How to Find and Book Error Fares
Error fares are airline pricing mistakes that can save you 50-90% on flights. Monitor deal sites like Secret Flying and Scott's Cheap Flights, book immediately when you find one, and pay with a credit card for protection. Airlines can cancel these tickets, but most honor them if booked quickly.
- Budget
- $200-800 per error fare ticket
- Duration
- Ongoing monitoring recommended
- Visa Required
- Depends on destinations - check immediately after booking
Step by step
Set up monitoring systems
Subscribe to Secret Flying, Scott's Cheap Flights (now Going), and Airfarewatchdog newsletters. Follow @SecretFlying on Twitter with notifications on. Join FlyerTalk's Mileage Run Deals forum. Set up Google Flights alerts for routes you want, but error fares usually don't trigger these.
Learn to recognize error fares
Look for flights priced 50-90% below normal rates. Common signs: round-trip international flights under $400, business class under $1000, or domestic flights under $100. Check if the routing makes sense - sometimes error fares have impossible connections or routing through expensive hubs at cheap prices.
Book immediately
Error fares disappear within hours or minutes. When you see one, book first and research the destination later. Don't wait to check your schedule or compare other options. Use a credit card for purchase protection in case the airline cancels.
Complete the booking properly
Enter passenger details exactly as they appear on passports. Book each passenger separately if traveling in a group - group bookings get scrutinized more. Avoid calling the airline about your booking unless absolutely necessary, as this draws attention to the error.
Secure your trip
Screenshot your confirmation page and email. Don't make non-refundable hotel bookings until 24-48 hours after your flight booking, in case it gets cancelled. Get travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. Check in online exactly 24 hours before departure.
Questions people ask
Will airlines honor error fares?
Most airlines honor error fares if you book quickly and don't draw attention to the mistake.
How often do error fares happen?
Major error fares appear 1-3 times per month globally. Smaller errors happen weekly. Most are corrected within 2-12 hours, with some lasting only minutes.
What if my error fare gets cancelled?
You'll get a full refund to your original payment method within 7-14 business days. Some airlines offer goodwill gestures like flight credits. If you used a credit card, you have additional dispute protection.
Can I modify error fare tickets?
Usually no. Error fares typically book into the most restrictive fare classes with no changes allowed. Attempting to modify may trigger a review that leads to cancellation.
Should I buy insurance for error fare trips?
Yes, especially 'cancel for any reason' coverage. Since error fares can be cancelled by airlines and often involve inflexible tickets, insurance protects your additional travel investments like hotels and activities.
Budget
Error fares can save $500-3000 per ticket. Budget $50-100 per year for deal site subscriptions. Most error fares are non-refundable, so factor in the risk of losing the ticket cost (typically $200-800) if the airline cancels.
Packing
- Screenshot of booking confirmation saved offline
- Credit card used for booking (for dispute protection)
- Flexible mindset for potential itinerary changes
- Valid passport (error fares often involve international travel)
- Travel insurance documentation
More fare guides: the booking window by route, finding cheap flights without getting burned and what travel insurance covers.