.

          For instance, in Chrome;

          "You’ve gone incognito
          Now you can browse privately, and other people who use this device won’t see your activity. However, downloads and bookmarks will be saved. Learn more

          Chrome won’t save the following information:
          Your browsing history
          Cookies and site data
          Information entered in forms
          Your activity might still be visible to:
          Websites that you visit
          Your employer or school
          Your Internet service provider"

    • iforgotmysocks on 19/03/2019 - 19:33

      Delicious!

    • jjjaar on 19/03/2019 - 19:37

      Yes I think this is true. But also searching the exact same route on the exact same day may have something to do with it… I’m sure the websites realise, regardless of where the search is coming from, that someone wants that flight and if it goes up the person will still pay for it.

    • samfisher5986 on 19/03/2019 - 20:15

      This is true with hotel searching, I've experienced it myself.

    • jiberz on 19/03/2019 - 20:23

      There are disgusting amounts of tracking cookies these days. It is absolutely true. On a side note, the Canadian marketplace show did a special on this. 3 different people, 3 different prices on various things.

  • ode1online on 19/03/2019 - 21:15

    local taxes possibly ?

  • hawkeye on 19/03/2019 - 21:15
    +1

    Your friend probably had it set to USD $48 is $67 AUD ATM with Xe convertor app.
    Get back to your friend very easy mistake to make.

  • Nicky Lee on 19/03/2019 - 21:51

    VPN search was perfect several years ago, but it doesn't work for me anymore. I suppose that cookies and cash interfere with fair search. Even incognito window doesn't let you see cheap prices. I am not experienced with all this so I just gave up this idea.

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