How to Get Mistake Fares

How to Snag Incredible Deals: Mastering the Art of Finding and Booking Mistake Fares

Mistake fares, those tantalizing anomalies in the travel industry where flights are priced drastically lower than intended, are the holy grail for budget travelers. They’re born from human error, technological glitches, or currency conversion flubs, and while they’re fleeting, knowing how to identify and secure them can unlock travel experiences you only dreamed possible. This guide delves deep into the strategies, tools, and precautions necessary to become a mistake fare aficionado.

1. Understanding the Anatomy of a Mistake Fare:

Before diving into tactics, it’s crucial to understand what fuels these price drops. Common causes include:

• Human Error: A careless typo by an airline employee when entering fares into the system. This could involve missing a digit, misplacing a decimal point, or incorrectly assigning a currency.
• Currency Conversion Issues: Fluctuations in exchange rates, especially when airlines operate in multiple currencies, can lead to errors during conversion, resulting in fares being displayed incorrectly.
• Omission of Fuel Surcharges: Airlines often tack on fuel surcharges to ticket prices. Occasionally, these surcharges might be accidentally omitted, significantly reducing the overall fare.
• Technical Glitches: System errors or programming bugs within airline or online travel agency (OTA) websites can cause incorrect fares to be displayed.
• Third-Party Vendor Errors: Errors can occur when airlines use third-party vendors to manage pricing or distribution. These vendors might have outdated information or encounter synchronization problems.
• Promotional Code Malfunctions: Glitches related to promotional codes can result in fares being applied incorrectly or stacking in unintended ways, leading to exceptionally low prices.

2. Your Arsenal of Tools and Resources:

Effectively hunting for mistake fares requires a well-equipped toolkit:

• Flight Deal Websites and Email Alerts: Subscribe to reputable flight deal websites like Secret Flying, Scott’s Cheap Flights (paid and free versions), The Flight Deal, and Thrifty Traveler Premium. These sites actively scan for unusually low fares and often flag mistake fares. Set up email alerts and app notifications for instant updates.
• Flight Search Engines: Familiarize yourself with powerful flight search engines like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Momondo, and Kayak. These platforms allow you to compare fares across multiple airlines and OTAs. Google Flights is particularly useful for setting up price tracking alerts for specific routes.
• OTAs (Online Travel Agencies): While airlines are the primary source of fares, OTAs can sometimes be slower to correct errors. Explore OTAs like Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, and CheapOair, but be mindful of their customer service reputations should issues arise.
• Airline Websites: Don’t solely rely on third-party sites. Directly checking airline websites, especially for routes they heavily operate, can sometimes reveal error fares before they are widely disseminated.
• Social Media: Follow travel bloggers, deal hunters, and flight deal websites on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Real-time updates on social media can be critical in catching time-sensitive mistake fares.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network): In some cases, prices might vary based on your location. Using a VPN can help you mask your IP address and access prices from different countries, potentially uncovering favorable fares. However, use caution as booking from a different region can present address verification challenges.

3. Strategies for Identification and Confirmation:

Recognizing a mistake fare requires a keen eye and a bit of skepticism:

• Price Discrepancies: The most obvious indicator is a fare significantly lower than the average price for a particular route. Research historical prices to establish a benchmark. If a flight is offered at a fraction of its usual cost, it’s a strong candidate for a mistake fare.
• Currency Anomalies: Watch for fares displayed in unexpected currencies or amounts that seem off based on current exchange rates. This could signal a currency conversion error.
• Unusual Routing: Odd connections or unnecessarily long layovers at remarkably low prices could indicate a mistake fare. Airlines don’t typically price inefficient routings cheaper than direct flights unless there’s an error.
• Fare Class Inconsistencies: If the fare appears to be in a higher class (business or first class) but is priced significantly lower than even economy fares, it’s worth investigating.
• Cross-Referencing: Check the same flight on multiple platforms (airline website, OTAs, flight search engines). If the price discrepancy is consistent across different sources, it reinforces the possibility of a mistake fare.
• Double-Checking Taxes and Fees: Verify that the taxes and fees are reasonable. Sometimes, the base fare might be a mistake, but the taxes and fees are correct, giving you a more accurate picture of the total cost.

4. The Golden Rule: Book First, Ask Questions Later:

Time is of the essence. Mistake fares are usually rectified quickly. The moment you identify a potentially erroneous fare, follow these steps:

• Book Immediately: Don’t hesitate. Book the flight immediately. Delays of even a few minutes can mean the fare disappears.
• Book One Ticket at a Time: For group travel, book one ticket at a time. If the airline cancels the fare, it minimizes the impact on your entire party.
• Use a Credit Card: Credit cards offer better protection against unauthorized charges compared to debit cards.
• Avoid Calling the Airline: Resist the urge to contact the airline or OTA to confirm the fare. Doing so increases the chances of them discovering and correcting the mistake before you can book.
• Take Screenshots: Capture screenshots of the entire booking process, including the fare details, confirmation page, and any terms and conditions. This provides valuable documentation if the airline tries to dispute the fare later.

5. The Waiting Game: What Happens After Booking?

After booking, patience is paramount:

• Do Not Contact the Airline: Again, avoid contacting the airline. Let the booking process run its course.
• Wait for Confirmation: Wait for the airline to issue a confirmation email with a ticket number. This doesn’t guarantee the fare will be honored, but it’s a positive sign.
• Avoid Making Non-Refundable Plans: Refrain from booking non-refundable hotels, tours, or other travel arrangements until the airline officially honors the ticket.
• Understand the 24-Hour Rule (US): In the United States, airlines are generally required to allow you to cancel a ticket within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, regardless of fare rules. This gives you a window to cancel if you have doubts.
• Be Prepared for Cancellation: There’s a possibility the airline will cancel the ticket and issue a refund. This is within their rights. In rare cases, they might offer you the option to pay the difference between the mistake fare and the correct fare.

6. Dealing with Cancellation (If It Happens):

If the airline cancels your mistake fare, you have limited options:

• Accept the Refund: The most common outcome is a full refund.
• Negotiate (Rarely Successful): You can try to negotiate with the airline, but it’s unlikely they will honor the mistake fare. However, you might be able to negotiate a discounted fare on a different flight.
• Credit Card Dispute (Last Resort): If you believe the airline acted in bad faith or misrepresented the fare, you can file a dispute with your credit card company. This is generally only successful if the airline fails to provide adequate explanation for the cancellation.

7. Ethical Considerations:

While snagging a mistake fare is exciting, it’s essential to consider the ethical implications:

• Acknowledge the Error: Recognize that the fare is a mistake and the airline is losing money.
• Don’t Exploit the System: Avoid booking excessively speculative flights or trying to manipulate the system to find more mistakes.
• Be Prepared for Cancellation: Accept that the airline has the right to cancel the ticket.

Mastering the art of finding and booking mistake fares requires vigilance, speed, and a touch of luck. By understanding the underlying causes, utilizing the right tools, and acting decisively, you can significantly increase your chances of securing incredible travel deals and experiencing the world on a budget.