What is Defera?
Defera lets you book a flight, or a flight and hotel together, and pay for it over time. There's no credit check and no interest.
You pay a small part of your trip when you book, or nothing at all with Defera Zero. The rest is paid in automatic weekly or bi-weekly payments. Once your booking is approved, your trip price is secured, so if airfares go up while you're paying, your price doesn't.
How paying over time works
If you've never paid for a trip this way before, here's what happens:
- You choose your trip. Search for flights on Book, or tap Stays in the search to book a flight and hotel together. Then pick how you'd like to pay.
- You pay a deposit, or nothing at all. A deposit is the part of your trip price you pay upfront, when you book. With Defera Installments, it can be as low as 5% on trips more than 90 days away. With Defera Zero, nothing is due when you book.
- Your trip price is secured. Once your booking is approved, your agreed-upon trip price is protected from future airfare increases, as long as you stay in good standing on your payment plan. Good standing means keeping up with your payments.
- The rest is paid automatically. Your remaining balance is split into weekly or bi-weekly payments. Each one is charged on its date to your card on file, which is the debit or credit card you save when you book. You don't have to make each payment yourself.
- You get your confirmation number. Once your trip is paid in full, our team releases your airline confirmation number, usually within 24 hours on weekdays. It's the code you'll use to check in with the airline.
Two ways to pay
Defera has two payment plans. The biggest differences are what's due when you book and which fares each plan works on:
| Defera Installments | Defera Zero | |
|---|---|---|
| Due when you book | A deposit, as low as 5% on trips more than 90 days away | Nothing |
| Which fares | Any fare on the airlines we support | Refundable fares on select airlines |
| Your payments | Weekly or bi-weekly | Equal payments, weekly or bi-weekly |
| Flight + Hotel trips | Yes | No |
In short, Defera Zero asks for nothing upfront but works only on certain fares. Defera Installments works on any fare on the airlines we support, including Flight + Hotel trips. If you're not sure which fits, Installments or Defera Zero: which should I choose? compares them in more detail.
What's the same on both plans
- Your price is secured. Once your booking is approved, your agreed-upon trip price is protected from future airfare increases while you stay in good standing.
- No credit check. We never check your credit to let you book.
- No interest and no hidden fees. Your checkout page shows exactly what you'll pay before you book.
- No penalty for paying early. You can pay ahead or pay off your trip at any time.
When do I get my confirmation number?
Your confirmation number is the code the airline uses to find your reservation. Because it comes once your trip is paid in full, it's completely normal for your trip to show a payment schedule and no confirmation number until then. Nothing is wrong with your booking, and your price is already protected.
If you'd like it sooner, you can pay ahead or pay off your balance early, with no penalty. For the full timing, see When do I get my confirmation number?
Why we built Defera
We started Defera in 2024 in San Francisco with a simple idea: travel shouldn't depend on perfect credit or a big bank balance. Defera is built for people that traditional travel financing leaves out, including gig workers, students, people rebuilding their credit and families on a tight budget.