What’s a ‘Mistake Fare’? How We Find Them and Why You Should Care

11 June 2025

Imagine booking a return flight to Japan for £280. Or New York for £160. Or Bali for under £300.

It sounds too good to be true, we know, but it isn’t. These are real examples of mistake fares, and Secret Flight Club members have scooped them up before most people even knew they existed.

But what exactly is a mistake fare? Why do they happen? And how can you make the most of them? Here’s everything you need to know - and why it’s worth caring (a lot).

So… What Is a Mistake Fare?

A mistake fare (also known as an error fare or glitch fare) is exactly what it sounds like: a flight price that’s wrong. It might be hundreds of pounds less than it should be - sometimes even 90% off.

These pricing errors happen more often than you'd think, and when they do, there’s usually a brief window - sometimes just minutes or hours — before the airline or booking site corrects it.

For savvy travellers (and our members), that window is a golden opportunity.

Why Do Mistake Fares Happen?

Flight prices are generated by complex systems and updated constantly across airlines, aggregators, and booking platforms. That’s a lot of room for human error - or technical hiccups.

Here are a few reasons mistake fares slip through:

Currency conversion issues – especially with international flight listings.
Human error – a missed zero or decimal can turn a £1,200 fare into £120.
Fuel surcharges or taxes not applied properly
Technical glitches between booking platforms and airline databases.
Promotional misfires – discount codes stacked incorrectly or applied too broadly.

And when that happens, you get a short-lived deal that can save you hundreds of pounds - if you move fast.

Can You Actually Fly on a Mistake Fare?

Yes - in most cases. While there’s always a small chance the airline may cancel the ticket and issue a refund, most mistake fares are honoured, especially if you book directly through the airline.

At Secret Flight Club, we flag when a deal might be risky, and we always advise waiting a few days before booking accommodation or activities.

How We Find Them

Our team of deal hunters scans hundreds of routes and airline systems daily using a mix of:

Real-time fare tracking tools
Human analysis (because not all deals are obvious to an algorithm)
Pattern recognition - we know which routes and carriers are most error-prone
Direct airline monitoring - not just third-party sites

The result? We catch what others miss and send it straight to your inbox! (Although we must admit, there hasn't been a good one in a while)

Why You Should Care

Because mistake fares are the cheapest way to fly internationally. They’re your ticket to:

Taking a dream trip you thought was out of budget
Booking a spontaneous adventure (the fun kind)
Travelling further, for less

And you’ll likely beat even the best sales and loyalty scheme discounts. All without spending hours refreshing airline sites or filtering through spammy travel forums.

How to Book One

Act fast. These fares don’t last. Some disappear in under an hour.
Book directly through the airline when possible, for the best chance of being honoured.
Don’t book hotels or extras immediately. Wait 48–72 hours, just in case.
Be flexible. You may need to leave midweek, take a longer layover, or fly from another UK airport - but it’s often worth it.
Stay alert. Our members get mistake fares as soon as we spot them — and they go quickly.

Final Thought

Mistake fares are rare, unpredictable, and often gone in a flash, but they’re real. And when you know where (and how) to look, they’re one of the best-kept secrets in travel.

At Secret Flight Club, we do the looking for you. So when a mistake pops up - you’ll be the first to know.

Want First Dibs on the Next One?

Join now and get instant access to all active flight deals, including our latest mistake fares. Already a member? Log in to the Members Lounge and check today’s alerts - your next unexpected adventure might already be waiting.