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A skyscanner caution.

Brighton, United...
Level Contributor
193 posts
5 reviews
7 helpful votes
A skyscanner caution.
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The skyscanner prices for same search at home compared to local library are like £100 different. The last few days the prices on my laptop have suddenly shot up, yet same old price at library.

It's probably something to do with the way searches are cached, etc.

But we aware, you may be getting higher prices, that can be cheaper booked on another fresh computer!

Singapore, Singapore
Level Contributor
4,662 posts
384 reviews
200 helpful votes
1. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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You don't book on Skyscanner which is only a search engine, always book directly with the airlines after you have found what you want on Skyscanner.

Palmetto, Florida
Level Contributor
5,800 posts
2. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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ha, I suspect the folks who defend the cookie monsters will come on soon to make comment. ;D

This kinda remind me of the story about Orbitz preferentially showing pricier hotel choices for MAC users versus Window users. The data mining and algorithms are mind blowing.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304458604577488822667325882

London, United...
Level Contributor
27,179 posts
25 reviews
47 helpful votes
3. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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The library computer is probably not refreshing completely hence why it's old prices, if you delete the cookies and browsing history you will find the library prices shoot up to match the pricing you see on your home computer.

Lewes, United...
Destination Expert
for Road Trips, Food and Travel
Level Contributor
42,976 posts
35 reviews
98 helpful votes
4. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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Froggy has a point, as the OP has not said where the flights are from or to, but both BA and Virgin sales recently ended, so some ticket prices may well have jumped in the last few days.

SWT

Sydney, Australia
Destination Expert
for Sydney, Bargain Travel, Food and Travel
Level Contributor
35,291 posts
5. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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>>>This kinda remind me of the story about Orbitz preferentially showing pricier hotel choices for MAC users versus Window users<<<

LOL Amatrip

What the public didn't hear, is that thanks to this silly attempt, they suffered a loss of $314m in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. They overlooked one major flaw in their strategy - the consumers who spend more room nights in hotels, typically have their preferred booking platforms. So the only people that impacted were the less experienced travellers - and who tend to be more thrifty with their research and spending, and went elsewhere.

Ignore Rate Parity = Fail

Edited: 9 years ago
London, United...
Level Contributor
27,179 posts
25 reviews
47 helpful votes
6. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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Sky scanner is simply a search engine, it pulls data from what is out there. This scenario isn't even like the Cookie Monster theory, those prices sky scanner shows on the library computer won't be able to be booked, it's just a search engine, you still need to go through to the seller. This is simply a software issue.

Palmetto, Florida
Level Contributor
5,800 posts
7. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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KVE,

I'm liking pushing your button!

London
Destination Expert
for London
Level Contributor
28,069 posts
80 reviews
131 helpful votes
8. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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I'm unclear what the OP specifically means. Half the prices on skyscanner et al seem to be basically ads from third parties to sucker in the unsuspecting, not live or even cached prices to start with.

Scunthorpe, United...
Level Contributor
4,822 posts
5 reviews
4 helpful votes
9. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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The MAC v PC example is more about big data and mining then using predictive offers based on user device. As said it was not about offering the same room at different prices but offering different properties earlier in the list.

Clearing caches and cookies is good practice regardless to make sure you are seeing live pages.

Brighton, United...
Level Contributor
193 posts
5 reviews
7 helpful votes
10. Re: A skyscanner caution.
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thanks for your replies, BTW it isn't skyscanners fault, rather my COMPUTER! (ROTFL!!!)

I sorted the problem by using c cleaner on my computer. If the firefox cache isn't deleted from time to time, i only get the really stupidly high prices. Since i cleared the cache, i'm getting the same deal offers as from the library computer. They obviously clear their computers every day.

Sorry, i'm out of date with all this mumbo jumbo stuff, lol!

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