Deal
Last month, I booked a round-trip flight from New York to Tokyo for $287. No, that's not a typo, and no, I didn't use miles. I caught what's called an "error fare" – essentially a mistake in airline pricing that savvy travelers can exploit before the airline catches on and fixes it.
Error fares happen more often than you'd think. In my three years of hunting these deals, I've saved over $8,000 on international flights by knowing exactly where to look and how to act fast. Today, I'm sharing everything I've learned about finding these golden tickets.
What Exactly Are Error Fares?
Error fares are pricing mistakes made by airlines or booking systems. They can happen for several reasons:
- Currency conversion errors when airlines update exchange rates
- Missing fuel surcharges or taxes in the total price
- Computer glitches during fare updates
- Human error when manually inputting prices
- Third-party booking sites miscalculating final costs
The key thing to understand is that these aren't scams or too-good-to-be-true offers. They're legitimate booking errors that, once you've purchased, airlines often honor to maintain customer goodwill – though they're not legally required to.
My Best Error Fare Wins
Before I dive into the how-to, let me share some of my biggest wins to show you what's possible:
- New York to Tokyo: $287 (normally $1,200)
- Los Angeles to London: $198 (normally $800)
- Chicago to Bangkok: $312 (normally $1,100)
- Miami to Amsterdam: $156 (normally $700)
- Boston to Sydney: $421 (normally $1,600)
The Amsterdam deal was particularly sweet – I found it on a Tuesday morning, booked immediately, and by that afternoon the fare had jumped back to $743. Timing is everything with error fares.
Where to Hunt for Error Fares
You can't just stumble upon error fares by casually browsing airline websites. You need to know where the mistake ticket hunters gather:
Secret Flying
This is my go-to source. They post error fares as soon as they're discovered, usually with clear instructions on how to book. I've found about 60% of my deals here. They also indicate which fares are most likely to be honored versus cancelled.
The Flight Deal
Slightly more conservative than Secret Flying, but they vet deals thoroughly. Their error fares tend to last longer because they don't get as much traffic initially.
FlyerTalk Forums
The "Mileage Run Deals" section is where serious error fare hunters share finds in real-time. You'll need to create an account and check frequently, but the community is incredibly helpful.
Twitter Accounts
Follow @SecretFlying, @TheFlightDeal, and @ScottsCheapFlts for instant notifications. I have tweet notifications turned on for these accounts – that's how fast these deals disappear.
Pro tip: Set up Google Alerts for phrases like "error fare," "mistake ticket," and "airline pricing error." I've caught deals this way that the major sites missed initially.
The Golden Rules of Error Fare Booking
After booking dozens of error fares, I've learned some hard rules that can make or break your success:
Book First, Research Later
This goes against normal travel advice, but with error fares, hesitation kills deals. I once spent 15 minutes reading reviews of a hotel in Bangkok while a $312 fare to get there expired. Don't make my mistake.
Use Incognito Mode Always
Airlines track your searches and can raise prices if they see repeated interest in a route. I always use incognito/private browsing mode and clear cookies between searches.
Have Your Payment Info Ready
Store your credit card information in your browser or have it memorized. I've lost deals while fumbling for my wallet. Every second counts.
Book Separate One-Way Tickets
If you see an error fare for just the outbound journey, book it immediately and worry about the return later. Half an error fare is better than none.
Which Airlines Honor Error Fares Most Often?
Not all airlines are created equal when it comes to honoring mistake tickets. Based on my experience and community data:
Almost Always Honor
- Singapore Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
- Lufthansa
Usually Honor
- American Airlines
- Delta
- United
- British Airways
Coin Flip
- Air France
- KLM
- Turkish Airlines
Rarely Honor
- Most budget airlines
- Many third-party booking sites
- Consolidator fares
My Tokyo deal was with Singapore Airlines, which gave me confidence they'd honor it. They did, and the flight was incredible.
Red Flags: When Error Fares Get Cancelled
I've had about 15% of my error fare bookings cancelled by airlines. Here are the warning signs I've learned to spot:
- Prices that are literally 95% off normal rates
- Business or first-class fares priced like economy
- Widespread media coverage of the deal
- Fares that clearly violate airline pricing rules
- Bookings that don't generate confirmation emails within an hour
The key is finding that sweet spot – deals that are amazing but not so obviously broken that airlines feel compelled to cancel them.
My Error Fare Hunting Routine
Here's exactly how I hunt for error fares every week:
Monday Morning (10 minutes): Check Secret Flying and The Flight Deal for weekend discoveries. Monday is when many pricing errors from weekend system updates surface.
Wednesday Evening (15 minutes): Browse FlyerTalk forums and check Twitter for mid-week finds. Airlines often update fares on Wednesday nights.
Friday Afternoon (5 minutes): Quick scan for last-minute deals before the weekend.
I also have Google Alerts set up to email me immediately when new error fares are reported. This passive monitoring has caught some of my best deals.
What to Do After You Book
Congratulations, you've snagged an error fare! Now what?
Screenshot Everything
Save screenshots of your booking confirmation, the fare breakdown, and the original listing. If there are issues later, this documentation helps.
Don't Call the Airline
Resist the urge to call and confirm your booking. You'll just draw attention to the error. If you have a confirmation number, you're good.
Wait 24-48 Hours
Most error fare cancellations happen within two days. If you make it past that window, you're likely safe.
Book Accommodations After Confirmation
Wait until you're confident your flight won't be cancelled before booking hotels or other travel arrangements.
Common Mistakes That Cost Money
Don't make these rookie errors I've seen (and made myself):
- Booking through third-party sites instead of directly with airlines
- Posting about deals on social media before booking
- Trying to modify error fare tickets (this often triggers cancellation)
- Booking error fares for other people without their exact passport information
- Assuming all error fares will be honored and booking non-refundable hotels immediately
I once posted a Facebook status about an amazing deal I found, and by the time my friends tried to book, the fare had jumped back to normal pricing. Keep your finds quiet until after you book.
Your Error Fare Action Plan
Start following Secret Flying and The Flight Deal today, set up Google Alerts for "error fare," and bookmark FlyerTalk's Mileage Run Deals forum. Have your passport info and payment details readily available, and when you spot a deal that fits your travel dreams, book first and plan later. Error fares have saved me thousands on international travel – they can do the same for you if you're prepared to act fast when opportunity strikes.
