I booked a flight to Lisbon for $300 by changing my search city.

I was looking at flights from my home airport in Boston and everything was over $700 for a fall trip. On a whim, I checked prices from New York City, which is a $25 bus ride away, and found the same dates for under $300. Has anyone else saved big by starting their trip from a different nearby city?

3 comments

3 Comments

joseph_hart2mo ago

A travel blog called that the "hidden city" trick, and it works surprisingly often.

lane.mason1mo ago

Ever try booking a flight to a bigger hub, then just getting off at your real stop? Saved a ton on a trip to Denver that way.

jessicab332mo ago

Joseph_hart calling it the "hidden city" trick is spot on. It's not just flights, it's a whole thing now. I see it everywhere from concert tickets to hotel bookings. The price you get depends SO much on where the system THINKS you are starting from, not just the actual trip. It feels like a weird game where the rules are hidden and you have to guess them to win.