United to Honor All of Its $5 Mistake Fares After Glitch in Loading Prices
Skift Take
United announced on Twitter that the airline will honor all of those $5 and $10 fares that travelers booked yesterday after United made an error in the way it loads in its fares.
The airline tweeted that it had reviewed the sitation and decided to "honor the tickets."
We’ve reviewed the error that occurred yesterday and based on these specific circumstances, we will honor the tickets.
— United Airlines (@united) September 13, 2013
A United spokesperson also confirmed the tweet.
Airlines generally file their fares and all the complex rules associated with them with ATPCO, which transmits them to global distribution systems, online travel agencies, other vendors, and even governments.
Travelers visiting United.com yesterday found some rock-bottom fares, as low as $5 or $10, and booked them.
The problem, United said, wasn't with the website itself, but it mistakenly filed fares for $0. Adding in various fees/charges may have led to the $5 to $10 fares.
United didn't say yesterday whether it would honor the fares, but today came the announcement that it will do so.
In the past, under similar circumstances, some airlines have honored these mistake fares, and some haven't.