Mistake fares: what they are and whether to buy one

Sometimes a search turns up a ticket priced several times lower than usual. Some such offers are genuine promotions, and some are what is called a mistake fare. Here is where it comes from, what the buyer risks and how to behave so you are not left without money or plans.

What a mistake fare is

A mistake fare is a price that went on sale by oversight: a system failure, a wrongly entered currency or an extra zero, or wrongly calculated taxes. The airline did not plan this price, so it is fundamentally different from an ordinary promotion.

Signs that make a price worth treating as suspicious:

• the ticket is several times cheaper than on neighboring dates and with other carriers;
• the offer appeared suddenly, without an announcement or advertising;
• there are no promotion terms (dates, restrictions) and the price is "too good".

These are only guides: real sales can also be very good. We wrote about how they work in airline sales: how to catch them.

Why buying is risky

The main risk is that the carrier or the seller can cancel such a ticket. The rules depend on the company, the country and the terms of the contract, so no guarantees can be given. Possible scenarios:

1. The ticket is issued and stays valid. Sometimes airlines decide not to cancel the sales.
2. The ticket is cancelled and the money is returned. This is the most common "bad" outcome.
3. You are offered to pay extra up to the usual price or to choose other dates.

Check the terms in the contract of carriage and the carrier's rules on the date of purchase.

How to act if you find a cheap ticket

• Compare the price with the usual one for the same dates. Open the HotTrip flight search and see how far the offer is from the normal level (the guide is the low-fare calendar).
• Check the fare. A low price often means a fare with no baggage or with restrictions: no-baggage fares: what you can take.
• Do not tie other expenses to the ticket. Do not book non-refundable hotels and excursions until you are sure the flight will happen.
• Do not pay for it with all your savings. Choose an amount whose loss of time you are ready to bear.
• Save the confirmation and the e-ticket: e-tickets explained.

How to tell an error from a normal promotion

A normal promotion usually has a deadline, a list of destinations and a description of the terms on the airline's website. A mistake price most often lives for a few hours and disappears without announcement. If you doubt it, look at the carrier's official website and the news: companies announce their sales themselves. Always check the terms of a specific promotion on the carrier's official website.

What to do with the ticket in practice

1. Buy the ticket through a trusted service, for example Aviasales, and keep the confirmation email.
2. Wait for confirmation from the airline: check the booking on its website by the booking reference.
3. Only after that plan accommodation and other spending. If you are planning a trip, see when to book cheap flights.
4. If the flight has a connection, account for the separate risks of the layover: flights with a layover.

How not to miss genuinely good offers

Catching price errors is hard and unreliable, but good tickets under clear rules are realistic to find. Choose the destination and approximate dates in advance, compare prices on neighboring days and follow the hot deals feed. Flexible dates are a good idea: shifting the departure by a day or two often gives more than a one-off "stroke of luck".

Frequently asked questions

Is an airline obliged to fly on a mistake fare?

There is no single answer: a lot depends on the terms of the contract, the carrier's rules and the circumstances. Sometimes tickets are kept, sometimes cancelled. Rules change, so ask the carrier.

If the ticket is cancelled, will I get my money back?

As a rule the carrier or the seller returns the cost of the unused ticket. Check the terms and procedure in the rules of the seller and the carrier.

Can I get compensation for ruined plans?

Do not count on it in advance. That is why you should not pay for non-refundable services before the flight is confirmed. In a disputed situation contact the carrier or a lawyer.

How can I see in advance that a price is unusual?

Compare with the price calendar for neighboring dates and with the offers of other airlines on the same route. A sharp drop in price is a reason to check the terms.

Is it worth hunting for mistake fares?

It is a lottery: a win is possible, but you cannot count on it. It is more reliable to follow sales and hot deals.

Cover: photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels