A leading airline will not honor $300 round-trip flights to Europe after scores of Australians rushed to take advantage of the enormous discount.
Thursday night, Etihad Airways removed its flights from Sydney to Berlin, Germany, off the third-party website Skyscanner after astute Australians discovered return tickets for a tenth of the typical price.
Cheap tickets for the long-distance journey were available between May and August of next year, coinciding with Europe’s summer.
During the peak travel season, advance-purchased round-trip tickets typically cost around AU$3,000.
However, Monday’s announcement by Etihad that it will not honor the discounted fares since it would be “unsustainable” crushed the dreams of bargain-seeking travelers.
A spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that an error in a third-party data supplier’s system led to the improper sale of tickets.
The airline is in the process of addressing consumers who purchased flights at an incorrect pricing.
Etihad has canceled AUD$300 round-trip tickets from Sydney to Berlin after a “glitch” caused the tickets to go on sale for a tenth of their intended price (pictured, a flight attendant onboard an Etihad flight)
Etihad submitted the original fares appropriately, and they were listed correctly on Skyscanner, according to the representative.
‘However, due to the bug, consumers were only prompted to pay the taxes on the tickets when they went through to purchase them.
Unfortunately, Etihad cannot continue to operate these flights under these conditions.
The airline will cancel the reservations, refund the taxes, and offer the consumer to rebook at the proper price.
The discounted airfares first appeared on the website at their standard price but were discounted to $300 AUD after checkout.
Numerous vacationers were ecstatic to be able to afford a trip overseas with the expensive airline, and the promotion garnered much good media coverage.
Etihad stated that a “glitch” resulted in clients paying only the tax for return flights to Europe and has urged them to rebook flights at the standard price of AUD$3,000 (pictured, an Etihad plane)
The airline cited a technology “glitch” for the deeply discounted tickets.
It stated that passengers were only charged for the flight’s tax, not the flight itself.
Customers who purchased canned tickets received an email informing them of the error and encouraging them to rebook at the proper price.
“Good morning, everyone except Etihad, who I hear has canceled the incredibly inexpensive Europe airline tickets they sold.” I didn’t have one, but I feel the loss,” one internet user remarked.
‘Anyone else was done dirty by Skyscanner? Etihad, have you not heard of the cost of living crisis? Honor the $300 round-trip airfare to Berlin, stated another.
The discounted tickets were available for purchase through the third-party website Skyscanner (above) and initially shown at full price before being discounted at checkout.
Customers told the Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that they were ecstatic about the inexpensive tickets, before they were canceled.
One woman stated, “You can hardly go to Melbourne for $300 return these days.” “It is insane to fly to Europe in the midst of summer with a premier airline.” I simply cannot believe it.
A man stated, “I couldn’t believe it, a friend shared the message with me, and I booked it within minutes.”
“I already had a European summer wedding, so this is a ridiculous deal for me.”