How installment payments work
You pay for your trip over time. When you book, you pay a deposit, or nothing at all with Defera Zero, and the rest is charged automatically to your card, weekly or bi-weekly, until your trip is paid in full.
There's no credit check and no interest, and you can pay early whenever you like, with no penalty. Your trip price is protected once your booking is approved, so as long as you keep up with your payments, a rise in airfares won't raise your price.
How it works, step by step
Here's what happens, from checkout to your final payment:
- You choose a plan at checkout. Defera Installments is the default, and it works on any fare on the airlines we support. Defera Zero, with nothing due when you book, is offered on refundable fares from American, United, Southwest, JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic.
- You pay your deposit. On Defera Installments, deposits start as low as 5% on trips more than 90 days away. Your deposit options depend on how far away your trip is, and you'll see them at checkout. On Defera Zero there's no deposit, and your first payment is due on your first scheduled payment date.
- Your trip price is secured. Once your booking is approved, your agreed-upon trip price is protected from future airfare increases. It stays protected as long as you're in good standing, which means keeping up with your payment plan.
- Your payments run on their own. The rest of your trip total is charged automatically to your card on file, on the weekly or bi-weekly schedule you chose. You don't need to remember to pay.
- Your trip is paid in full. After your final payment goes through, our team releases your airline confirmation number to your trip in Trips, usually within 24 hours on weekdays.
What you'll see at checkout
Before you pay anything, your checkout page lays out your plan in this order:
- what's due today;
- how many weekly or bi-weekly payments follow, how much each one is, and the date of the last one;
- your trip total, including taxes and fees.
For example, with made-up numbers, you might see "8 bi-weekly payments of $95 · last on March 3" under the amount due today.
The Price Breakdown on the same page shows that your trip total already includes the service fee and the hold fee, so no extra fees are added later.
What "card on file" means
Your card on file is the debit or credit card saved to your plan when you book. Your payments are charged to it automatically on their dates, which is why every plan needs one.
We accept debit and credit cards. Prepaid cards, including gift cards, aren't accepted on installment plans. If your card changes later, you can replace it from your trip with Update Card.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Every Defera trip departs at least 22 days after you book. Closer dates can't be booked at all, even if you'd like to pay the full price up front.
Do Flight + Hotel trips work the same way?
Yes. Flight + Hotel packages are paid with Defera Installments, and your deposit and payments cover the combined flight and hotel total. Defera Zero isn't available on Flight + Hotel packages.
Can my plan change later?
Yes, your schedule can change with you. Depending on your plan, you can change your payment schedule in a few ways:
- switch between weekly and bi-weekly payments, with nothing charged today;
- pick your own payment dates, for a $25 fee that covers every change you make that day;
- pay ahead, which moves your next automatic charge back;
- skip your next payment, for a $20 fee.
The one schedule that isn't offered is monthly.
When do I get my confirmation number?
Your airline confirmation number is the code the airline uses to find your reservation, and you'll use it to check in. It's released once your trip is paid in full. Until then, it's completely normal for your trip to show a payment schedule and no confirmation number.
Paying off early gets it to you sooner, and there's no penalty for paying early. Open your trip in Trips, tap Make a Payment and choose Pay off.