How do I learn about finding mistake fares?
How do I learn about finding mistake fares?
May 25, 2015, 9:27 am
#2
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Welcome to FlyerTalk.
You can get a start in the Mileage Run Deals forum: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/.
Be aware that, in the US, the Department of Transportation has ruled they will not enforce mistake fares purchased under certain circumstances - they are perfectly fine with an airline declining to honor a mistake fare.
UA recently declined to honor a recent mistake fare (cheap First fares miscalculated in the Danish Krona to the U.S. Dollar conversion), the subject of the USDOT decision.
American, though it allowed flying on their recent mistake fare to PEK, also barred those flying that fare from earning miles or status points.
See here (short PDF) for the USDOT action on United's "Great Dane" mistake fare. It establishes a clear precedent for how the USDOT is likely to handle many mistake fares in the future, IMO.
The golden era of mistake fares seems to be coming to an end in the USA. But, you'll still find myriad tips and tricks to economize and maximize your travel and travel awards here if you take the time.
(I've earned over five million miles on one airline alone, and probably twice as many on one hotel chain - and believe me, IMO it's more enjoyable to fly international First on a legitimate award than to stress the airline will drop the boom on me at some point and spoil my travel plans.)
You can get a start in the Mileage Run Deals forum: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/.
Be aware that, in the US, the Department of Transportation has ruled they will not enforce mistake fares purchased under certain circumstances - they are perfectly fine with an airline declining to honor a mistake fare.
UA recently declined to honor a recent mistake fare (cheap First fares miscalculated in the Danish Krona to the U.S. Dollar conversion), the subject of the USDOT decision.
American, though it allowed flying on their recent mistake fare to PEK, also barred those flying that fare from earning miles or status points.
See here (short PDF) for the USDOT action on United's "Great Dane" mistake fare. It establishes a clear precedent for how the USDOT is likely to handle many mistake fares in the future, IMO.
The golden era of mistake fares seems to be coming to an end in the USA. But, you'll still find myriad tips and tricks to economize and maximize your travel and travel awards here if you take the time.
(I've earned over five million miles on one airline alone, and probably twice as many on one hotel chain - and believe me, IMO it's more enjoyable to fly international First on a legitimate award than to stress the airline will drop the boom on me at some point and spoil my travel plans.)
Last edited by JDiver; May 25, 2015 at 9:37 am
May 25, 2015, 12:08 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
There is a wealth of information here on FT, besides mistake fares, to help maximize loyalty programs, learn things, and just enhance your travel experience. While I've occasionally picked up some mistake fares - some that were honored, some that weren't - the value I've received from other things I learn on here is much more than those mistake fares. Hope you will stick around and find what all there is here for you to learn and to contribute!
May 25, 2015, 3:26 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Welcome to Flyertalk Jessicaoff07,
As this topic relates to Mileage Run Discussion, that's were we're moving your post.
As JDiver aptly pointed out, things may be changing with recent DOT rulings.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
As this topic relates to Mileage Run Discussion, that's were we're moving your post.
As JDiver aptly pointed out, things may be changing with recent DOT rulings.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
May 25, 2015, 3:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
My son signed up for a platinum challenge right before taking one of these trips and his status and miles balance was updated before we even landed in PEK.
May 25, 2015, 8:06 pm
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I haven't seen a report on here of anyone not getting full miles and status points. AA had some language in their recent Double points promotion that cast this into doubt but I believe they have awarded both miles and points correctly on these tickets.
My son signed up for a platinum challenge right before taking one of these trips and his status and miles balance was updated before we even landed in PEK.
My son signed up for a platinum challenge right before taking one of these trips and his status and miles balance was updated before we even landed in PEK.
May 25, 2015, 9:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
May 28, 2015, 12:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Toronto Canada (YYZ)
Programs: Aeroplan & AA Advantage
Posts: 170
May 29, 2015, 1:55 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,664
One of the best uses of the website is finding legitimate good deals, such as $30-200 domestic fares, $400-600 economy roundtrips to Europe or Asia, and $1500 business roundtrips to/from Europe. They almost look like mistake fares, but they are legit deals, and you have nothing to worry about.
Last edited by nk15; May 29, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Jun 1, 2015, 11:50 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, ex-AA EXP, ex-UA 1K
Posts: 707
I haven't seen a report on here of anyone not getting full miles and status points. AA had some language in their recent Double points promotion that cast this into doubt but I believe they have awarded both miles and points correctly on these tickets.
My son signed up for a platinum challenge right before taking one of these trips and his status and miles balance was updated before we even landed in PEK.
My son signed up for a platinum challenge right before taking one of these trips and his status and miles balance was updated before we even landed in PEK.
Jun 2, 2015, 12:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
It is kinda rotten of DOT to legitimize what is fundamentally a breach of contract by an airline when it refuses to perform the services purchased by a consumer at the price it offered to perform those services for.
Passengers need some reforms on air travel to have normal consumer protection and contract law applied to air tickets. Passengers should be able to nail an airline that refuses to perform in their state court under consumer protection law for unfair or deceptive business practices.
Passengers need some reforms on air travel to have normal consumer protection and contract law applied to air tickets. Passengers should be able to nail an airline that refuses to perform in their state court under consumer protection law for unfair or deceptive business practices.
Jun 8, 2015, 11:37 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Yup. Sorry Jessicaoff07 there will be more mistakes, but they may not even get flown because of the new DOT rules.
Jun 8, 2015, 6:55 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MSP
Posts: 398
I mean.. the DOT post seemed pretty fair
Additionally, the Office is concerned that to obtain the fare, some purchasers had to manipulate the search process on the website in order to force the conversion error to Danish Krone by misrepresenting their billing address country as Denmark when, in fact, Denmark was not their billing address country. This evidence of bad faith by the large majority of purchasers contributed to the Enforcement Office’s decision.
Jun 9, 2015, 8:29 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 947
I flew the PEK mistake fare (upgraded to F with SWU's -
) and the RDM with bonus, EQP, segments, and EQM posted just fine.