"Saved 1.2 Million Won with ChatGPT"... How He Booked Cheaper Flights

Discovering Hidden Layover Routes, Alternative Airports, Error Fares, and Flash Sales

A story about an American man who saved approximately 1.2 million won in airfare with the help of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, has attracted attention. He revealed that, through ChatGPT, he was able to discover so-called "hidden routes"?alternative airports, low-cost carriers, and unique layover combinations?that are difficult to find using traditional search engines.

"ChatGPT is my personal travel agency"…Airfare reduced from 1.4 million won to 120,000 won

The image generated by AI is not directly related to this article. ChatGPT

According to the UK’s Daily Mail on August 8 (local time), Casper Opala, a personal finance content creator from Chicago, recently used ChatGPT to purchase a flight ticket worth 820 pounds (about 1.4 million won) for just 70 pounds (about 120,000 won). He referred to ChatGPT as "my personal travel agency," and stated, "It can find more hidden routes than Skyscanner."

Uncovering 'hidden flights' with simple prompts

The method Opala used is straightforward. By entering the departure and arrival locations and travel dates, he asked ChatGPT to search for hidden layover routes, alternative airports, low-cost carriers, error fares (airline pricing mistakes), and flash sales. He also added a prompt to "monitor for a few days and notify me if the price drops below a certain level," thereby enabling real-time monitoring.

He claimed that "28% of flights are not displayed on Google" and emphasized that "AI searches are especially useful for uncovering such flights." According to the media outlet, some travelers have saved hundreds of thousands of won by using this method to find connecting routes that bypass domestic low-cost carriers or direct flights.

Reference photo to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay

"AI is a tool, but final verification is essential"

Experts advise that ChatGPT may not reflect the latest data or could suggest nonexistent routes, so it is essential to double-check on official airline websites or platforms like Google Flights. In particular, when booking tickets, travelers should check layover times, whether connecting flights are guaranteed, and review refund policies and insurance conditions in advance.