How to find airline error fares and mistake prices that save up to 90%. Where to look, how to book safely, and what happens when airlines find the mistake.
Error fares — also called mistake fares or glitch fares — are airline pricing mistakes where flights are accidentally listed at dramatically reduced prices. Business class for $300, transatlantic flights for $150, first class for the price of economy. They happen more often than you'd think, and while not all are honored, many are. Here's how to find and book them.
Error fares happen for several reasons: currency conversion mistakes (an airline prices a fare in one currency but the system converts incorrectly), missing fuel surcharges or taxes, decimal point errors (charging $100 instead of $1,000), and IT system glitches during fare filing. Airlines file thousands of fare changes daily — mistakes are inevitable. The window to book is usually 2-24 hours before the airline discovers and corrects the error.
Secret Flying (secretflying.com) is the premier error fare tracking site. Jack's Flight Club sends email alerts for mistake prices and deals. The Points Guy covers major error fares. Reddit's r/travel and r/flights communities share finds in real-time. FlyerTalk forums are where frequent travelers discuss emerging glitches. Twitter/X accounts like @SecretFlying and @TheFlightDeal post breaking error fares. Signing up for email alerts from these sources is the most reliable method.
Act fast — error fares can disappear within hours. Book directly with the airline's website when possible (airlines are more likely to honor direct bookings). Don't call the airline to ask about the price — this may trigger a review. Book refundable hotel and travel arrangements separately until the fare is confirmed. Wait 24-72 hours before making non-refundable travel plans around the ticket. Most airlines take 1-3 weeks to decide whether to honor or cancel error fare bookings.
Most major airlines honor error fares. US Department of Transportation rules no longer require airlines to honor mistake fares (changed in 2015), but many airlines do anyway to avoid bad publicity. EU regulations are more passenger-friendly. Airlines that regularly honor error fares: United, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific. Airlines that sometimes cancel: TAP Portugal, Iberia. The key: don't panic if your booking goes into 'review' — most are eventually confirmed.
Book the error fare ticket only — don't call about it or share it widely on social media before you've booked (flooding an airline with bookings triggers faster discovery). Don't add frequent flyer numbers until the fare is confirmed. Have a flexible schedule — error fares are often on specific dates you wouldn't have chosen otherwise. Keep your email open for 2-3 weeks after booking for any cancellation notices.
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Start with your next upcoming trip. Pick the strategy above that fits your situation best, search fares using the tools mentioned, and compare the results to what you would have booked without this guide. The gap is usually eye-opening.
The biggest mistake travelers make is booking the first fare they see without comparison shopping. The second most common error is ignoring total cost: a budget airline fare that looks cheap can exceed a full-service carrier once you add baggage, seat selection, and meal fees. Third, many travelers book too late, missing the optimal booking window for their route and ending up paying peak prices.
Another frequent mistake is assuming that expensive equals better. On many routes, the cheapest flight operates the same aircraft type, same terminal, and similar schedule as pricier alternatives. Unless you specifically value a particular airline loyalty program, premium lounge access, or superior service reputation, there is often no practical reason to pay more for an equivalent journey.
Error fares are real but rare, and most get cancelled before departure. The ones that stick tend to be modestly mispriced rather than absurdly cheap — a $300 business class fare to Europe has better odds of being honored than a $50 one.
Following deal-alert services and acting quickly (within hours, not days) is the only reliable way to catch error fares. By the time they appear on mainstream travel forums, they are usually fixed.
Pick one tip from this guide and try it on your next flight search. Use the widget above to check fares, and see how the strategies here translate into actual savings on your route.
Major error fares (50%+ discount) appear a few times per month. Smaller glitches (20-30% below normal) are more frequent. Subscribing to error fare tracking services ensures you don't miss them.
Yes, there's nothing illegal about booking an error fare. Airlines sometimes choose to cancel them, but you won't face any penalties for booking. In the US, airlines are allowed to cancel mistake fares within 24 hours. In the EU, consumer protection laws may require airlines to honor confirmed bookings.