How to pay for flights in installments: 4 easy ways

Key takeaways:

• Airlines often offer a variety of payment plan integrations on their website, though they don’t offer financing directly.
• Third-party travel booking sites offer payment plans and rewards for using their service.
• You can use a buy now, pay later option to pay for flights, like what PayPal offers that is accepted most everywhere.
• Travel credit cards with promotional APR rates and payment plans can help you pay for flights in installments.

Compare four ways to pay for flights in installments

Most flight financing is done via third-party lenders integrated with the specific website or service. Third-party lenders may redirect applicants to their website to create an account and apply. Typically, you’ll receive a near-instant decision, which can help you book right away.

Depending on the financing provider, there may be interest, fees and other charges, though some providers may offer plans with no interest. Be sure to review any terms before applying.

Here are four ways you can pay for flights in installments:

1. Buy Now, Pay Later for flights with a BNPL provider likePayPal

Buy now, pay later plans often have fewer application barriers and often lower fees compared to other financing options.

PayPal Pay Later options are a convenient way to use installment payments for flights for eligible customers, and you can also use Pay Later options for hotels and other travel expenses.

Buy now, pay later apps generally let you pay over time and often come with low or no fees. While some third-party travel websites require you to pay the full balance of a flight cost before you fly, with PayPal Pay Later options, eligible customers may be able to take their flight now and pay it off later in installments.

You can apply for financing most anywhere that you can check out with PayPal. This includes third-party booking sites and airline checkouts.

PayPal Pay Later features two options:

Eligibility considerations: 

• Pay Later may require a soft credit check that doesn’t impact your credit score.^{1, 2}
• Decisions occur in seconds.^{1, 2}

2. Find airlines that offer financing integration for flights

While airlines don’t offer lending directly, they often partner with lenders to offer multiple financing options to pay for flights. These often include promotions for certain credit card holders and various buy now, pay later integrations for flights.

You can see whether installment financing is a payment option for an airline, hotel, or travel retailer at checkout.

Checking the airline’s website helps you understand your options and plan how you’ll pay for your trip. Some airlines have preferred financing providers, while others offer additional perks for banking with specific institutions.

If you have a preferred brand, you may be able to build loyalty rewards by using its integrated providers to make payments on airline tickets.

Common features:

• Using an airline’s partner cards or lenders can come with additional promotions, features, and loyalty rewards.
• Some airlines allow you to set funds and points aside for future flights, allowing you to save up for flights over time.
• Airlines often integrate directly with buy now, pay later providers, allowing you to perform the entire application process during checkout.
• Your preferred airline may not integrate with your preferred financing providers, which could involve new applications and credit checks.

Common costs:

• Airline-specific credit card partnerships may have annual fees, application fees, and various interest rates.
• Airline-specific financing integrations can have fees and interest rates depending on the third-party provider.

Eligibility considerations:

• Applications occur on the airline’s website, but the third-party partners handle them.
• Down payments and credit checks may be required.

3. Use a third-party booking platform or travel financing provider

Third-party booking platforms are like online travel agents, curating available options for you and helping you book through their portal. They often provide flights with payment plans using integrated buy now, pay later services.

These websites often have their own deals, loyalty programs, and financing options. So, if you care less about flying a specific airline and more about getting the best deal, booking platforms can be an effective travel method.

On the other hand, booking via a third party can create complications if you need to change details of your trip or cancel. Make sure to read all the relevant policies of both the platform you’re using and the airline you’re booking with.

Common features:

• Compare flights from multiple airlines by price, features, travel time, layovers, etc.
• Book and purchase using the third-party platform.
• Bundle travel and accommodation booking.
• Platform-based loyalty programs and rewards.
• Generally, there’s no hard credit check.

Common costs:

• Interest and fees vary by platform.
• Commonly, third-party buy now, pay later providers offer low or 0% APRs.
• Terms vary by platform; some require you to pay in full before you fly, some allow you to fly first and pay later.

Eligibility considerations:

• Most third-party buy now, pay later platforms don’t require a hard credit check.
• Down payments may be required.
• The approval decision is usually fast, occurring in minutes or seconds.

4. Open a travel rewards or 0% APR credit account

Many credit lenders offer credit cards designed for travel. Beyond the air miles rewards, they often have airline partners with special bonuses like airport lounge access.

Another type of credit card you could use is one that offers a 0% APR promotion. Credit cards often offer these for new accounts, so the approval process may involve an application and a hard credit check.

Common features:

• Miles, points, cashback, or other bonuses for using credit cards.
• Temporary low or 0% APR promotions can help make larger balances more manageable.

Common costs:

• Credit cards may have annual account ownership fees.
• Late fees and penalty interest fees are common among credit cards.

Eligibility considerations:

• Credit cards often require hard credit checks that count on your credit score.
• The barrier to entry for credit cards can be higher, especially if you want travel cards with premium benefits.
• Opening multiple credit cards to get promotions can impact your credit.

Potential pros and cons of paying for flights using buy now, pay later

Using buy now, pay later payment options for flights can be a great way to book your tickets early, but you’ll have to keep track of the online loan payments.

Here are a few other potential pros and cons to consider:

Before using buy now, pay later for a trip, consider the potential advantages:

• Flexibility: BNPL may offer flexibility to spread the cost of a trip over time, allowing travelers to manage their budget and avoid a significant upfront expense.
• Interest-free options: Some BNPL services may provide interest-free payment plans. For example, PayPal’s Pay in 4 allows people to split eligible purchases into four interest-free, bi-weekly installments.¹
• Accessibility: Buy now, pay later may help make travel accessible to those with limited credit histories or low credit scores.

There are potential disadvantages to using buy now, pay later payment options for travel expenses. Some examples include:

• Interest and fees: Some BNPL providers may charge interest or fees if travelers miss payments or choose longer repayment terms, potentially increasing the overall cost of their trip.
• Overspending: While BNPL offers flexibility, it can also lead to overspending if travelers don't carefully budget for their installment payments. It also may tempt some to book more expensive trips than they can comfortably afford.
• Credit impact: Although certain buy now, pay later providers may not conduct hard credit checks initially, missed payments or defaults may negatively impact credit scores in the long run.
• Limited booking options: Not all travel providers or agencies accept BNPL as a payment option.

How to effectively make payments on airline tickets

The key to successfully paying for flights in installments is ensuring that your payments are on time.

Here are some factors to consider when signing up for a buy now, pay later plan for travel:

• Budget and plan: Establish a personal budget for travel plans that includes not only the upfront trip cost but also the future installment payments to ensure the overall expense remains manageable and within budget.
• Read the fine print: Carefully read and understand the terms and conditions. Pay close attention to any interest rates, fees for missed payments, and the total cost of a trip when opting for BNPL.
• Responsible spending: Avoid the temptation to overspend just because BNPL offers flexibility. It’s important to only buy on credit responsibly.
• Ensure timely payments: Commit to making payments on schedule to avoid late fees or interest charges. Setting up automatic payments can help prevent missed deadlines.

Using financing for travel may offer convenience and flexibility, but track your budget carefully. Be sure to consider any fees or interest that may apply and keep track of when you need to make payments.

How to pay for flights in installments with PayPal

PayPal Pay Later is one of the most convenient ways to finance flights and accommodation. You can apply for financing during checkout with millions of online stores, including airlines and travel booking websites.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose your vendor: Check to see whether your preferred airline or booking website accepts PayPal.
2. Select your tickets and apply during checkout: During checkout, select the “Pay in 4” or “Pay Monthly” option.
3. Get a decision typically in minutes: You’ll receive a quick decision and, if you’re approved, select the payment plan that works best for you.
4. Make the first payment: You may need to make a down payment when you check out. Then, set up automatic payments to repay the rest of the loan.

Learn about PayPal Pay Later.^{1, 2}

Book flights with flexible payment options

You can pay for flights in installments through a variety of service providers. You could decide based on what business you prefer to have a relationship with.

Do you prefer to stay loyal to a single airline? Then it’s best to start with financing options on their website and checkout.

Do you prefer the flexibility of a travel platform that allows you to mix and match your travel expenses? Then check what financing options they offer.

On the other hand, you might prefer to keep your focus on a single buy now, pay later provider to build a strong history with them and more easily track your spending.

In that case, start with PayPal and explore the brands you can shop with using Pay Later.