Well, I've noticed this, too, and I think it's a scam. The fact that it's $26 is irrelevant. It's absurd that you can get a fare significantly lower in so many other places.

They do the same thing with hotels. When I book in order to get the $200 hotel refund, the hotels are always much cheaper elsewhere. It's only the refund that makes them attractive.

Fortunately, I think most people are pretty aware of this.