Airbnb has launched a “reserve now, pay later” feature for US users, enabling them to book accommodations without immediate upfront payment. This option allows guests to defer the full payment until a later date preceding their check-in.
The company stated that the payment must be completed before the conclusion of a booking’s free cancellation window. This policy ensures that hosts retain sufficient time to secure alternative reservations if a guest cancels.
The “reserve now, pay later” option is exclusively applicable to stays located within the United States that are governed by either a moderate or flexible cancellation policy. Airbnb specified that charges for travel insurance, climate contributions, and any other optional add-ons will still be processed at the time of the initial booking.
This new offering differs from Airbnb‘s pre-existing “pay part now, pay later” method, which requires guests to pay a portion of their total bill at the time of checkout, with the remaining balance due before check-in. The “reserve now, pay later” option removes the requirement for any payment whatsoever at the time of booking. Furthermore, Airbnb supports payments through Klarna, a third-party “buy now, pay later” service.
