VPNs for Cheap Flights? This Popular TikTok Hack May Not Be the Best Option.

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• A virtual private network (VPN) protects your online privacy and security through a secure server.
• Some people also believe flights can be cheaper if you use a VPN. Here’s what our research found.
• To get the best flight prices, consider flying mid-week or traveling to and from another airport.

There are countless rumors on social media about the best ways to book flights for less. With the winter holidays approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, you can be sure that the more persistent among them will pop up in your feeds.

In particular, someone may tell you that the trick to finding cheap airfare is to use a VPN when you book. On the face of it, this makes sense. A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your data and masks your IP address, which ties your internet connection to a specific location. By using a VPN, you can appear to be in a different country from where you actually are.   

Why and when should you use a VPN?

A VPN is great for eluding government censors, keeping safe from eavesdroppers, and viewing or streaming content from locations where it would be blocked. But would appearing to be in a different country result in cheaper airfare?

We tested the premise against five of the best VPNs, and the results are pretty unequivocal: Flights aren’t cheaper when you shop through a VPN.