You Can Keep Those $18,000 Seats You Got for $1200

Bargain hunters around the world spotted an incredible deal from Cathay Pacific for first- and business-class fares from Vietnam to North America. Many quickly booked tickets, and while Cathay admitted that the advertised fares were a mistake, it’s honoring these prices.

As 2018 spun slowly into 2019, eagle-eyed bargain hunters around the globe spotted an incredible deal from Cathay Pacific on fares from Vietnam to North America for this upcoming August. As reported by One Mile At A Time earlier this week, the Hong Kong-based carrier was advertising return business class fares for under $700, with return first-class seats going for around $1,000.

Many potential passengers, of course, were quick to take advantage of what appeared to be a bargain of a deal. One such person was Milwaukee-based travel blogger and social media manager Mac Jaehnert, who booked a seat from Boston to Hong Kong, with an onward connection to Hanoi.

Booking in first class on his flight to Hong Kong and business on his flight to Vietnam, the BBC reports that he paid a total of $1,220 for his fare. Speaking of his good fortune to the BBC, Jaehnert said, “A one way ticket on Cathay, first [class] is like $18,000 and that’s quite a bit out of my price range. When I did the math, what I paid is at about a 95% discount.”

“I thought, this has got to be either a once in a lifetime deal, or possibly a mistaken fare, possibly both,” Jaehnert added.

His hunch, as it turns out, was correct. According to the BBC, Cathay was swift to say that it had “made a mistake” in advertising these low fares, but has also said that it would be honoring the prices, as originally advertised.

In a tweet, the carrier said, “Happy 2019 all, and to those who bought our good – VERY good surprise ‘special’ on New Year’s Day, yes – we made a mistake but we look forward to welcoming you on board with your ticket issued. Hope this will make your 2019 ‘special’ too!”

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