Using Defera Credit at checkout
Your Defera Credit applies automatically when you book a new trip. There's no code to enter and nothing to switch on. It goes to your deposit first, then to your upcoming payments, and a green "Defera Credit applied" panel on your checkout page shows exactly what's due today after your credit.
Checkout will still ask for a card, even if your credit covers everything due today. That's normal, and it isn't a request for payment. Here's how it all fits together.
What is Defera Credit?
Defera Credit is credit on your Defera account that you can put toward a future trip with us. It never expires, and you can use it on trips you book for someone else, too. If you have any, the Defera Credits card on your profile shows your Available credit and its history.
How does my credit apply?
Here's what happens at checkout:
- Your full balance applies by default. You don't need to do anything to use it.
- It covers your deposit first. The "Defera Credit applied" panel shows what's left to pay today.
- Anything left over goes to your payments. Credit beyond your deposit shrinks your earliest payments.
- Anything more than the trip needs stays on your account. You can use it for future payments and bookings.
For example, say you have $100 of credit and your deposit is $60. Your credit covers the whole deposit, so $0 is due today, and the other $40 goes toward your earliest payments.
On Defera Zero, nothing is due at booking, so your credit goes to your payments instead, starting with the earliest.
Can I save some credit for another trip?
Yes. The "Defera Credit applied" panel lets you choose how much to use. For example, if you have $200 of credit and want to keep $50 for later, set it to use $150. Set it to $0, and the panel reads "Not using your Defera Credit on this trip", leaving your whole balance on your account.
Why does checkout ask for my card?
Checkout asks for card details even when your credit covers the entire deposit. That isn't a demand for payment. Your payment plan needs a card on file, the card your later payments are charged to automatically, so checkout saves your card securely.
When your credit covers everything due today, your card is charged $0 at booking. The "Due today" line shows the real amount your card will be charged.
What happens after I book?
- Your confirmation email shows your credit. It shows how much went to your deposit and how much is set aside for upcoming payments. Payments covered by credit say "Covered by credit", and the email shows the first payment your card is actually charged. If your credit covers every payment, it shows $0.00 due and says nothing is charged to your card.
- Credit that arrives later doesn't apply on its own. Credit you receive after booking won't reach a trip you already have by itself. To use it on that trip, open Trips, tap the trip, and tap Apply Credits in its payment schedule. It's spread across your upcoming payments, earliest first. Here's more on using your Defera Credit.
Something look wrong?
A few things are easy to mix up:
- Your trip cost more than your credit. Your trip total includes all fees, so part of it may still be due.
- The credit arrived after you booked. It won't apply to that trip until you tap Apply Credits.
- Miles aren't credit. Defera Miles are separate, and you choose whether to apply them at checkout.
If your card was charged even though your credit covered what was due, or your credit balance looks wrong, contact us so our team can check your account. Chat with the Defera Concierge, our AI concierge, or email support@defera.app.