What Are Mistake Fares? How to Find and Book Them Before They Disappear

Imagine finding a business class flight from New York to Tokyo for $400 roundtrip, or economy tickets to Europe for $89. These aren't fantasies — they're mistake fares, and they happen regularly. Here's everything you need to know to find and book them.

What Is a Mistake Fare?

A mistake fare (also called an error fare) is an airline or booking site accidentally publishing a fare far below its intended price. These errors happen for various reasons:

• Currency conversion errors (a fare set in one currency converts incorrectly to another)
• Accidental omission of taxes or fuel surcharges
• Data entry errors in pricing systems
• System glitches during fare file updates
• Promotional fares applied to the wrong routes

Are Mistake Fares Legal to Book?

Yes — booking a mistake fare is completely legal. The airline made an error in their own system, and you booked in good faith based on the published price. In most cases, airlines do honor mistake fare tickets, particularly if you've already received a booking confirmation.

That said, airlines can sometimes cancel tickets booked at error fares, particularly if they catch the error very quickly. The US Department of Transportation previously required airlines to honor mistake fares, but rules have evolved — there's now more discretion on the airline's side. The safest approach: don't book non-refundable hotels or connections until your ticket is confirmed.

How to Find Mistake Fares

Mistake fares disappear within hours — sometimes within minutes. The key is being the first to know:

• Check the SkyScout Deals tab — We surface significant fare anomalies including error fares as they're spotted.
• Follow deal communities — Forums and travel deal sites often post mistake fares the moment they're discovered.
• Set broad price alerts — Setting alerts significantly below average prices means you'll be notified if prices suddenly drop to error-fare levels.
• Search regularly — Many mistake fares are found by travelers who happen to search at the right moment. Regular searching on flexible dates increases your chances.

How to Book a Mistake Fare Fast

Speed is everything. When you find a potential mistake fare:

1. Book immediately — Don't wait to research, don't share it yet, just book. You can always cancel most tickets within 24 hours for a full refund.
2. Book directly through the airline if possible — Airlines are more likely to honor fares booked on their own site.
3. Take screenshots of the fare at every stage of booking as evidence.
4. Wait for confirmation email before making any other travel arrangements.
5. Don't book non-refundable hotels until you're confident the ticket will be honored.

What If the Airline Cancels Your Mistake Fare?

If an airline cancels your mistake fare ticket, you're entitled to a full refund of what you paid. They cannot charge you the difference between the error price and the regular price. The downside is you simply don't get the amazing deal — which is why you shouldn't make non-refundable arrangements based on a mistake fare until it's confirmed.

The Best Mistake Fares in Recent History

• Business class US to Europe: $483 roundtrip (normal: $3,000+)
• Economy US to Japan: $198 roundtrip (normal: $700–1,000)
• Premium economy US to Australia: $512 roundtrip (normal: $2,000+)
• Economy New York to London: $89 roundtrip (normal: $400–700)

These deals are real, they happen multiple times per year, and with the right alerting system in place, you can catch them.