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UK: Airbnb has announced that it is bringing its ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’ feature to the UK, following its rollout in the US.
The feature enables guests to secure a booking and delay full payment until before the end of a listing’s free cancellation period, provided the property has a moderate or flexible cancellation policy.
The move follows a trial of the service in the US, where it was first introduced last summer and rolled out more widely to American guests in August. Airbnb said the US launch helped accelerate bookings between Q3 and Q4 2025, suggesting growing demand for more flexible ways to pay.
According to a nationally representative survey commissioned by Airbnb and carried out by Focaldata between January and February 2026, 59 per cent of UK respondents said flexible payment options are important when booking a holiday, while 67 per cent said they plan to use one for their next trip.
Reserve Now, Pay Later is now available to UK guests booking eligible listings worldwide, excluding payments made in Brazilian real, Indian rupee and Turkish lira.
Highlights:
Airbnb has launched Reserve Now, Pay Later for UK guests, allowing travellers to book eligible stays without paying upfront.
The feature lets customers delay full payment until just before the end of a listing’s free cancellation period on moderate or flexible policies.
The UK rollout follows a US trial last summer and wider American launch in August, which Airbnb said helped accelerate bookings between Q3 and Q4 2025.
New survey data shows rising demand for payment flexibility, with 59 per cent of UK travellers saying flexible payment options are important when booking holidays.
The expansion may signal growing consumer appetite for “book now, pay later” travel options, particularly for group trips and budget-conscious planning.
Reserve Now, Pay Later is available on eligible listings worldwide, excluding bookings paid in Brazilian real, Indian rupee and Turkish lira.
