Airlines consider prepaid passes for frequent travelers

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

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Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

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Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

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There’s an interesting piece by columnist Scott McCartney in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. He reports that the two largest domestic airlines, American and United, are considering following Air Canada’s lead and adding new prepaid passes to their sales repertoire.

Air Canada’s program allows customers to prepay for a set number of flights. The rates are typically more than the least-expensive seat on any given flight, but less than the most-expensive coach seat. In essence, it’s a win-win for both the customer and the airline. Charles McKee, Air Canada’s senior director of strategic marketing, tells McCartney, “It gives customers price predictability.” For the airline’s part, it locks in guaranteed revenue whether the customer actually uses the pass or not.

Both American and United already offer prepaid programs for business travelers, but I see this new interest in extending the plan to leisure travelers as a significant step forward. On the international front, Cathay Pacific and Qantas already offer passes that focus on specific destinations or destination combinations.

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