Private Browsing...

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

   Sometimes it really pays to live with teenagers. While searching for travel ideas on the internet, my son told me that I should turn on "private browsing".  HUH?? What the heck is private browsing, I thought.  

   My son explained to me that when you search the internet, third parties can track you and see what you are looking at to track buying patterns, etc.  For example, if you go onto "IwantToRunAwayToTahiti.com" every day to check prices for your escape, they know that you really want to go and may not lower prices for you.  If I log on just for fun, they may quote you a different price.

   I really did not believe that this was actually true. It seems so unfair. I compared it to me going to Target three times a week and paying one price and my husband going in only once a year and getting a better price. That is insane.

   Unfortunately my son was right, at least in the case of American Airlines.  I was searching for fares for an upcoming trip.  I searched the same exact trip a few times before booking it.  The fare was  $686 with fees, taxes etc. I booked the ticket but put it on a courtesy 24 hour hold.  I then searched it in private browsing. The fare for the exact same trip (same day, time, flight & seat)  was $654. That is a 5% difference.   SERIOUSLY??? This seems illegal, but I guess it is not.
  
    Different browsers have different ways of turning on "private browsing" so good how to do it. On my mac, I use safari and you just go click on the drop down menu for "Safari" and  click "Private Browsing"

    I'm going to try this again and see what other variations that I can find. Has this ever happened to you? I'd love to hear other stories of this.

7 comments:

Susie said...

Japolina, This proves our children are aliens, from another planet. LOL. Gaaa, they know everything.LOL I am going to tell my daughters about this. Thank you for this post.My girls will think I am the alien.:) Blessings to all. Hope your Mom is doing much better and feeling brand new again. xoxo,Susie

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

wow did not know this, going to go figure out how to turn this on now.

thanks, bee
xoxoxooxox

angryparsnip said...

I did not know this !
But I am sure my children do. Lately all my trips are to Japan, so son always looks up my fares for me and gets the best deals.
I am getting a new computer and I will for sure check out this now.
You always have the best ideas.

cheers, parsnip

vivian said...

I never knew! But thanks for the info. I guess I did know they track our buying patterns, but I never gave it any thought. Have a great night.
Xoxo
Vivian

vivian said...

I never knew! But thanks for the info. I guess I did know they track our buying patterns, but I never gave it any thought. Have a great night.
Xoxo
Vivian

NanaDiana said...

I did know this but I cannot figure out how to turn my own to private browsing. It is in the setting somewhere but I don't know where- UGH! xo Diana

Anonymous said...

Holy moly. had no idea. That is some seriously valuable information. Thanks for sharing Japolina!
xo jo

 
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