As easy as fly now, pay later?

JetBlue is banking on the idea that we’ve overspent over the holidays. In addition to its current winter sales, it’s offering a $20 credit to those who book their flights with its Bill Me Later service through January 31st.

The way that Bill Me Later works, you only have to submit a few pieces of information and agree to the waiver in order to buy the airline tickets. Payments aren’t due for 90 days—but after 90 days you’ll face an interest rate of 20%. The service may appeal to travelers who are either strapped for cash at the moment, or don’t want to submit their credit card details. And it definitely appeals to airlines not wanting to pay the credit card companies’ fees (about 2.5% of each purchase).

The payment option is also offered on Continental, US Airways, and AirTran, not to mention Hotwire and Hotels.com, too. JetBlue just took it up last summer, so it’s fairly new to them, but the other airlines have already used it for several years.

I don’t know anybody who has used the service, but my first impression: it’s almost too tempting, too easy, no? Assuming that I’m not down to my last penny, I’d prefer paying as much upfront (or as close to upfront) as I can. Besides, where’s the fun in paying after the flight is a such vague memory?

But I’d be curious to know—has anyone had experience using this service?

Posted by Alison Brick | Comments (5)  | January 23, 2008
Category: Notes from the collective travel mind


5 Responses to “As easy as fly now, pay later?”

  1. charlon Says:
    March 5th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    pwde nyo po ba akong 2lungan ??? gusto ko po kcng mag apply ng trabaho sa ibang bansa… eh yun nga lang po ehhh wala po ako ni kng ano man…. matutulungan nyo po ba ako??

  2. filipina Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 5:13 am

    hello to all the staff epecially to the management in this services rendered,i really want to go abroad but my only problem is i don’t have any penny to buy tickets or cash bond either. could you possibly help me please??… it is okay for me if it took a month to pay all as long as i can work abroad..

    thank you and more power!

  3. filipina Says:
    April 3rd, 2008 at 5:13 am

    hello to all the staff epecially to the management in this services rendered,i really want to go abroad but my only problem is i don’t have any penny to buy tickets or cash bond either. could you possibly help me please??… it is okay for me if it took a month to pay all as long as i can work abroad..

    thank you and more power!

  4. Jun Botilla Says:
    January 9th, 2010 at 7:48 am

    Hi,

    I really want to go abroad and work but the big problem is I don’t have a money to apply agencies, they need the placement pay that I really don’t have, could you possibly help me please….

    Its pleasure for me to have an answer.

    Thanks

  5. Catherine Says:
    February 27th, 2010 at 7:00 am

    hy,
    I want to go abroad but my only problem is financial placement…i need your help..
    thank you and God bless!!!!