China Southern commits to €1.30 ticket prices after app glitch

The glitch affected the airline’s app and other major platforms such as Trip.com, leading to an unexpected gift for lucky customers who were quick enough to take advantage of the opportunity. Initial reports began to surface on Chinese social media, with users sharing screenshots of flights to and from the city Chengdu, starting at a jaw-dropping price only 10 yuan (€1,29).

According to online portal China Travel News, one particular screenshot showcased a Chengdu to Beijing ticket priced at the aforementioned sum of 10 yuan, in stark contrast to the regular minimum fare of 400 to 500 yuan (approximately €51,00 to €65,00). These unbelievably low prices were available for approximately two hours. Despite the absurdly cheap fares, buyers were also required to pay an additional 110 yuan (€14,20) in airport fees and fuel surcharges. However, even accounting for those extras, the total cost remained significantly lower than the standard fares for these routes.

Considering the technical issue, China Southern Airlines were expected to cancel most bookings according to local regulations. However, to the surprise of most travelers, the Guangzhou-based carrier assured passengers that the glitch-affected tickets would be honored and could still be used as normal, so as long as they had already been paid for and issued – talk about commitment to customer satisfaction!

Needless to say, passengers were overjoyed by the airline’s decision to honor the mistakenly low prices, with China Southern’s move being lauded as a demonstration of transparency and customer-centric values, even in an industry this competitive and cut-throat.