Airline tickets for some domestic flights of a Chinese airline were mistakenly priced as low as $1 (Rs 83), creating a frenzy among eager travellers. The unexpected glitch, which occurred on Wednesday, turned routine airfare searches on China Southern Airlines’ website into a virtual treasure hunt.
Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines Co. found itself in the eye of the storm when its booking system experienced a hiccup, coincidentally during China's busiest online shopping period.
The glitch affected airfares on the airline's app and various online ticketing platforms, with some routes, such as Chengdu to Shanghai, displaying jaw-dropping prices as low as $1.37 (Rs 114).
This incident unfolded around 8 pm on Wednesday, just as Chinese social media lit up with reports of flights to and from Chengdu being available for an unbelievably low 10 to 30 yuan. Screenshots circulated online, showcasing prices that seemed too good to be true.
China Southern Airlines responded promptly on its official Weibo social media account on Thursday, assuring passengers that all tickets purchased during the system glitch, regardless of the rock-bottom prices, will remain valid.
The airline even seized the opportunity to remind travellers to check upcoming promotions tied to Singles' Day, China's renowned shopping extravaganza set to kick off this Saturday.
This unexpected twist in airfare pricing is not the first of its kind. In April, travellers managed to snag $10,000 roundtrip tickets on Japanese airline All Nippon Airways for just $300 due to a currency glitch.
However, the airline took a different stance, refusing to honour the flights and opting to cancel and fully refund them, citing "erroneously processed" transactions.
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