Airbnb expands payment options in the US

Airbnb launches Reserve Now Pay Later in the US, allowing reservations without upfront payment for listings with flexible or moderate cancellation terms.

Airbnb lets US users reserve stays without upfront payment

Airbnb has introduced a new feature called Reserve Now Pay Later in the United States. The option applies to listings that offer flexible or moderate cancellation policies, letting travelers reserve a stay without paying the full amount upfront. Full payment is due before the end of the listing’s free cancellation window, and users will receive a reminder to pay before that date. The policy mirrors earlier experiments, including a 2018 program to split payments and a 2023 partnership with Klarna for four installments over six weeks. A survey cited by Airbnb from Focaldata shows 55% of respondents prefer flexible payment options, while 42% said they missed out on properties due to payment logistics.

The move fits a wider shift in travel toward buy-now, pay-later options. It could make trips easier to plan for people who need flexibility, particularly families and group travelers. At the same time, it shifts payment timing and introduces new risks for both sides of the marketplace, including debt buildup for some guests and revenue uncertainty for hosts if cancellations spike. The feature also highlights how platforms balance consumer flexibility with trust and cash flow, a dynamic that will draw scrutiny from investors and consumer advocates as BNPL-like tools become more common in travel.

Highlights

Travel planning evolves as finance meets convenience, but responsibility stays with guests and hosts.