Error Fares Explained: How to Catch Mistake Prices

What Exactly Is an Error Fare

An error fare, sometimes called a mistake fare, happens when an airline or booking system publishes a price far below what was intended, usually due to a currency conversion mistake, a system glitch, or human error while loading fares. These fares can appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly once the airline notices.

They are rare, but they do happen often enough that a small community of deal-hunters actively watches for them, particularly on long-haul routes out of major hubs.

Where Error Fares Tend to Show Up

Error fares can appear on any booking channel, but certain patterns make them easier to spot if you know where to look.

• Third-party flight comparison sites, which sometimes pull fares before airlines correct them
• Airline websites during system updates or fare loading periods
• Multi-city or complex itineraries, where pricing errors are more likely
• Newly launched routes where fare structures haven't been fully tested
• Currency mismatches between an airline's home market and international bookings

How to Spot One Quickly

The key to catching an error fare is speed, since airlines typically correct pricing mistakes within hours or even minutes of them being flagged. Following deal alert communities and setting up fare trackers for your preferred routes increases your chances of noticing one before it's fixed.

What to Do If You Book One

If you spot and book what looks like an error fare, book quickly but stay realistic about the outcome.

• Pay with a method that offers purchase protection where possible
• Avoid immediately booking non-refundable hotels or activities around the flight
• Check your email regularly for any communication from the airline
• Understand that airlines are not always obligated to honour a clear pricing error
• Be patient, as confirmation of an error fare being honoured can take days or weeks

Managing Expectations

While some airlines choose to honour error fares as a goodwill gesture or due to regulatory pressure in certain markets, others will cancel the booking and refund the amount paid. Treat any error fare booking as a pleasant possibility rather than a guaranteed trip until it's fully ticketed and confirmed.