Glitch in the System: Travelers Score 90% Discount on Luxury Flights - Will They Fly or Will the Airline Back Out?
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For as long as we can remember, travelling has been one of the most sought-after luxuries.
We have always dreamed of visiting exotic destinations and exploring new cultures, but the high cost of travel has always been a barrier.
So, we're always been looking for discounted rates, flash sales, and deals that could make travel more affordable.
However, what if a glitch in the system gave travellers an opportunity to snag unimaginably low rates?
Well, that's precisely what happened to a lucky few travellers recently, and it created quite a stir on social media.
A recent 'glitch' on an airline ticketing website saw lucky people score luxury flights at heavily discounted prices – with some first- and business-class cabins discounted by over 90%.
The currency conversion blunder was spotted on Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) online booking site and was quickly shared on social media.
One traveller reported securing a first-class ticket for a round-trip journey from Jakarta to the Caribbean via Tokyo and New York for a mere $1320, which is 20 times cheaper than the regular price.
As news of this incredible deal began to circulate, other savvy travellers started booking business-class tickets for a fraction of their usual price, typically around $14,000.
Reports of fares from Jakarta to Bali, normally worth $12,350, that were made available for only $520 during the glitch were being shared all over the web.
According to ANA, the glitch occurred due to a typo on its Vietnam website, resulting in an incorrect currency conversion.
The error fare was discovered by various travel websites and forums, including Secret Flying, which encouraged travellers to seize the opportunity to save on their flights.
A post from Secret Flying wrote: ‘Congratulations to those of you that managed to book the All Nippon Airways Business Class #ErrorFare earlier today.’
‘It’s best to hold off making any further plans (e.g. positioning flights, hotels) for at least 2-3 weeks to see if the airline honours the deal or not.’
‘If your booking is still confirmed and valid after this time when logging into the airline’s Manage my Booking section, it would appear the airline has honoured the fare.’
Hundreds of people began commenting on social media to say how they had managed to score their discounted flights.
One person shared: ‘Crazy like a dream, my friend got the ticket for himself!’
A spokesperson for ANA stated on Wednesday that the airline was investigating the cause and extent of the glitch.
However, the spokesperson did not reveal the exact number of travellers who had taken advantage of the discounted tickets during the incident.
Initially, the ANA spokesperson stated that the airline would honour the deal but later clarified that a final decision would be made by the end of the month.
Nevertheless, travelers who have already purchased discounted tickets will still be able to use them for their scheduled flights.
While the error did not occur specifically in Australia, it's possible that some Australians may have managed to purchase the discounted tickets during the glitch.
This isn’t the first time such a glitch has been spotted. In an incident we previously reported, a Qantas passenger was left $17,000 out of pocket after a system error caused a booking mistake. You can read more about it here.
There you have it, folks! Have you ever taken advantage of an airline deal? What advice do you have for our members looking for the best deals for their next flight? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
We have always dreamed of visiting exotic destinations and exploring new cultures, but the high cost of travel has always been a barrier.
So, we're always been looking for discounted rates, flash sales, and deals that could make travel more affordable.
However, what if a glitch in the system gave travellers an opportunity to snag unimaginably low rates?
Well, that's precisely what happened to a lucky few travellers recently, and it created quite a stir on social media.
A recent 'glitch' on an airline ticketing website saw lucky people score luxury flights at heavily discounted prices – with some first- and business-class cabins discounted by over 90%.
The currency conversion blunder was spotted on Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) online booking site and was quickly shared on social media.
One traveller reported securing a first-class ticket for a round-trip journey from Jakarta to the Caribbean via Tokyo and New York for a mere $1320, which is 20 times cheaper than the regular price.
Frugal travellers took advantage of a currency conversion mistake and purchased tickets for All Nippon Airways' premium cabins at significantly reduced rates. Credit: Secret Flying/Facebook.
As news of this incredible deal began to circulate, other savvy travellers started booking business-class tickets for a fraction of their usual price, typically around $14,000.
Reports of fares from Jakarta to Bali, normally worth $12,350, that were made available for only $520 during the glitch were being shared all over the web.
According to ANA, the glitch occurred due to a typo on its Vietnam website, resulting in an incorrect currency conversion.
The error fare was discovered by various travel websites and forums, including Secret Flying, which encouraged travellers to seize the opportunity to save on their flights.
A post from Secret Flying wrote: ‘Congratulations to those of you that managed to book the All Nippon Airways Business Class #ErrorFare earlier today.’
‘It’s best to hold off making any further plans (e.g. positioning flights, hotels) for at least 2-3 weeks to see if the airline honours the deal or not.’
‘If your booking is still confirmed and valid after this time when logging into the airline’s Manage my Booking section, it would appear the airline has honoured the fare.’
Hundreds of people began commenting on social media to say how they had managed to score their discounted flights.
One person shared: ‘Crazy like a dream, my friend got the ticket for himself!’
A spokesperson for ANA stated on Wednesday that the airline was investigating the cause and extent of the glitch.
However, the spokesperson did not reveal the exact number of travellers who had taken advantage of the discounted tickets during the incident.
Initially, the ANA spokesperson stated that the airline would honour the deal but later clarified that a final decision would be made by the end of the month.
Nevertheless, travelers who have already purchased discounted tickets will still be able to use them for their scheduled flights.
While the error did not occur specifically in Australia, it's possible that some Australians may have managed to purchase the discounted tickets during the glitch.
This isn’t the first time such a glitch has been spotted. In an incident we previously reported, a Qantas passenger was left $17,000 out of pocket after a system error caused a booking mistake. You can read more about it here.
There you have it, folks! Have you ever taken advantage of an airline deal? What advice do you have for our members looking for the best deals for their next flight? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
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