Chinese carrier China Southern Airlines said on Thursday it would honour the sale of tickets priced as cheaply as US$1.30 during a two-hour technical glitch on its mobile phone app and some ticket-booking platforms late on Wednesday.
Consumers began reporting on Chinese social media at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday that many flights to and from the southwest metropolis of Chengdu were available at 10, 20 or 30 yuan (US$1.37-US$4.12) on China Southern’s app.
One screenshot circulating online showed a ticket from Chengdu to Beijing priced at only 10 yuan (US$1.37), compared to the normal minimum price of 400 to 500 yuan (about $55 to $69). Other online screenshots indicated the cheap prices were offered for about two hours on the carrier’s app as well as across several ticket-booking platforms, including market leader Trip.com.
On top of that price, buyers were required to pay at least an additional 110 yuan (US$15) in airport fees and fuel surcharges.
“Passengers can use them as normal,” Guangzhou-based China Southern said, on the proviso that tickets were already paid for and issued.
Reporting by Sophie Yu and Casey Hall; Editing by Bernadette Baum