How to Find and Book Error Fares: Insider Secrets Revealed

Imagine booking an international flight for just $79—sounds too good to be true, right? 

Well, this is exactly what you can do with error fares. These rare pricing errors made by airlines or online travel agencies offer amazing deals on flights, sometimes even on business or first class too!

Error fares are all the rage among travel deal hunters who want to see the world without breaking the bank.

In this post, we'll explain error fares and show you how to find and book them. We’ll also discuss the risks involved and give you some practical tips for making the most of them.

Get ready to start your next adventure at a fraction of the cost!

How to Find Error Fares

In the world of traveling hacks, finding error fares requires using the right tools, setting up alerts, and being quick. Here are some ways to get your hands on these deals.

Use The Right Tools and Platforms

Use flight search engines like Google Flights and the website Skyscanner to search for mistake fares.

Google Flights is fast and extensive. It allows you to search multiple destinations and track prices over time. 

Skyscanner is more flexible, as it searches smaller online travel agencies (OTAs), which sometimes show fares that Google Flights misses.

You can also subscribe to newsletters from services like Jack’s Flight Club or Going.com (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) and get the error fares delivered to your inbox. They monitor the industry pricing and alert subscribers to any price drops or errors, so you don't need to spend hours searching for a mistake fare yourself!

Set Up Automatic Alerts

Setting up price alerts can help you catch error fares. Both Google Flights and Skyscanner have features that allow you to track the airfare for specific routes and get notified when prices drop.

To set up price alerts on Google Flights, search for your route and toggle the "Track prices" button. You’ll get email notifications when prices change. 

Skyscanner has push notifications through its app that will alert you when prices drop. By watching for these alerts, you can move quickly when an error fare appears!

Join Communities

Joining communities or services focused on finding mistake fares can be a big help when you're searching for great deals.

Platforms like Flyertalk and specific Facebook groups have members who share error fares and routes as soon as they find them. These communities offer real-time updates, making it more likely you’ll catch a great deal before it’s gone.

Some premium services even provide personalized alerts and early access to mistake fares. This gives you a head start on booking before the airline corrects the price.

Timing

Timing is everything when booking mistake fares. These fares are often corrected within hours, so act quickly once you spot one! 

The best advice is to book immediately and take advantage of the 24-hour cancellation policy offered by many airlines. This will allow you to cancel the flight without penalty if your plans change. 

This approach ensures you don't miss out on an incredible deal while still providing some flexibility.

Track Your Booking

Besides joining communities, using tools like Check My Trip can help you stay on top of your booking after snagging an error fare.

This tool lets you monitor the status of your ticket, making sure your booking is confirmed and alerting you if anything changes. By using Check My Trip, you can keep track of your travel plans and manage your reservations more effectively.

Adding tools like this to your strategy can boost your chances of holding onto those error fares and give you extra peace of mind.

Booking Strategies for Error Fares

When you come across an error fare, you’ll want to use the right booking strategies to secure the deal and minimize the risks.

Book The Error Fare Immediately

Once you’ve found a mistake fare, book it right away! These fares can disappear fast as airlines correct the mistake, so act fast. 

Use a credit card to pay, as it offers better protection against disputes or cancellations. Credit cards often come with travel insurance benefits, which can help if anything goes wrong with your booking.

Avoid Contacting The Airline Directly

Even though you might want to check your booking with the airline, it's best not to reach out about the error fare. If you do, you might draw attention to the mistake fare, and the airline is more likely to cancel it.

Instead, finish your booking quietly and let the airline process it without any interference.

Book Directly with Airlines

Whenever possible, book error fares directly through the airline's website. This approach offers several advantages, including a 24-hour cancellation grace period mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation for flights to or from the United States.

This policy allows you to cancel your booking within 24 hours without incurring any penalties, giving you time to finalize your travel plans or reconsider if necessary. 

Booking directly also simplifies the process of addressing any issues that may arise, as you can work directly with the airline rather than a third-party agency.

What are Error Fares?

Error fares, also known as mistake fares, are significantly reduced airfares resulting from pricing errors made by an airline or online travel agency.

These error fares happen when the listed price for a flight is much lower than intended, providing travelers with opportunities to book amazing deals on flights. However, error fares can be challenging to find due to the number of flight combinations that are available.

Causes of Error Fares

Error fares occur for several reasons, including:

• Human Error in Pricing: This is the most common cause, where airline employees or travel agents accidentally input incorrect prices, such as omitting a digit, leaving out the fuel surcharges, or entering the wrong fare class.

• Currency Conversion Mistakes: Errors in converting currency can lead to drastically reduced fares when prices are listed in a different currency than intended.

• System Glitches and Technical Errors: Automated systems used for pricing can sometimes malfunction, leading to unexpected price drops. These glitches sometimes happen due to outdated technology or miscommunication within the global distribution system.

Examples of Past Error Fares

Error fares have provided travelers with remarkable deals in the past. Some notable examples include:

• London to Los Angeles for £39 one-way with Norwegian.

• New York to Abu Dhabi for $187 round-trip in Etihad Airways economy class.

• Chicago to Rome for $249 in business class.

Risks and Considerations

Error fares can be tempting, but they come with certain risks you should know about before booking.

Potential Cancellations

The biggest risk with error fares is that the airline might cancel the ticket once they notice the mistake.

Some airlines will let you keep the fare as a goodwill gesture, but this isn’t guaranteed. Business and first-class tickets are more likely to be canceled when an error occurs, making them more risky to book directly. If the airline decides to cancel the fare, you’ll usually get a refund, but you won’t get to take the flight.

So, be ready for this possibility and do not get too excited when you find a fantastic deal on a mistake fare.

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Flexible Travel Plans

To minimize the impact of cancellations, make sure you travel with flexible plans.

Book refundable accommodations, and don’t make non-essential plans or purchases related to the trip until the airline confirms the ticket. This way, you minimize your financial risk, and if changes or cancellations happen, they will have minimal impact on your trip.

If you wait until closer to the departure date to finalize other travel arrangements, you’ll have peace of mind.

Legal Protections

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has rules about mistake fares. Before 2015, airlines were required to honor these fares once purchased. However, the DOT changed this rule in 2015.

Now, airlines can cancel mistake fares if they can prove it was an error. However, they must refund the ticket price and pay back any real, reasonable costs you had because of the booking being canceled, like non-refundable hotel reservations or other travel arrangements.

In Canada, the rules are different. The Canadian Transportation Agency says airlines can cancel tickets for mistake fares, especially if the price was obviously too low to be real. However, there is no law in Canada that forces airlines to honor mistake fares.

These differences show how important it is to know the consumer protection laws where you live. While some protections exist, they don’t guarantee that an error fare will be honored. So, it’s wise to be cautious and avoid making non-refundable travel plans until you know your fare is confirmed.

Common Concerns

Here are a few common concerns that you might have when you book a mistake fare.

Reliability of Error Fares

Airlines are not always guaranteed to honor error fares. Some may choose to honor them as a goodwill gesture or to keep customers happy, while others will cancel the ticket once they find out about the error. The likelihood of an error fare being honored varies by airline and situation.

If a fare is not honored, you’ll get a full refund of the ticket price, but be prepared for your travel plans to be disrupted.

Handling Cancellations

If your error fare gets canceled, here’s what to do:

1. Confirm the cancellation with the airline and ask for a refund. Most airlines will process refunds automatically, but it's smart to check and make sure you get your money back.

2. Sometimes, the airline might offer credits or other options instead of a refund.

3. If the airline isn’t responding or the refund is taking too long, you can contact your credit card company for help. They can often assist in resolving the issue.

Tips for First-Time Users

If you’re new to booking an error fare, here are some tips:

1. Act fast when you find an error fare since these cheap flights can disappear within minutes to hours.

2. Use a credit card to protect yourself in case something goes wrong.

3. Don’t reach out to the airline about the fare before you book it! This will avoid drawing attention to the mistake and risking cancellation of the cheap fare.

4. Keep your travel plans flexible. Book refundable accommodations and wait to make other travel arrangements until you know your fare is confirmed.

The Art of Seizing the Moment

You’ve learned the secrets of finding error fares, and now it’s time to put that knowledge into action. 

Sign up for alerts, try out the tools and platforms available, and be ready to grab the next opportunity that comes your way. 

You never know, you might find yourself sipping espresso in Rome or exploring the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires for next to nothing. The world is waiting—go find your error fare today!