Article: Error Fares Aren't the Deal You're Looking For

[AFF Editor]

In the past, it was relatively common to find error fares - and airlines would often be obliged to honour them. But things are changing.

Airlines and their booking systems have become more sophisticated. Airlines have become more vigilant. These mistakes now get much more attention in the media. And airlines now hesitate much less to cancel tickets sold in error.

This article examines what's been happening recently with error fares:

Error Fares Aren't the Deal You're Looking For

Error fares were once a staple of the travel hacking community. But they're becoming less and less viable, as airlines have gradually caught up.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Have you been lucky enough to book some almost-too-good-to-be-true deals over the years? And have you noticed that these opportunities have started to dry up lately? Leave a comment below!

 

[SYD]

It’s quite funny when someone on FT claims some bargain fare is an “error” fare and then gets howled down. As if ignorance is a defence when buying them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It’s quite funny when someone on FT claims some bargain fare is an “error” fare and then gets howled down. As if ignorance is a defence when buying them.

exactly, it’s not!

Error fares were ruined for good by some of those partaking in the SWISS fares ex Rangoon. Claimed a $450 first class fare on Swiss from RGN to the USA ‘couldn’t possibly be an error’.

While some initial tickets were successful, based on LX’s tariffs, when swiss later argued ‘mistake’ they were successful.

From there the DOT and CTA have consistently ruled in favour of the airlines.

Then there are those that don’t just buy one fare, but buy multiples, and threaten legal action if they can’t fly every single one.

Mistake fares are fun, and if you get to fly, great, But if you don’t, move on! I got one on Oman Air connecting to Air France, business class ex MNL for $500.

Not sure I entirely agree with the article that airlines are entitled to cancel any fare they deem a mistake. That’s not really true, even after the DOT and CTA positions. It must actually be a mistake, but secondly, if it’s not an obvious mistake. the airline is not off the hook. For example VA and ZL’s regular J class fare between SYD and MEL is $379. If someone buys one of those for say December 31, the airline can’t void that ticket because it meant to charge double for a peak travel day. They can’t claim a mistake by one of their staff in that case. (Well, they could, but it’s unlikely to succeed.)

 

[Scarlett]

…that last line

 

[WilsonM]

Not sure I entirely agree with the article that airlines are entitled to cancel any fare they deem a mistake. That’s not really true, even after the DOT and CTA positions. It must actually be a mistake, but secondly, if it’s not an obvious mistake. the airline is not off the hook. For example VA and ZL’s regular J class fare between SYD and MEL is $379. If someone buys one of those for say December 31, the airline can’t void that ticket because it meant to charge double for a peak travel day. They can’t claim a mistake by one of their staff in that case. (Well, they could, but it’s unlikely to succeed.)

It's a good point, and I do agree - if the fare isn't actually a mistake, the airline isn't entitled to cancel willy-nilly.

But it doesn't necessarily have to be obvious anymore, or more accurately, I'd argue it's not up to the consumer as to whether it's obvious - it's up to the airline, which changes the game IMO

Post automatically merged: Jul 18, 2024

…that last line


View attachment 398189

I'm glad someone spotted it!!

 

[Dr Ralph]

The first rule of error fares is that you do not talk about error fares.

 

[muppet]

I’ve been using FT and AFF for about 10+ years, i’ve NEVER heard anyone receive a call from an airline saying they published an error fare that was too high and here is the refund.

Too cheap = error
Too high = you accepted the fare, therefore its correct

Consumers should be free to rely on airline websites. Many airlines often sell fares for close to zero + taxes and charges, why should i have to guess whether something is an error, short term promotion or true attempts to compete.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's a good point, and I do agree - if the fare isn't actually a mistake, the airline isn't entitled to cancel willy-nilly.

But it doesn't necessarily have to be obvious anymore, or more accurately, I'd argue it's not up to the consumer as to whether it's obvious - it's up to the airline, which changes the game IMO

Post automatically merged: Jul 18, 2024

I'm glad someone spotted it!!

I’m not aware of any ‘not obvious’ mistakes being cancelled by the airlines?

a lot of this will depend on the country of origin for the fare… and how strong consumer laws are in those countries.

Unless the mistake was obvious, an airline trying to cancel a fare in a western-law country might have some difficulty.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’ve been using FT and AFF for about 10+ years, i’ve NEVER heard anyone receive a call from an airline saying they published an error fare that was too high and here is the refund.

Too cheap = error
Too high = you accepted the fare, therefore its correct

Consumers should be free to rely on airline websites. Many airlines often sell fares for close to zero + taxes and charges, why should i have to guess whether something is an error, short term promotion or true attempts to compete.

Never seen a first class fare for ‘zero’ with taxes! And that’s the thing, people don’t generally snap up vast quantities of economy class tickets on LCCs because… they’re the normal fare!

As an AFFer I’ve never been in doubt as to the accuracy of a fare. Now a regular non-FFer might not be aware, but then they’re hadly likely to be buying first class fares, in multiple numbers, between RGN and the USA!

But you are right in the example of a VA $379 fare on christmas or new year’s eve. If that’s the fare in effect 364 days a year, no reason to suspect the airline would be meaning to double that on a peak day.

 

[Gremlin]

I’ve been using FT and AFF for about 10+ years, i’ve NEVER heard anyone receive a call from an airline saying they published an error fare that was too high and here is the refund.

Too cheap = error
Too high = you accepted the fare, therefore its correct

Consumers should be free to rely on airline websites. Many airlines often sell fares for close to zero + taxes and charges, why should i have to guess whether something is an error, short term promotion or true attempts to compete.

Mistakes do happen in both directions. But are you suggesting that you'd snap up a $250,000 F Fare that would normally be priced at $15,000? That might be the reason you don't hear about the converse scenario.

 

[muppet]

Mistakes do happen in both directions. But are you suggesting that you'd snap up a $250,000 F Fare that would normally be priced at $15,000? That might be the reason you don't hear about the converse scenario.

No of course not. But my point is, whatever the computer comes up with, if it’s high = correct. Irrespective if the calculation or combination of fares used was incorrect.

I have definitely seen people buy J class fares, that are very high for the route, that I cannot find the published fare on expertflyer. I’ve seen people sold F class fares without baggage (clearly a mistake - per all published fare rules) that the airline refuses to budge and charges thousands in excess baggage fees.

My point is, it’s all one-way errors. If you make a mistake, overpay or whatever, too bad.

All I think is the contracts should be fair. If the airline can correct its mistakes without prejudice, consumers should be allowed to as well.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No of course not. But my point is, whatever the computer comes up with, if it’s high = correct. Irrespective if the calculation or combination of fares used was incorrect.

I have definitely seen people buy J class fares, that are very high for the route, that I cannot find the published fare on expertflyer. I’ve seen people sold F class fares without baggage (clearly a mistake - per all published fare rules) that the airline refuses to budge and charges thousands in excess baggage fees.

My point is, it’s all one-way errors. If you make a mistake, overpay or whatever, too bad.

All I think is the contracts should be fair. If the airline can correct its mistakes without prejudice, consumers should be allowed to as well.

well, it’s not really one way. The customer in the cases you describe has the purchasing power.

If the airline sold an error F fare that somehow didn’t include baggage when it was supposed to, the passenger would be entitled to cancel it, just as the airline does.

If pax were sold J class fares direct by the airline - not including any markup by travel agents - which was an error, the passenger should go ahead and cancel, or do a chargeback if the airline won’t accept a cancellation.

Agree it is difficult for the passenger to be able to act sometimes, but if the deals are as bad as you point out, there are avenues.

 

[SydneySwan]

I bought an error fare on November 8 2016 on Virgin Australia website - Y fare from Sydney to London return on SIA for A$761. Early the following morning I also snagged Sydney - Guangzhou return in Y on VA website for Mrs SS on SIA for A$281.

I vaguely remember that SIA had loaded fares without YQ which saved $500-600 on the UK return trip. SIA honoured the tickets, possibly because the error occurred late at night and was fixed early the next morning so limited damage done.

However it enabled me to tick error fare off on my bucket list.

 

[Mattg]

I bought an error fare on November 8 2016 on Virgin Australia website - Y fare from Sydney to London return on SIA for A$761. Early the following morning I also snagged Sydney - Guangzhou return in Y on VA website for Mrs SS on SIA for A$281.

I vaguely remember that SIA had loaded fares without YQ which saved $500-600 on the UK return trip. SIA honoured the tickets, possibly because the error occurred late at night and was fixed early the next morning so limited damage done.

However it enabled me to tick error fare off on my bucket list.

I booked (and flew) a trip from Sydney to Seoul using the same deal in 2016. Was around $300 return in SQ Y, from memory.

That was about a year after Qantas accidentally sold return tickets to the USA for a few hundred dollars for half a day.

Haven't had much luck with error fares since then!

 

[Gold Member]

The first rule of error fares is that you do not talk about error fares.

1. DO NOT call the Airline.
2. DO NOT call the Airline.
3. See points 1 and 2.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I bought an error fare on November 8 2016 on Virgin Australia website - Y fare from Sydney to London return on SIA for A$761. Early the following morning I also snagged Sydney - Guangzhou return in Y on VA website for Mrs SS on SIA for A$281.

I vaguely remember that SIA had loaded fares without YQ which saved $500-600 on the UK return trip. SIA honoured the tickets, possibly because the error occurred late at night and was fixed early the next morning so limited damage done.

However it enabled me to tick error fare off on my bucket list.

I booked (and flew) a trip from Sydney to Seoul using the same deal in 2016. Was around $300 return in SQ Y, from memory.

That was about a year after Qantas accidentally sold return tickets to the USA for a few hundred dollars for half a day.

Haven't had much luck with error fares since then!

2016 was an excellent vintage.

DRWxSYD-LAX + LAXxSYDxMEL-DRW for $358.19 per pax.

Bargain.

I was an FF rookie at the time, but was told by a pro the MEL transit on the inbound turned it into a fuel dump.

When we arrived back in SYD, the transfer desk offered us a direct flight to DRW, so we skipped a very long transit in MEL entirely!

 

[WilsonM]

1. DO NOT call the Airline.
2. DO NOT call the Airline.
3. See points 1 and 2.

One of my fav posts from Flyertalk: