Error temporarily eliminated fuel charge on United flights

Passengers booking flights on United Airlines are getting a reprieve from paying the carrier's fast-rising fuel surcharge due to what United calls a clerical error.

The mistake is saving lucky customers as much as $130 round-trip on United's domestic flights -- the airline's maximum fuel surcharge.

United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski says the fuel surcharge was eliminated for domestic flights booked Thursday due to a clerical error. She says any customer who booked a flight without the surcharge will not be charged for it later.

The airfare research site FareCompare.com, which publicized the error, says the surcharge was rolled back as of 12:30 p.m. EDT. United said the glitch would last until early evening.