Mistake Fares: The Rare Airline Pricing Errors Behind Shockingly Cheap Flights

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Mistake fares, or glitch fares, are rare airline pricing errors that can slash flight prices by up to 90%. While they may only pop up every few weeks, these deeply discounted tickets to destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean can turn into an incredible travel deal for flexible travelers who act fast to book them before the prices are corrected.

Why it matters

Mistake fares have become more common in recent years, with a record number of them uncovered in 2025. Though airlines are not required to honor these unintentional pricing errors, they often do as a goodwill gesture, providing travelers with a unique opportunity to score shockingly cheap flights to destinations they may not have otherwise been able to afford.

The details

Mistake fares can happen due to human error, currency conversion mistakes, or glitches in automated pricing systems. They differ from normal airline sales, which are intentional promotions to boost demand or launch new routes. While mistake fares can disappear within minutes, booking directly with the airline and waiting to book other trip components can increase the chances of securing one of these rare deals.

• Mistake fares hit record levels in 2025, according to Going.com.
• In his predictions for 2026, Scott Keyes, the site's founder and chief flight expert, said: "Although I would be thrilled to be wrong, in 2026, I think we'll see fewer."
• A 2015 measure passed by the Department of Labor states that airlines are not required to honor mistake fares, but they are responsible for reimbursing travelers for any 'reasonable' out-of-pocket expenses made in reliance on the ticket.

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