Go fishing in the morning. Just like hitting a quiet lake at daybreak in search of fish, checking for faulty fares can be very rewarding early in the day. Airlines haven't had time to spot or correct the mistakes. Other anglers are still asleep.
Stay on the airline web site of your choice. Faulty fares on the search engines are extremely rare. You must deal directly with the airlines. If you're interested in a specific route, search it frequently. Beware: You're likely to invest a lot of time for very little in return.
Book a faulty fare immediately. Break open the cookie jar. Give up that credit card number (on a secure server, of course!) Buy the tickets as soon as the fare appears. Remember, we're dealing with mistakes here. Once they're discovered, they'll be removed. Bank on it. This is a game of seconds.
Insist that the airline honor the fare or offer significant compensation. United's initial offer was to help faulty fare buyers find other good fares. It seems amusing, but imagine if they had all agreed. Other airlines might offer vouchers for discounted fares in the future. Be slow to agree to anything but the fare you booked.
Be aware that the law might not be on your side.
It will take years for case law to embrace Internet buying transactions. There are few guidelines for lawyers and consumers to consider in this relatively young marketplace.
It's fair to say this much: Companies will try not to honor the faulty fare and drive you to a far less expensive alternative.
Consider the times in which we live. Major airlines are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, merging to avoid extinction or simply grounded. Cruise lines must fill huge ships designed prior to an age where consumers are uneasy about overseas travel.
No pity is expected, but economic realities tell us this industry is very cost-conscious. Fortunately for consumers, image and competition are also vital components of the equation.
What if United had not relented? Could the buyers have forced the sales in court? What about Holland America Line and their refusals?
Attorneys might not have a uniform answer. But public relations counselors would be in total harmony advising against a big court case of that type.
That's why it's likely you will prosper in a dispute about legally-offered faulty fares. When you find one, book it. When the company balks, complain loudly and frequently.
