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Home  >  Air France • Mistake Fares  >  Dear Air France, If You Cancel My First Class Ticket, I WON’T Sue You
Air FranceMistake Fares

Dear Air France, If You Cancel My First Class Ticket, I WON’T Sue You

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 19, 2017December 19, 2017 31 Comments

Unlike the SWISS First Class award redemption controversy, today’s Air France first class deal was a pricing mistake. I knew it, everyone knew it.

I did manage to book a ticket…from 38,000 feet above the air over Turkey…I’ll detail that tomorrow.

But for now, my first class reservation is still intact. I’m happy about that and would love to fly Air France First Class for the first time, even if it is on the outdated A380.

We are seeing reports, however, that Air France is already cancelling tickets. That is hardly surprising: tickets were selling for as much as 95% off regular price.

The way I generally approach clear mistake fares is the following: airlines should be given the same 24-hour period cooling off period that passengers have, as long as travel is more than seven days away.

That will still allow some people to “unfairly” take advantage, like this–

Well, I guess I’m going to London in Air France First Class for $600 tomorrow….

— Max Prosperi (@unaccompflyer) December 19, 2017

(in the case of Air France, his reservation has already been cancelled)

But will give airlines reasonable protection against unintentional fares. The key word is reasonable. Take the Ethiopian Bangkok to Toronto fare. Ethiopian waited weeks before contacting me and held my money for months before finally relenting and allowing me to fly on the purported mistake fare. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways offered an even better fare from nearby Ho Chi Minh City (advertised as a “Golden Ticket“) and never attempted to cancel my ticket. It is difficult for even a seasoned-traveler to know when a fare is a mistake and when it is not.

That’s why I am willing, as a public policy compromise, to allow airlines the same protections consumers have.

If Air France cancels my ticket within 24 hours and provides notice of its action, I will let the issue go. No lawsuit. Not DOT complaint. I won’t even harbor any bad will against them.

The Difference Between the SWISS First Class Deal and Air France First Class Deal

Some of you may wonder why my approach to the Aeroplan SWISS First Class deal and to the Air France First Class deal are so different.

First, because the SWISS First Class deal was not a pricing mistake. The Aeroplan regular/normal/published price of a first class award between the USA and Europe is 70K miles. That’s exactly what I paid. This was not a 4-mile fare mistake…

Second, because it took Aeroplan weeks to poorly communicate how it was handling the issue. (Let’s hope Air France is swift, one way or the other).

Third, because tickets issued via other outlets (like via united.com) were honored. The issue appears to be less an issue of SWISS accidentally releasing space and more an issue of an internal contract or agreement between Aeroplan and SWISS. Consumers should not be penalized for that.

CONCLUSION

It appears my quest to fly Air France First Class will have to wait a bit longer, but we’ll see…my ticket is still there.

image: Air France

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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31 Comments

  1. Mitch Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    I’m in the same boat as you again, and I agree with your approach here too. Would be quite something to have two first class tickets to Europe be cancelled on me within the span of a couple weeks! Maybe we can collect a hat trick before year’s end (though I’d prefer these airlines simply honor their tickets).

  2. Sexy_Kitten7 Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    Personally I think this is a very slippery slope: holding others accountable to our internal (and unwritten) rules.

    But who knows? You’re the lawyer!

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 8:36 pm

      It is a slippery slope indeed, but I believe a compromise we can live with.

  3. John Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    Unlike customers, airlines are much better equipped with technologies allowing them to spot a mistake. I’m sure there was a noticeable surge in booking. I believe the old rule was perfectly balanced: once it’s ticketed, the airline must honor it. Ticketing does not have to be instant. There should not be a bait-and-switch exception for this industry since many legal remedies are preempted in the US by the ADA.

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 8:37 pm

      Ideally, I far prefer your approach. That’s how I used to argue. But I don’t think that is a practical compromise.

  4. A Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    Matt – I totally disagree with your logic here. The Aeroplan and Air France are in two different worlds, purchasing a ticket in cash is very different from redeeming points for a flight. I’d argue that you would have a better chance of having Air France honor the deal than Aeroplan. This comes down to whether this was a “‘mistake” or not – that determination is disputable, unlike the Aeroplan controversy (likely governed by an extensive contract between you and Aeroplan with Aeroplan having the ability to restrict award space at their discretion and cancel mistakes).

    Generally threatening litigation on your blog isn’t an approach I’d recommend.

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 8:36 pm

      > purchasing a ticket in cash is very different from redeeming points for a flight

      It is a different currency. I’d argue the differences are more muted in the general realm of contract law.

      > This comes down to whether this was a “‘mistake” or not – that determination is disputable, unlike the Aeroplan controversy (likely governed by an extensive contract between you and Aeroplan with Aeroplan having the ability to restrict award space at their discretion and cancel mistakes)

      In fighting Aeroplan, I’m fighting that adhesion contract as well.

  5. Garrett Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    lol go look at the pricing now haha…they have it at $24k every day through the end of the calendar. Guess they had to tighten things up for a second while they figure it out.

  6. Ryan Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    No one knew Swiss First class award space was a mistake!? OH PA-LEASE!!! you bloggers are something else! everyone knew it was a mistake. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO BOOKED knew it was a mistake!

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 9:23 pm

      SWISS First was NOT a pricing mistake.

  7. MilesMath Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 8:56 pm

    I don’t see why this industry gets treated differently than others. If I get a good deal on a car, sign a contract and take it home, the dealer can’t come by the next day and say they made a mistake and take it away. Airlines shouldn’t get a pass just because they try to segment customers by the price to the nth degree and sometimes make a mistake.

  8. AL Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    well said. very different things happening between Air France and SWISS. The fact that SWISS tickets are still valid through United bookings is comical. no worries about the typo from the UA post!

  9. Keita Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    When I’ve read about it this morning the deal was pretty much gone.

    I’d just like to know how/where you found about this deal for future reference, thanks

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 10:29 pm

      I saw it on One Mile at a Time and View from the Wing — my morning reading material.

      • Keita Reply
        December 22, 2017 at 4:19 pm

        Thanks!

  10. Ted Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 10:52 pm

    Oh man , 4 mile gate. Lol rembeing everyone was calling dot.

  11. Bill Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 10:57 pm

    Sorry, but the logic posed here is nonsense.

    The PRICING mistake was obvious for this Air France First Class tickets to/from Paris…since it never costs so little.

    The AVAILABILITY mistake was obvious for the Swiss First Class award tickets…since they never are made available for other carriers.

    They both were obvious mistakes. They both were cancelled appropriately for the same reason.

    Your award ticket entitlement is causing you to be behave irrationally. And stupidly. Please stop. Talk about ridiculous privilege.

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 11:08 pm

      Sorry Bill, while you are entitled to your opinion, it is not irrational to the distinguish the two and argue why the SWISS tickets should not have been cancelled. Indeed, SWISS award availability WAS made available to other carriers as recently as last year…see:

      http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/11/28/swiss-first-class-777-review/

  12. MeanMeosh Reply
    December 19, 2017 at 11:16 pm

    I do expect AF will eventually find you and cancel your tickets. I actually did book a discounted La Premiere fare several months ago, but even the “discounted” fare was $3,800, and from everything I read that was regarded as an exceptionally good price (though AF has sort of screwed me with both an equipment change on one leg and a schedule change, and I don’t really know what to do about that). Look on the bright side – I get to beat you to a product review for once. 🙂

    • Matthew Reply
      December 19, 2017 at 11:28 pm

      We can’t let that happen now, can we? 😉

  13. Steve L Reply
    December 20, 2017 at 12:25 am

    Will you reconsider if the mistake AF fare was booked via Delta and those are not canceled?

  14. Tom Reply
    December 20, 2017 at 2:51 am

    I have no sympathy for airlines when it comes to fares like this. It seems like a technological solution is possible. In fact I think that several airlines have implemented such a solution. This cost them money. The airlines that continue to have issues like these have decided they’d rather not spend the money to implement such a solution. They don’t have to when there exists a DOT that excuses their behavior. It’s just cheaper for them to cancel your ticket Matthew than to implement a solution that prevents such errors.

  15. Luiz De Freitas Reply
    December 21, 2017 at 10:31 am

    … Through Air France´s US site I booked, paid and receive confirmation and the full ticket information for the SFO/LHR Air France, 1st Class ticket on the 19 December at 12:32 pm (local time).
    Today, 21st December at 10:59 am (local time) I receive an e-mail from KLM Customer Service Desk stating that “Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Première/First Class which was recently purchased has/have to be cancelled and will be fully refunded, consistent with DOT guidelines and policy.”
    1) Can a “system error” be considered a mistake fare?
    2) Can the airline simply cancel the ticket after more than 24 hours have passed since the booking was done?
    3) I am not an USA nor European citizen, nor is Air France an American Company.
    4) In which country should I file a complaint?

  16. Carlos Reply
    December 22, 2017 at 6:11 am

    So my ticket is still showing on AF. I did booking via Expedia for RT July 8-21. Anyone else with same scenario?

    • Matthew Reply
      December 22, 2017 at 7:19 am

      Mine is too…and now we are beyond the point in which I consider cancellation is acceptable.

      • Carlos Reply
        December 22, 2017 at 5:33 pm

        I checked my cc and charge is still pending, I will continue to keep my fingers crossed

  17. Luiz De Freitas Reply
    December 22, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    … Air France offered me to buy an insurance together with the booking of the First Class SFO/LHR ticket and I dit.
    … These are the coverage: Trip Cancellation Protection; Travel/Trip Delay Coverage; Trip Interruption protection.

    Am I entitled to claim the insurance if AF really cancels the ticket?

    So far I have been charged with the cost of the ticket, surcharges, insurance, etc and no reversion of the charges have been made by AF.

    • Luiz De Freitas Reply
      December 22, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      … the charge in my CC is not pending …

  18. Carlos Reply
    December 23, 2017 at 7:18 am

    Update. Just checked this morning and reservations has been cancelled. I will spend sometime calling and giving them hell to see what they offer me

    • Matthew Reply
      December 23, 2017 at 9:14 am

      Mine was just cancelled as well. Post coming soon.

  19. helen Reply
    February 15, 2018 at 7:56 am

    Hi,
    On the website of airfrance of vietnam few days ago, they make the same mistake. The cost os the ticket was just about 190EU from France to Vietnam. I have heard they starting cancelling tthe booking. Is there any posibility to make an argument when they wil start cancel my booking? thank you

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