A blueprint for airline industry?

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2007 | by Barbara De Lollis

MONTREAL -- For his frequent trips to Canada, Tom Burke, a Dallas-based consultant, no longer worries about sky-high charges for changing his plane reservation, booking too close to his trip or booking during a peak travel season.

Burke last year paid Air Canada a flat $6,858 for 20 flights between eastern Canada and many of the 53 U.S. cities where the carrier operates, including his home airport, Dallas/Fort Worth. That means each round trip costs $686 no matter when Burke takes it during the 12-month life of the deal. He's eligible for free upgrades to business class, and he can book the trip up to one hour before flight time, and change or cancel without penalty.

"A couple of times (before buying the pass), I got socked with significant increases in fare...