Part 1: Options to the power of options – and the intelligence that changes everything
You see a fare to Europe for $2,957 Business Class. Your finger hovers over "book now." Sweat starts to pour off your face and onto your mouse. Why?
You inevitably wonder:
Is this even a good fare? Can I do better?
Is this even the best schedule? Can I do better?
Is this the best airline? Can I do better?
Is this the best class of service for me for this trip?
Are these my best dates? Will mine change?
What else should I be worried about right now?!?!
Stop.
What if that single fare could become your insurance policy while you hunt for something better?
What if you could control multiple possibilities simultaneously for less than airport parking?
Welcome to Exponential Optionality
Sample Scenarios Where Option Optimization Changes Everything
Scenario 1: The Miles Hunter's Insurance Policy
You have 300,000 miles and points and would love to fly First Class to London but availability is hit and miss, and miss when you’re under pressure from your travel companion to book now.
Meanwhile, you found the best Business Class fare for your travel dates.
Typical Response: Let the cash fare go, spend weeks hunting awards, and end up paying much more than the fare you previously found when miles availability doesn’t come through.
Upgrade Intelligence Booking: Lock the cash fare for $19.99 on United. Now you have 14 days to hunt awards stress-free. Find them? Great. Don't? You've got Plan B at a decent price.
Scenario 2: The Couples Coordinator
You're planning Europe with another couple. They're "90% sure" they can leave May 15th, but might need May 16th or 17th, depending on a work project. You see a relatively decent Business Class deal.
Typical Booking: Wait for confirmation of dates and watch fares jump by one or two thousand dollars. The result? Everyone's angry.
Upgrade Intelligence Booking: Lock May 15th departure on Air France. Lock May 16th on United. Lock May 17th on British Airways. Total: Less than airport parking to control three days of options. When the travel companions confirm, book the right dates at the sale price before it disappears.
Most major airlines offer locks. For $10-$20, you can freeze published fares for 2 to 14 days. But here's the exponential part:
- One fare works for multiple date options
- Multiple airlines work for the same trip
- Pursue your Plan B while hunting Plan A
- Control all variables simultaneously
Cost to control five options: $50. Value of certainty: Priceless.
The Intelligence That Changes Everything
Let’s be clear.
You're not buying time.
You're buying optionality at a 99% discount.
Think about it: A $20 lock on a $3,000 fare = 0.6% cost for 100% control.
If there's even a 5% chance you'll find a better deal, the lock pays for itself. But most people don't know locks exist.
Worse?
Those who do know about them usually fail to leverage them.
Two More Things to Know
The DOT Safety Net: Every airline selling in the U.S. must offer either a 24-hour hold OR a 24-hour refund window (if booked 7+ days out). This means even Delta and Hawaiian – which don't offer holds – must give you 24 hours to cancel for a full refund.
But beware: This means your card gets charged immediately. Forget to cancel? You own the ticket (though you can usually apply the value to future travel minus fees). Set that phone alarm.
The Stacking Strategy: Nothing prevents you from holding the same trip across multiple airlines. Tuesday departure on United, Wednesday on American, Thursday on BA. Different routings on different carriers. Your portfolio, your control.
Start Tomorrow Morning
- See any interesting fare
- Lock first, think later
- Lock alternatives
- Lock different dates
- Now optimize calmly
You're not learning a trick. You're installing a new operating system.
The question isn't whether to lock. It's how many options you want to control.
Your Complete Arsenal:
18 Airlines That Offer Locks
Currently, no special locks are available for Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, or Japan Airlines.
*Always verify current policies as terms change and locks are sometimes not available.