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Topics: China, World News, Money, Travel
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: China, World News, Money, Travel
Some people just seem to have all the luck as a glitch recently saw airline tickets sell for as little as $1.40.
Searching for the cheapest flights normally ends up being a frustrating affair. From finding out you have an awkward flight with a long layover to simply realizing you paid way too much, booking air travel can be a very stressful experience.
However, some lucky flyers didn't have this problem.
A system glitch that occurred on the China Southern Airlines app on Wednesday (8 November) evening meant that flights to and from the southwestern city of Chengdu were available in the 10 yuan ($1.40) to 30 yuan ($4.10) price range.
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Many users, who seemingly couldn’t believe their luck, took to social media to inform others of the discovery.
A screenshot that circulated online showed tickets from Chengdu to China’s capital, Beijing, as being priced at 10 yuan.
The glitch lasted for around two hours before prices were returned to normal.
10 yuan is a massive drop in costs compared to the normal minimum price of around 400-500 yuan ($55-$69).
The best news yet? The airline has said it intends to honor the tickets that were bought due to the glitch.
The glitch also affected some ticket book websites, meaning travelers even without the app were able to benefit from the mishap.
On Thursday (9 November), China Southern Airlines confirmed on its official Weibo social media account that all tickets paid for and issued during the glitch are 'all valid' and that customers can still use them.
It is not yet clear how many of the tickets were purchased or what caused the problem.
This technical blunder came just days ahead of an expected busy period in China, known as Singles’ Day.
The busy shopping period regularly peaks around 11 November and last year Reuters reported that the total value of goods sold in this period was around 1.15 trillion yuan ($157 billion).
Incidents like this do happen occasionally, however not everyone who takes advantage is lucky enough to have their tickets honored.
In April, All Nippon Airways, a major Japanese airline, suffered a glitch on its Vietnam website that meant one passenger was able to bag business class tickets that were worth around $16,000, for $850.
Other travelers also managed to purchase tickets for remarkably cheaper prices. However, the airline later decided it would not honor the accidentally discounted tickets.
UNILAD has contacted China Southern Airlines for further comment.