Travel expert Simon Calder has dismissed a viral holiday-booking tip as an "urban myth," urging holidaymakers not to fall for the advice. The tip suggests using private or incognito mode and clearing cookies before searching for flights to avoid dynamic price increases based on browsing history.
Calder's Verdict on Incognito Mode
On his podcast "Travel Expert with Simon Calder," Calder was asked whether incognito mode leads to cheaper bookings. He replied: "Thank goodness for this [question], we have got the chance to get rid of this nonsense absolutely. It is an urban myth, and I will of course be delighted to learn if somebody has absolutely got video footage of somebody with a computer with cookies on and cookies without."
He explained that the idea that airlines track browsing history to raise prices is flawed. "The thought is that 'oh, we know that Greg is looking for flights, so therefore next time he goes on, we will put the price up to grab all his money'. It doesn't work like that."
Real Reasons for Price Changes
Calder attributed price fluctuations to real-time demand: "If the price has increased since the last time you looked, it's only because someone like me has come along and booked seats." He noted that the airline industry is highly competitive, with carriers charging what the market will bear.
According to Calder, dynamic pricing reflects actual bookings, not browsing history. He encouraged travelers to focus on broader strategies rather than incognito mode.
Passport Warning for EU Travel
In addition to the booking myth, Calder previously issued a stark warning for holidaymakers heading to the EU. He stressed that passports must be less than 10 years old on the day of entry and valid for at least three months beyond the return date.
Appearing on BBC Radio 2, he said: "You must remember, if you are going to the EU apart from Ireland, you cannot have a passport older than 10 years on the day you enter. It is the only part of the world that cares about when your passport is issued. Everywhere else only cares about the expiry date."
He urged travelers to check their passports before June, July, and August trips: "Has it had its 10th birthday on the day you plan to go away, and has it got at least three months left on the date you plan to leave? That way, we can hopefully avoid too many more wrecked holidays."
