If you’ve felt like flight prices have been taking off this past year, you’re not alone.

U.S. airline prices were 3.2% higher than a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data, topping the overall 3.0% inflation rate reported in the CPI (1).

Surveys from LendingTree and Deloitte find that many Americans are scaling back travel in 2025 because of worries about inflation, tariffs and job security (2, 3).

But for deal-hunting consumers, there was an unexpected first-class upgrade: 2025 became a record year for so-called mistake airfares. These are super-cheap prices that appear when an airline’s system glitches or a pricing database misfires.

Travel-deal site Going, formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights, says mistake fares hit record-breaking levels in 2025 (4).

According to a Going spokesperson, the company tracked 15 mistake fares so far this year, more than double the number seen in 2024 and the highest number since the company began keeping records.

The Going spokesperson added several factors that came together to drive the surge in airfare pricing mistakes this year:

AI and dynamic pricing tools. More airlines are relying on automated systems to set fares, and those systems can glitch and spit out prices that make no sense.

New airline partnerships are causing miscommunication. About half of this year’s mistake fares stemmed from new partnerships, where one airline accidentally priced a round-trip like a one-way while the partner airline kept its regular fares, creating surprise bargains for travelers.

Premium fare mixups. At least four of the 15 mistake fares involved business-class seats, suggesting some airlines may be mispricing upgrades as they roll out new or expanded premium cabins.

International airlines are overrepresented. Roughly 12 of the 15 mistake fares came from non-U.S. carriers, which the Going spokesperson says may not have the same IT safeguards as larger U.S. airlines.

Some “mistake fares” might not be mistakes after all. Airlines sometimes slash prices to fill seats on slower routes, so travelers who snag these deals may simply be benefiting from low fares.

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Going alerted members in September to a $239 round-trip from New York to Dublin. The site also flagged a business-class round-trip fare from Miami to Europe for as low as $1083.

Not everyone walks away happy, though. One Reddit user reported trying to book a $199 round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Poland, which was flagged by Going, only for JetBlue to block the booking entirely (5).

Still, experts say these fares do get honored. Consumer advocate and YouTuber Clark Howard told Yahoo Finance that airlines typically let super-low deals stand once the ticket is issued (6).

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Travel is expensive, and at a time when many Americans are anxious about money, plenty of people are skipping trips unless they spot a deal that feels like a no-brainer.

That’s where mistake fares can be a golden opportunity. They’re rare, unpredictable and sometimes unbelievable. In a year when many households are cutting back, it pays to be ready. Mistake fares don’t last long, sometimes vanishing within minutes, so here’s how to improve your odds:

Sign up for alerts. Going, Thrifty Traveler and similar sites specialize in catching pricing mistakes early and will email you when one pops up.

Follow travel social media. Travel deal accounts on X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook often post mistake fares in real time. Online communities and forums like Reddit’s travel deal threads can also be a treasure trove.

Move fast. If you do stumble across a deal, consider booking it immediately. Waiting even an hour can mean missing out (7).

Book directly with the airline. You’re more likely to get faster ticketing and better protection if the fare is canceled.

Be flexible. Mistake fares can come with odd departure times, long layovers or flights from airports you usually avoid.

Don’t book hotels or tours right away. Wait until the airline has fully ticketed your reservation.

Use a travel rewards credit card. Even if you miss the mistake fare, the points can help cover a future flight.

Save intentionally. A high-yield savings account dedicated to travel can help you jump on deals when they appear.

If rising prices have pushed travel out of your budget, mistake fares could be your ticket back in. You may not be able to predict them, but you can prepare for them and be ready to act when a deal seems too good to be true.

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

U.S. Travel (1); LendingTree (2); Deloitte (3); Going (4); Reddit (5); Yahoo (6); Dollar Flight Club (7).

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.