PAL offers Fly Now Pay Later option

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has partnered with First Digital Finance Corp. (FDFC) to allow travelers to book airline tickets and pay over time through a “Fly Now, Pay Later” scheme.

Georg Steiger, chief executive officer and co-founder of FDFC, said in a statement the company, through the buy now, pay later app called BillEase, is providing a smart alternative to financing large purchases including airline tickets.

“We’re excited to enable customers to book their flights with a hassle-free payment option. Our partnership with PAL is focused on providing what customers need and delivering a differentiated customer experience for travelers,” he said.

BillEase, a flexible alternative to credit cards and e-wallets, enables customers to apply for a point-of-sale loan and pay over three, six, nine or 12 monthly installments.

The service is card-free and does not require customers to sign up for a credit or a debit card. Customers will know how much they will pay with an affordable interest rate and no hidden fees.

PAL senior vice president for sales and marketing Oscar Reyes said the latest service innovation using a card-free installment solution has added more flexibility to its flight booking process.

“This latest offering is part of our goal to provide customers a transparent and flexible way to pay. Travelers can now enjoy an installment plan when they’re booking their tickets, removing some of the hassle and added costs of planning a trip during the new normal,” Reyes said.

PAL customers only need one valid ID when signing up and get approved in less than five minutes to complete their booking.

Customers are shown the actual amounts, including the exact date of installments and a disclosure statement, before completing the purchase.

The first installment is not due until 15 days or 30 days after the trip is booked.

The new partnership is part of PAL’s evolution to offer more personalization when it comes to booking and to make every trip seamless and affordable for many Filipinos as many travelers feel more comfortable traveling again.

Booking tickets directly and paying via BillEase provides customers more control over their travel experience, adding more savings and benefits. For example, customers who use it can be eligible for exclusive deals such as zero interest installment plans.