Pay for Plane Tickets After You Fly

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon.

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at [email protected].

See recent posts by Shannon McMahon

Millennials are changing the travel industry. The frugal and tech-savvy generation that so many people bemoan has prompted big hotel companies to launch affordable, hostel-like lodgings and install voice-activated assistance in rooms. It’s backed a booming peer-to-peer industry. It’s demanded that low-cost accommodations and budget airlines no longer be a seedy alternative.

And now, one online travel agency is catering to people who don’t have credit cards—most of whom happen to be millennials. CheapAir.com allows customers to make monthly payments on plane tickets instead of paying up front, which means travelers can now book and take an expensive flight, but pay for it later.

This “Travel Now, Pay Later” option will make pricey, last-minute flights a lot easier to pay for, and could also open doors for people that simply can’t afford to book flights. CheapAir’s payment plans are backed by Affirm, a loan servicer that will collect monthly payments and 10-30 percent interest, depending on a “soft” credit elegibility check. Purchasers spending more than $100 on fares will be able to choose between three, six, or 12-month financing plans.

CheapAir says it’s offering payment plans in light of BankRate.com findings that suggest 67 percent of 18-29 year olds don’t have a credit card. The study cites student loan debt as one reason younger people might not want to use credit, as well as financial problems that occurred during the Great Recession seven years ago. BankRate found that the majority of people over 30 have credit cards.

“Credit card issuers, in many respects, have not kept up with the times and there are an increasing number of alternatives now available,” Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com said of the launch.

“We want to give everyone the freedom to travel, regardless of whether or not they choose to use credit cards.”

Millennials (and others) without credit cards, rejoice.

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Associate Editor Shannon McMahon is a millennial who writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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