Use Pay in 3 to purchase flights: Paying for air travel with buy now, pay later

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) has changed how shoppers spend and budget by helping them split the costs of sought-after products and experiences. However, using BNPL for flight purchases comes with some risks if people don't have the full facts beforehand.

This article includes tips, suggestions and general information. We recommend that you always do your own research and consider getting independent tax, financial and legal advice before making any important decision.

This article will explain what Pay in 3 is, how it works, and how people can use this buy now, pay later option when purchasing flights. It will also explore how to manage and track payments within the PayPal app.

Pay in 3 is a credit agreement. Consider if the purchase is affordable and how you will make repayments. Missing payments may make other borrowing more difficult or more expensive. Pay in 3 eligibility is subject to status and approval. 18+ UK residents only. See terms for more details. You can use Pay in 3 on purchases £20 - £3,000

What is buy now, pay later?

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a payment option that allows consumers to purchase goods or services immediately and pay for them in instalments over a specified period.

BNPL is typically offered by third-party companies that partner with retailers to provide customers with an additional payment option. It helps people buy something and then split the cost into smaller payments over time.

Can you use BNPL to buy flight tickets?

BNPL can be used to buy plane tickets with many airlines including those that fly into and out of major British airports. Many airlines have partnerships with BNPL providers, giving people the option before online shopping — and before booking any flights — to carefully compare providers.

During such comparisons, it’s wise to read the terms and conditions of the BNPL providers. Misunderstanding how a BNPL provider works may reduce a person’s risk of debt.

Using PayPal’s Pay in 3 for purchasing flights

PayPal’s BNPL option, Pay in 3, allows customers to split the cost of their purchases into smaller amounts spread over time. Each of these repayments is called an instalment.

Pay in 3 can be used to book flight tickets and pay later, breaking the payments into three instalments over two months – the first due at the time of booking and two more in consecutive months.

And while some BNPL providers charge late fees for late instalment payments, PayPal’s Pay in 3 does not.

There are two important things to know about Pay in 3:

• Pay in 3 is a credit agreement.

• Importantly, people need to know that missing payments can impact their ability to borrow from financial institutions in the future.