How to Find and Book Error Fares in 2026

Every year, airlines accidentally publish fares that are dramatically lower than intended. A transposed number, a currency conversion glitch, or a filing error can turn a $3,000 business class ticket into a $300 steal. These are error fares, and savvy travelers have been quietly booking them for years. The good news is that in 2026, finding them is easier than ever if you know where to look.

This guide breaks down exactly how error fares happen, the best tools and communities for spotting them, and the critical steps you need to take to maximize your chances of keeping the ticket.

What Exactly Is an Error Fare?

An error fare occurs when an airline or online travel agency (OTA) publishes a ticket price that is significantly below the intended cost. These mistakes typically fall into a few categories.

Currency conversion errors happen when the fare is filed in one currency but displayed in another without proper conversion. A fare meant to be 500 euros might show up as $5.00. Fat finger mistakes are simple data entry errors where someone types 200 instead of 2,000. Fuel surcharge omissions occur when the base fare is published without the usual fuel surcharges, resulting in dramatically cheaper tickets. Route filing errors happen when a fare meant for a short domestic route gets applied to a long-haul international itinerary.

The important distinction is that error fares are real, bookable tickets sold through legitimate channels. You are not exploiting a system or doing anything unethical. You are simply purchasing a ticket at the price an airline chose to publish.

How Long Do Error Fares Last?

This is the most critical thing to understand: error fares are extremely time-sensitive. Most last between 30 minutes and 12 hours before the airline catches the mistake and corrects the price. Some exceptionally large errors get fixed within minutes. Others, particularly those involving smaller route-specific mistakes, can survive for a day or two.

This means that when you see an error fare, your window to act is incredibly short. Having a booking strategy ready before you ever encounter one is essential.

Best Tools and Services for Finding Error Fares

Dedicated Error Fare Trackers

Several services specialize in monitoring airline pricing systems for anomalies. Secret Flying remains one of the most popular free resources, posting error fares and deal fares across global routes. FlyDealFare and Airfarewatchdog also maintain active feeds of pricing mistakes. For the fastest alerts, their social media accounts on X (Twitter) and Telegram channels tend to post deals minutes before they appear on the main websites.

Flight Deal Alert Services

Premium alert services like Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), Matt’s Flights, and The Points Guy’s deal alerts all include error fare notifications in their premium tiers. The advantage of these services is that they verify deals before sending alerts, so you waste less time chasing fares that have already expired. Going’s Premium Plus tier is particularly good at catching international error fares.

Community Forums and Groups

Some of the fastest error fare discoveries happen in online communities. The FlyerTalk Mileage Run Deals forum has been a hub for deal sharing for over two decades. Reddit’s r/flights and r/travel subreddits also surface error fares, though they tend to be posted slightly later than dedicated trackers. Private Facebook groups and Discord servers focused on travel deals can also be valuable, with members posting finds in real time.

Google Flights Explore

While not specifically designed for error fares, Google Flights’ Explore feature lets you search for flights from your home airport to anywhere in the world. By regularly checking this map view, you can sometimes spot anomalously low prices before they appear on deal sites. Set up price tracking for routes you are interested in, and Google will email you when prices drop significantly.

How to Book an Error Fare the Right Way

Finding an error fare is only half the battle. How you book it can determine whether you actually get to fly.

Book Directly Through the Airline When Possible

If the error fare is available on the airline’s own website, book there first. Airlines are generally more likely to honor fares booked directly with them, and you will have a clearer path for any follow-up communication. Direct bookings also avoid the added complexity of dealing with a third-party OTA if problems arise.

Use an OTA as a Backup

If the fare is only available through an OTA like Expedia, Booking.com, or Kiwi, go ahead and book, but understand the risks. OTAs sometimes cancel error fare bookings more aggressively than airlines do. On the other hand, some OTAs will eat the cost difference to maintain customer satisfaction, so it can work in your favor.

Do Not Call the Airline

This is perhaps the most important rule of error fare booking. Never call the airline to confirm, ask questions about, or modify an error fare booking. Drawing attention to the pricing mistake increases the likelihood that it gets flagged and cancelled. Book online, save your confirmation, and wait.

Book One-Way When Possible

If the error fare is available as a one-way ticket, book one-way rather than round-trip. If the airline cancels the booking, you have not lost your return flight. You can then book the return leg separately at a normal price or with a different error fare.

Pay with a Credit Card That Offers Travel Protection

Use a credit card that provides strong travel purchase protections. If the booking gets cancelled, you want to ensure you get a full refund without hassle. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Capital One Venture X offer solid purchase protections that can help in disputed situations.

Will the Airline Honor the Fare?

This is the question everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends. Several factors influence whether an airline will honor an error fare.

Department of Transportation regulations in the United States previously required airlines to honor ticketed fares, but this rule has been relaxed. Airlines now have more discretion to cancel error fare tickets, though many still choose to honor them to avoid negative publicity.

The size of the error matters. A fare that is 30% below normal is much more likely to be honored than one that is 95% below normal. Airlines are more inclined to absorb a small loss than a massive one.

How many people booked also plays a role. If only a handful of travelers found the fare, the airline might quietly honor it. If it went viral and thousands of people booked, the airline is more likely to issue mass cancellations.

Time since booking is another factor. If several weeks have passed and you have not received a cancellation notice, your chances of keeping the ticket improve significantly. Most airlines that intend to cancel error fares do so within the first 24 to 72 hours.

Protecting Yourself After Booking

Do Not Book Non-Refundable Hotels or Activities Right Away

The biggest mistake error fare bookers make is immediately booking expensive, non-refundable accommodations. Wait at least two weeks after your error fare booking before committing to other trip expenses. If the airline cancels the ticket, you do not want to be stuck with a non-refundable hotel reservation.

Set Calendar Reminders

Set a reminder for 24 hours, 72 hours, and two weeks after booking. Check your email and the airline’s website to verify the booking is still active at each of these checkpoints. If it survives the two-week mark, you are in good shape.

Screenshot Everything

Take screenshots of the fare as displayed, your booking confirmation, the confirmation email, and the price breakdown. If there is ever a dispute, having documentation of the price you were shown and the confirmation you received strengthens your position.

Do Not Publicly Brag About the Specific Fare

Resist the urge to post your exact itinerary and price on social media before you have flown. Airlines monitor social media and deal-sharing sites. Drawing attention to a specific error fare route while it is still active can accelerate cancellations for everyone who booked.

Real Error Fare Examples That Were Honored

History is full of error fares that airlines ultimately honored. In recent years, travelers have booked business class flights between the US and Asia for under $500 round-trip, first class tickets to Europe for the price of economy, and domestic flights for as little as $20. United Airlines, in particular, has developed a reputation for honoring most error fares, though this is never guaranteed.

The key takeaway from these success stories is that travelers who booked quickly, quietly, and through legitimate channels had the highest success rates.

Setting Up Your Error Fare System

To maximize your chances of catching and successfully booking error fares, build a system that works even when you are not actively searching.

Step 1: Sign up for at least two flight deal alert services. Use one free service and one premium service for the best coverage.

Step 2: Follow error fare accounts on X (Twitter), Telegram, and Reddit. Enable push notifications for the accounts that post deals fastest.

Step 3: Keep your passport current and have a valid credit card ready to book at a moment’s notice. Error fares wait for no one.

Step 4: Set up Google Flights price tracking for your top five dream destinations. This will not catch every error fare, but it adds another layer to your monitoring system.

Step 5: Have a booking strategy planned in advance. Know which credit card you will use, whether you prefer to book directly or through an OTA, and whether you can be flexible with dates.

Final Thoughts

Error fares are one of the most exciting aspects of travel hacking, but they require patience, speed, and a tolerance for uncertainty. Not every error fare will be honored, and not every deal will fit your schedule. But for travelers who stay ready and act fast, the rewards can be extraordinary. A flight that would normally cost thousands of dollars for the price of a nice dinner out is the kind of win that makes all the monitoring worthwhile.

The best error fare is the one you actually book. Stay alert, stay flexible, and keep your passport ready.