AirBnB Is Testing A Feature That Lets Users 'Pay Less Up Front'

Instead of paying for your accommodation all at once, why not split the bill in two and pay before, and after, the trip?

That’s what the Pay Less Up Front feature currently being tested by AirBnB is. It allows you to pay up to 50% in advance, with a reminder to settle the rest of the bill after the end of your trip.

Here’s the catch though: AirBnB users will be able to use this option, only if the cost of their rental exceeds $250. This means that it’s targeted towards higher-end lodgings, or longer stays. Moreover, Pay Less Up Front will be available for rentals booked at least two weeks in advance. So, if you’re planning a trip in a hurry, sorry folks, you’ll have to pay the full amount 🤷‍♀️.

If you’re renting a high-end accommodation or booking long-term on AirBnB, you may be able to pay up to 50% up front, and the rest after the trip

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AirBnB has been testing Pay Less Up Front for a while now, reporting that almost 40% of its users chose to take advantage of this new way of settling the payments. Late last year, the platform debuted a group payments feature, allowing up to 16 guests to book a place together and split the bill among them within 72 hours of the reservation.

AirBnB has been making significant progress in becoming the one-stop-shop for all things travel. It has also recently launched its Trips initiative to connect travellers and local hosts, and has acquired Resy, a startup for restaurant reservations, incorporating its system into its platform, allowing users to make table reservations at local eateries. We’ll keep a close eye on how the new features will be incorporated in the app’s integrated offering.