"As professional sports teams look to recapture ticket revenue from the secondary market, Chicago-based SmartOptions has been pushing them to consider an alternative: the pre-primary market..."
In the News
Crain's Chicago Business
November 8, 2012 (All day)
Why sports teams sell options on tickets
The Economist
October 22, 2012 (All day)
Is it worth buying air-fare options?
"In the financial markets, call options give you the opportunity to buy shares, commodities and other financial instruments on a pre-arranged date at a pre-arranged price..."
Seattle Times
October 22, 2012 (All day)
U.S. airfares could climb in last two months of year
"The bad news for air travelers is that domestic fares have increased about 4.5 percent in 2012, bringing the average airline ticket to about $375..."
Bloomberg Businessweek
October 22, 2012 (All day)
Chicago companies poised to join airfare options market
"OptionIt, operated by Chicago-based Smart Options, currently sells "reserve now ... decide later" options on sporting-event tickets and travel packages. It plans to offer options on airline tickets too, company officials say..."
The Daily Gazette
October 22, 2012 (All day)
Locking in airfares taking off
"Airfare options work similarly to a stock option. The seller of the option charges a fee to hold your flight reservation at a certain fare, but you’re not obligated to buy a ticket. If your travel plans change, you can simply let the option expire and you’ve lost only the fee, not the full cost of the plane ticket..."
LA Times
October 19, 2012 (All day)
As airfares soar, some companies sell options on airline tickets
"Nobody wants to buy a $600 nonrefundable ticket, have their plans fall through and not be able to use it — or be forced to pay exorbitant fees to change flights..."
