Flying has its share of challenges, and financial constraints can be one. Sometimes you need to get somewhere fast, but you lack the total amount to buy a plane ticket.
When flying with American Airlines, you can enjoy their flexible payment plans. The airline has a ‘Fly Now Payment Plan,’ allowing passengers to pay off their flight tickets in 6 months. However, there is always a bit, and that is you can only access this ‘fly now pay later’ benefit when you have an American Airlines credit card.
The American Airlines credit card
You can get an American Airlines credit card if you are a valid customer with good standing and an American-based billing address. Like any other credit card, only this time, you enjoy the American Airlines fly now payment plans.
Some benefits of getting the card include:
- You get instant online approval during the application, provided you qualify
- You enjoy low monthly payments- you settle your debt in 6 months
- There are no annual fees
- You access the fly now payment plan
- Using the card, you can buy your plane tickets directly from aa.com or through the aa apps or airport locations
- Finally, you get online account management on your expenditure and mileage
How Fly Now Payment Plan works?
As previously mentioned, you need to have an American Airlines credit card to qualify for any of their payment plans. Therefore, before you can apply for the program, you will first need to apply for a credit card.
You can complete the application online. However, you must have U.S. based billing address. Once you qualify for the card, you receive your account number in a few minutes. The Fly Now Payment Plan includes no interest for purchases above $150. In addition, if you pay your whole amount within 6 months, you incur no interest expenses.
Charges incurred
Whenever you purchase with American Airlines, you need to make a minimum payment. You will have 6 months to settle your debt. If you fail to pay or make late payments, you incur some interest charges.
In addition, if you fail to settle the purchase balance in the 6 months after the date of purchase, you become eligible for some interest charges. Note, the interest you incur for late payment is quite hefty.
Once you settle everything and have an account number, you then wait for the American Airlines Credit Card for future purchases.
Payment platforms on American Airlines
You can access American Airlines payment plans from different sources depending on your country. These options include Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, PayPal Credit, and Klarna. The limit to working with American Airlines is the duration of payment. This is limited to a maximum of 6 months.
Afterpay
You can install Afterpay to access your payment plan. When you book your flight through a third-party website like Alternative Airlines, you can spread the cost of your ticket over the next 6 weeks.
Within these 6 weeks, you make four equal installments. The good news; there are no interest charges. You only book your flight, specifying the route and day of the flight and selecting Afterpay as your payment option as you checkout.
Affirm
Affirm collaborating with American Airlines meant that travelers could now book flights and pay over a certain period. There is, however, an interest charge on these later payments, which ranges from 0% to 30% depending on credit scores.
Affirm charges a fixed interest rate, not compounded. Therefore, you can plan your payment over time or pay it upfront to not accumulate. However, you can only book a flight. Affirm is invalid for extra, like bags and seats.
Zip
You can split your fare into four equal installments when booking your flight with American Airlines. You need to pay the whole amount within 6 weeks, lest you incur late payment penalties.
If you make your payment on time, you only pay the amount indicated at checkout. However, the late or missed payment will attract heavy penalties.
Conclusion
American Airlines does a payment plan. The fly now payment plan allows A.A. travelers to enjoy their flight hassle-free and gives them 6 months to pay back the ticket amount. However, late payments invite hefty penalties.
You can access other payment plans like Afterpay and Zip for American Airlines by using a third-party booking platform that allows for such programs.
FAQs
What other payment options does American Airlines have?
You can pay for your ticket using cards, the main one being their American Airlines credit card, using Master Card, American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, and UATP Card, among others.
Other ways to pay for your ticket include cash payment, flight discounts, or travel credits. You can also use gift cards and check as payment options.
Does American Airlines accept PayPal?
Yes, you can transfer funds directly from your PayPal account to American Airlines as you pay for your ticket. You only need to select PayPal as your payment option as you checkout.
The service is available to travelers in the US, Canada, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.
