Error Fares

What Are Error Fares, and How Can You Book One?

Error fares are rare, heavily discounted flight prices that pop up due to technical glitches or human errors during the ticketing process. These mistakes can lead to astonishingly cheap fares, often far below the usual price for the same route.

While snagging an error fare can feel like winning the travel lottery, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Act Quickly: Error fares don’t last long. Once the airline or booking site catches the mistake, they’re usually corrected.
• Wait Before Making Other Plans: Although most error fare tickets are honored, airlines may occasionally cancel them, so hold off on booking hotels or other travel arrangements until you’re sure your ticket is confirmed.
• Be Flexible: Error fares often come with limited travel dates or unusual routes, so a bit of flexibility goes a long way.
• Increase Your Chances: To boost your odds, book directly through the airline if possible. Airlines are more likely to honor direct bookings than those made via OTAs, which they may ask to cancel. If booking directly isn’t an option, grab the fare wherever you can, it’s better to secure the fare first!

Can error fares get cancelled?

While error fares can get cancelled, around 70% of error fares are hounoured by the airlines. But what if your ticket gets canceled? No worries! You’ll get a full refund, and the airline won’t charge you anything beyond what you originally paid. In some countries (sadly not the UK), laws even require airlines to honour listed fares. So, while there’s a small risk of cancellation, it’s one with no financial downside.

Want to dive deeper into the world of error fares, including tips on spotting and booking them? Check out our detailed guide here: What Is an Error Fare and How to Book One.

Happy bargain hunting, JFC-ers!