Most major U.S. airlines now offer payment plans, but the terms vary widely by carrier and the plan you choose
The largest U.S. airlines—American, Delta, United, Southwest, and Alaska—all allow you to split ticket costs across multiple payments. The catch is that most of these plans come through third-party financing companies, not directly from the airline. That means you are not paying the airline in installments; you are taking out a short-term loan to pay the airline upfront, then repaying the lender over time. Interest rates, fees, and approval speed depend entirely on which lender the airline partners with and your own credit profile.
Some airlines also offer branded credit cards that let you earn points while spreading payments across billing cycles, though that is a different mechanism than a formal payment plan. The fastest way to find what is actually available to you is to start your booking, reach the payment screen, and look for a "pay later" or "financing" option—not all airlines show these options equally, and availability can change based on your ticket price and location.
Key Takeaways
- Most airline payment plans are provided by third-party lenders like Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Credit, not by the airline itself, so approval depends on your credit and income.
- Payment plans typically cover 3, 6, or 12 months, with interest rates ranging from 0% promotional offers to 30% or higher depending on the lender and your creditworthiness.
- You must complete the payment plan before your flight departs—the airline will not hold a ticket while you finish paying.
- Airline branded credit cards let you spread payments across monthly billing cycles but do not reduce the total cost unless you have a promotional 0% APR offer.
- Payment plan availability varies by ticket price, airline, and your location, so the option may not appear until you reach the payment screen during booking.
How airline payment plans actually work
When you select a payment plan option at checkout, you are not entering into a contract with the airline. Instead, you are explore for a short-term loan from a financing company. The lender pays the airline the full ticket price when ready. You then repay the lender in monthly installments, with interest added depending on the plan terms.
This matters because it means the airline has its money and your seat is booked—but you still owe the lender. If you miss a payment to the lender, the airline does not care, but the lender will report it to credit bureaus and may pursue collection. The airline will not refund your ticket if you fail to pay the lender, because from the airline's perspective, you already paid.
Most payment plans require you to finish paying before your departure date. Some lenders will allow a payment to be in transit on your travel date, but do not assume this. Check the lender's terms when you approve the plan.
Which lenders partner with which airlines
| Airline | Primary Lender(s) | Plan Terms Typically Offered |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Affirm, PayPal Credit | 3, 6, 12 months; 0% promotional or 10–30% APR |
| Delta Air Lines | Affirm, Klarna | 3, 6, 12 months; 0% promotional or variable APR |
| United Airlines | Affirm, PayPal Credit | 3, 6, 12 months; 0% promotional or 10–30% APR |
| Southwest Airlines | Affirm | 3, 6, 12 months; 0% promotional or variable APR |
| Alaska Airlines | Affirm, Klarna | 3, 6, 12 months; 0% promotional or variable APR |
These partnerships change periodically, and not all lenders are available to all customers. Affirm and Klarna are the most common across major carriers, but availability depends on your credit score, income, and the ticket price. Some lenders require a minimum purchase amount—Affirm, for example, often requires tickets over $50 to $100 before offering a plan.
Smaller or regional airlines may not offer payment plans at all, or may partner with different lenders. Check the airline's website or contact their customer service to confirm what is available before you book.
Interest rates and what 0% really means
A 0% promotional offer means you pay no interest if you complete all payments within the promotional period—usually 3 or 6 months. If you miss the important date or miss a payment, the interest rate jumps to the standard rate, which can be 15% to 30% or higher depending on the lender and your credit profile.
Non-promotional plans charge interest from day one. The APR (annual percentage rate) varies based on your credit score and the lender's current rates. Someone with excellent credit might see 10% APR on a 12-month plan, while someone with fair credit might see 25% or higher on the same plan. The lender will show you the exact rate before you confirm the plan.
To compare cost: a $600 ticket on a 0% 6-month plan costs $100 per month with no interest. The same ticket on a 12-month plan at 15% APR costs roughly $53 per month but totals about $636 by the end—$36 more than the ticket price. Always check the total cost, not just the monthly payment.
Branded airline credit cards as an alternative
American, Delta, United, Southwest, and Alaska all issue branded credit cards that can function as a payment plan of sorts. When you use the card to book, you can pay the full balance across your monthly billing cycles. However, this is not a formal payment plan—it is just a credit card, and you pay interest on the unpaid balance unless you have a promotional 0% APR offer on new purchases.
The advantage is that you earn airline miles or points on the purchase, which you cannot do with a third-party lender. The disadvantage is that credit card APR is typically higher than a dedicated payment plan (often 18% to 25%), and the promotional 0% period is usually shorter (3 to 6 months instead of 12). Credit cards make sense if you have a promotional offer and plan to pay off the balance quickly, or if the miles value outweighs the interest cost.
What happens if you need to cancel or change your flight
If you cancel your ticket, the airline refunds the ticket price to the original payment method—in this case, the lender. The lender then credits your loan account, reducing what you owe. You do not get the money back; your payment plan balance straightforward goes down.
If you change your flight to a cheaper option, the airline refunds the difference to the lender, and your loan balance decreases. If you change to a more expensive flight, you owe the difference—either as an additional charge or rolled into your existing payment plan, depending on the lender.
If you change your flight and the airline issues a credit instead of a refund, the credit stays with the airline and does not reduce your payment plan balance. You still owe the lender the full original amount. This is one reason to read the airline's cancellation policy before booking on a payment plan.
How to find and compare payment plan options
Start your booking on the airline's website and proceed to the payment screen. Look for buttons or links labeled "pay later," "financing," "payment plan," or "buy now, pay later." Click it and you will see which lenders are available and what terms they offer. The lender will ask for basic information—name, email, date of birth—and will give you an when ready decision on whether you are approved and at what rate.
Do not assume the first lender shown is your only option. Some airlines display multiple lenders on the same screen; others require you to select one, get declined, and then try another. If you are declined by one lender, try another before giving up.
If no payment plan option appears, the ticket price may be too low, or payment plans may not be available on that specific route or from your location. Try a different flight or contact the airline's customer service to ask whether payment plans are available for your booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a payment plan if I book through a travel website like Kayak or Expedia?
No. Payment plans are only available when you book directly through the airline's website. Third-party travel sites do not offer airline payment plans. You must go to the airline's site, select your flight, and proceed to checkout to see payment plan options.
What credit score do I need to be approved for a payment plan?
Most lenders do not publish a minimum credit score, but approval is easier with a score above 650. Affirm and Klarna both approve some applicants with fair credit (580–669), though the interest rate will be higher. The only way to know if you will be approved is to explore during checkout; a soft inquiry will not hurt your credit score.
If I pay off my plan early, do I save on interest?
It depends on the lender. Affirm and Klarna typically allow early payoff without penalty, and you save on interest for the months you skip. PayPal Credit also allows early payoff. Always confirm the lender's early payoff policy before you commit to the plan.
Can I use a payment plan for a ticket I buy as a gift for someone else?
Yes, but the ticket will be issued in your name, not the recipient's. You will need to contact the airline after the plan is paid off to change the name on the ticket, if the airline allows it. Some airlines charge a fee for name changes; others do not allow them at all. Check the airline's policy before booking.
What if my flight is cancelled and I want a refund instead of a credit?
The refund goes to the lender, not to you, and your payment plan balance decreases. You cannot request a refund to your bank account while a payment plan is active. Once the plan is paid off, you can request a refund for a cancelled flight, and it will go to your original payment method.