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US: Expedia Group and Affirm have announced an expanded multi-year partnership that makes Affirm the exclusive buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider for lodging and travel packages across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
The agreement covers hotel and package bookings on Expedia, as well as properties listed on Hotels.com and Vrbo. Affirm will also be made available to Canadian travellers on selected properties in the coming weeks.
Eligible customers booking hotels or packages will receive a real-time approval decision at checkout and can choose monthly repayment plans of up to 24 months. In the US, some travellers will be able to access interest-free options on three- or six-month plans.
Expedia Group said the expanded partnership is intended to give travellers greater flexibility at the point of payment as booking journeys evolve.
As travel discovery and planning increasingly takes place across digital and AI-powered tools, payment options are beginning to appear earlier in the booking journey, placing greater emphasis on flexibility and transparency at checkout.
Financial technology company Affirm said travellers are increasingly considering how they will pay alongside where they plan to travel.
Affirm works with around 420,000 merchants globally, including Amazon, Costco, SeatGeek and Revolve.
Highlights:
- Expedia Group has expanded its partnership with financial technology company Affirm, making Affirm the exclusive BNPL provider for Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
- Customers booking hotels can access monthly repayment plans and some can access interest-free options.
- The move follows Expedia’s recent focus on AI-led discovery tools and greater payment flexibility across its platforms.
