Continental Airlines says it will permit passengers to hold a reservation and lock in a quoted ticket price for up to a week for fares that vary widely.

The service, called FareLock, allows travelers three days or a week to decide whether to buy a ticket and avoid a fare increase or the risk that a preferred flight or fare will sell out.

On Monday the airline said it would charge a fee of at least $5 to hold a reservation for three days and at least $9 to hold it for a week. The amount will vary depending on the length of the hold, the trip and how soon the passenger planned to travel.

Source: Associated Press