Web Buzz: Steadyfare.com

Would you pay to lock in a low rate for a flight?

Name: Steadyfare.com

What it does: For as little as $15, Steadyfare lets you purchase the option to lock in a rate for a flight. There’s no obligation to purchase the ticket; Steadyfare just guarantees the rate if you decide later you want it.

What’s hot: If the ticket price has dipped below your Steadyfare rate at the time you purchase your ticket, you pay the lower amount. If the price goes up after you purchase your Steadyfare, it will cover the difference. It’s ideal for “maybe” fliers. You know — “Maybe my boss will give me the time off to take that trip to Paris if I can get our project completed.”

What’s not: It’s not like buying an airline ticket from a travel website. Because the site is in beta phase, you must choose a flight that departs within 10 weeks of your search, and you cannot choose an airline or flight time. For a larger fee (it can be as much as $63), you can lock in a range of travel dates. I also struggled to find a deal. I searched Los Angeles to Paris (Nov. 1-8), and the ticket price came to $1,451 (plus $50 for a two-week holding fee) or $1,309 plus $45 for a four-week hold. When I searched for the same flight on Kayak.com, I found low fares of $946 on Turkish Airlines and $1,014 on Delta.