Updated April 2026 | 4 min read
An error fare is when an airline accidentally prices a ticket far below its normal cost — sometimes 50-80% off. I have booked error fares to Europe for under $200 round trip and to Asia for under $350. 2025 was a record year for mistake fares — Going tracked 15-16 in a single year, more than double 2024 and the highest since records began. They disappear fast, but they are happening more often than ever. Here is how to catch them. Here is how the system works and which deal services are actually worth paying for.
What Error Fares Actually Are
Error fares happen when airlines make pricing mistakes — currency conversion errors, missing fuel surcharges, fare filing glitches, or accidental route mispricing. They typically last 2-12 hours before the airline catches and corrects them. Airlines honor most error fares after booking because the Department of Transportation used to require it, and even though that rule changed, the PR cost of canceling confirmed tickets is usually not worth the fight.
The important distinction: error fares are not the same as sales. Airlines run sales deliberately. Error fares are genuine mistakes, and they are much cheaper than even the best sales. A typical error fare is 40-80% below normal pricing.
Deal Alert Services — Ranked
Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) — This is the service I have used longest and it consistently delivers. The free tier sends you a few deals per week. The Premium tier ($49/year) sends every deal including error fares, mistake fares, and deep discounts from your home airport. The Elite tier ($199/year) adds international departure cities and more filters. For most people, Premium is the sweet spot. Going has 2 million members and claims average savings of $550 per international trip. I have saved over $2,000 on flights in the past two years through Going alerts alone.
Secret Flying — Free website and social media accounts that post error fares and deals in real time. Less put together than Going but faster on posting error fares because there is no editorial delay. Follow their Twitter/X account with notifications on for the fastest alerts. The interface is less polished but the deals are legitimate.
Thrifty Traveler ($49.99/year) — The only service that sends both cheap cash fares AND award/miles alerts. If you use Chase Ultimate Rewards points or any airline miles program, this is the service to pair with Going. Reddit users consistently call it their most-used subscription.
The Flight Deal — Free, focused on deals from major US cities. Smaller operation than Going but the quality filter is high — they only post deals they would book themselves. Good for US-based travelers who want fewer but better-vetted deals.
Jack’s Flight Club — The European equivalent of Going. If you are based in Europe or frequently depart from European cities, this is the service to use. Premium tier is about $49/year.
How to Book Error Fares Successfully
Speed is everything. Error fares last hours, not days. When you get an alert, book first and ask questions later. Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Do not call the airline to confirm the fare — this sometimes triggers a manual review that kills the deal. Book directly with the airline, not through a third-party agent. Do not post about the fare on social media until after it is gone — increased traffic accelerates the correction.
After booking: wait 2-3 weeks before making non-refundable plans around the trip. In rare cases, airlines will cancel error fare tickets. Most do not, but give it time to settle. Do not add frequent flyer numbers or special requests to the booking for the first few weeks — any interaction with the reservation can flag it for review.
Google Flights Price Tracking
Even without error fares, Google Flights price tracking catches natural price drops that save $100-$300 on international routes. Search your route, hit the Track Prices button, and Google emails you when the fare changes. I track every route I am considering 2-3 months before booking and consistently save by buying on a dip rather than at whatever today’s price happens to be.
Combine price tracking with flexible dates. Moving your trip by 2-3 days can save 20-40% on the same route. My flight search comparison guide covers exactly how to use flexible date searches across Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Momondo.
For turning cheap flights into free flights using points, my points and miles guide covers the specific credit card strategies that work best. And for the credit cards themselves, my travel credit card comparison breaks down which cards earn the most on flight purchases.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator.
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Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me