“Buying time” to decide if you want to confirm a great deal can significantly reduce airfare anxiety.
Locking up valuables in a safe place just makes sense. It’s important to protect them for use at another time. But do you apply the same principle to “locking up” great airfare deals when you see them? Do you protect them for use later on?
You definitely should. Spectacular low fares come and go all the time. It’s just a matter of locking them into a “safe box” for access when you’re ready to act on them.
And even better—it’s easy to do.
For as little as nothing, and not a lot more on many airlines, you can hold a great fleeting fare long enough to get yourself organized.
Long enough, at least, to see if the kid’s school vacation syncs up with the opportunities. Long enough to shift that business meeting to a better time (or add it to the trip). Long enough to see if those relatives on the Riviera will let you stay in their gorgeous beach house.
So why not lock in a few different airline tickets—say for different time windows or multiple destinations—and choose among them later?
EXAMPLES OF HOW GOOD FLEETING FARES CAN BE
Recently, FCF found $2,258 R/T Business Class Airfares to Europe from Florida; American, Delta, Singapore Air, and United Premium Economy Fares to Asia From $823; and $2,313 Business Class Airfares to Europe from Texas.
HOW IT’S DONE
At FCF, we call it “Look, Lock, Book.” Find the fare, use a lock option (a fare hold can cost as little as $6.99 per reservation—American’s is even free and United offers the hold for up to seven days, and then book (or not) based on further research or confirmation with your travel companions and calendar or whatever else determines your travel plans.
You still have to have a quick trigger finger to lock those fares in your vault when you see them. And you have to know the airlines and their rules for “Lock Options,” which give you time to decide on whether to purchase the ticket or pass.
FOCUS ON THE AIRLINES THAT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK IN AMAZING FLASH FARES
Look at the “lock” cost as insurance, just as you would for any other valuable item to protect. For example, hold three tickets on British Airways for 72 hours and it will set you back $30—let’s say, one departing the first week of the month, one the second week, and one the following month. On United, the lock costs as little as $6.99 per reservation for three days. American’s is free for up to 24 hours. British Airways and Lufthansa even refund the fee if you buy the ticket. Some airlines allow you one week to decide.
Most people don’t realize this. They see an amazing FCF fare and think to themselves, “I’m not ready yet, I won’t know my dates for a few more days,” and let the fare just pass on by.
LOCK-OPTION-FRIENDLY AIRLINES, EVEN ON THE LOWEST FLASH FARES
There are 16 major airline websites that will lock a reservation and guarantee the fare; the hold period generally depends on route and airline. The “lock option” goes by different names, depending on the airline, but they all come up during the booking process on eligible flights. Below is a rundown.
Air France: The “Time to Think” option (see the website screenshot below) comes up after you select your flights under “trip details” if it is offered on your itinerary. Cost: $20 per ticket. It guarantees the price for up to three days. The option also applies to First Class.
Air New Zealand: The “Fare Hold” option costs $45 per international U.S. reservation (not per ticket). It guarantees the price for three days. If your itinerary is eligible, the “Hold this fare” button will appear at the bottom of the “Select your flights” screen.
All Nippon: The “Keep My Fare” option is good for up to 72 hours and costs $10 and is not available with code-share partners). The option comes up in the payment screen after selecting your flight and fare. Valid for both Business and First Class.
American: The “Hold Your Reservation” option comes up on the review and pay page when offered and only if you book seven or more days prior to departure. It is free for up to 24 hours. The option also applies to First Class, on some routes; American also offers an “Extended hold option” on AA flights for a fee (cost varies by route and is non-refundable).
British Airways: The “Hold Your Flight Price” option comes up after the price summary, when offered. The cost is $10 per ticket for a 72-hour hold. If you buy the ticket, you get a refund. The option also applies to partner flights on Iberia and in First Class on BA.
Cathay Pacific: The “Hold Your Fare” option is good for 72 hours. The fare is confirmed, however, taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges are subject to change. Valid for both Business and First Class. The fee varies by flights and on FCF’s last test booking it was $10.
Finnair: The “Hold my Booking” option is good for 72 hours. You can hold the reservation for intercontinental flights for a fee of $30. The fee only applies if you do not buy the ticket.
Hawaiian: The “Fare-Hold” option is good for a three-day or seven-day hold, the cost varies, based on a test booking (Los Angeles-Honolulu) the fee was $6.99 for a three-day hold and $8.99 for a seven-day hold. Discount on the fee is offered to elite members.
Iberia: The “Need more time to decide” option comes up after the trip summary and passenger information. You can hold the reservation for a fee of $10 per ticket for a 72-hour hold. The fee only applies if you do not buy the ticket.
KLM: The “Time to Think” option (€10 and €15 per ticket) comes up after you select your flights; when offered, the hold time varies (up to three days) and will depend when the booking is made, destination and fare conditions for the selected flights. When FCF did a test booking the cost was $20 per ticket.
LATAM: The option is good for 24 hours and is free, if the reservation is made one week (or more) prior to departure.
Lufthansa: The “Reservation with price guarantee” option, when offered, is for 48 hours. Cost: €30 per reservation. The fee only applies if you do not buy the ticket. Not offered on partner/code-share flights.
Qatar: The “Hold my Booking” option, when offered, is for up to 72 hours. Cost: varies by timeframe selected. No refund on the fee paid.
SWISS: When making a booking, the “Hold the booking” option comes up after you select the flights and it is offered for up to 72 hours. Cost: $27 per reservation. It is also offered in First Class and valid on code-share flights (on United, for example) with the prefix LX.
Tap Air Portugal: The “Time to Think” option, when offered, is for 48 hours. Cost: $13 per ticket. No refund on the fee paid.
United: The “FareLock” option (non-refundable) comes up after the trip summary, if offered, cost varies by route and is available for a three-day or a seven-day hold. Available on First Class bookings and mileage-award reservations. FareLock is not offered on partner/code-share flights.
GENERAL CANCELLATION POLICY FOR PAID TICKETS
Most airlines allow you to cancel without penalty and receive a full refund within 24 hours after you purchase your ticket, by law. (The Department of Transportation mandates that “U.S. and foreign air carriers allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty.”) Some airlines do, however, have advance reservation requirements (such as Alitalia, which requires at least a week prior to scheduled flight departure), so check with your airline for any restrictions on the 24-hour rule.
View the Lock Options as protecting one of your most valuable assets: a great airfare deal. Then, when you’re ready, unlock the deal from your airfare safe and never miss out on a great deal again.