Payments & your schedule

Installments, due dates, paying ahead and your card on file.

• How installment payments work
  You pay a deposit when you book, or $0 with Defera Zero. The rest is charged automatically, weekly or bi-weekly, to your card until your trip is paid off.
• Weekly or bi-weekly payments
  Your plan runs weekly or bi-weekly; there’s no monthly option. If your trip shows Change Schedule, you can switch between the two for free.
• Viewing your payment schedule
  Open Trips and tap your trip. The Payment Schedule section shows your payments and holds the buttons to pay, change your schedule and update your card.
• Are payments automatic?
  Yes. Each payment is charged to your card on file on its scheduled date, so there’s nothing to remember. Here’s what changes if you pay early or a payment fails.
• Making an extra payment
  Tap Make a Payment on your trip to pay ahead, pay toward your balance with Principal, or pay off your trip. None of them has a fee or a penalty.
• Paying off your trip early
  Tap Make a Payment, then Pay off, to clear your balance in one go. There’s no penalty, and your confirmation number comes once your trip is paid in full.
• Changing your payment schedule
  Switch between weekly and bi-weekly for free, pick your own dates, pay ahead or skip a payment. Here’s what each option costs today and what it changes.
• Picking your own payment dates
  Choose your next payment date with Pick my own dates, inside Change Schedule. It costs $25, and one fee covers every change you make that day.
• Skipping a payment
  Skip Payment makes your next installment $0 for a $20 fee charged today. Your dates stay the same, and the payments after it rise slightly.
• Extending your final payment date
  On some older plans, Request Extension moves your final payment date later for $35. On newer plans, you have other ways to get more time.
• Updating your card
  Open Trips, tap your trip and tap Update Card. It’s the only place to change your card, and the new one is used for all your future payments.
• What payment methods can I use?
  We accept debit and credit cards on every plan. Bank transfers, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Apple Pay, Google Pay, checks and crypto aren’t accepted.
• Why was my card declined?
  Cards are declined for everyday reasons, like a typo, an expired card, low funds or a bank hold. Here’s what to check, and how to get back on track.
• Can I use a prepaid or gift card?
  Not on a payment plan. Prepaid, gift and stored-value cards aren’t accepted on installment plans, so use a debit or credit card. Airline gift cards are different.
• I made a payment but my balance didn’t change
  A payment can count without changing the number you’re watching. Here’s how each kind of payment and Defera Credit show up, and when to ask us.
• Understanding your balance
  Your balance is what’s left of your trip total after what you’ve paid. Here’s what’s in it, and how Defera Credit on your trip sits beside it.
• Downloading your Trip Statement
  Every trip has a Trip Statement: a PDF with your itinerary, travelers, pricing and payment history. Download it from the icon in your trip’s header row.
• Fees, explained
  Your trip total already includes the service fee and hold fee, with no interest. A few optional services have a fee, and you pay it only if you use them.
• A charge I don’t recognize
  A Defera charge can be a payment, a fee for a service you chose or an add-on. Here’s how to match it to your trip, and what to do if it doesn’t fit.
• When will my refund arrive?
  Card refunds typically take 5–10 business days to show up, and they go back to the original card. Defera Credit is instant: it posts as soon as it’s granted.