A leading travel expert says paying for flights in instalments could actually save travellers money, even before you factor in the flexibility.
Sam Argyle, Managing Director at Alternative Airlines, says many people don’t realise that splitting the cost can help them lock in today’s prices before fares climb, which on some routes can mean avoiding seasonal increases of up to 22%.
“People assume instalments cost more, but when fares rise closer to departure, the opposite can be true,” Argyle said. “By locking in early, you not only spread the cost, you protect yourself from price jumps.”
The biggest savings are typically found on long-haul routes and school-holiday departures, where demand spikes in the final months leading up to travel. Argyle says families booking earlier – using pay-over-time options – are consistently avoiding the premium rates seen in the lead-up to departure.
“For a family of four heading to Florida in the school holidays, it’s often a difference of several hundred pounds. That’s money you’d rather spend once you arrive, not just on getting there.”
With economic pressure still shaping travel decisions, travellers are choosing instalments not just to manage budgets, but to book earlier and secure better flights, including desirable departure times, preferred seats and first-choice travel dates.
“What we’re seeing is simple: booking earlier gives people more control over the trip, not just the price,” Argyle said.
Travel experts often recommend specific days of the week to find deals, but Argyle believes locking in early with a payment plan is proving more reliable than waiting and gambling on last-minute prices.
“Popular routes regularly jump 10–15% in the final month before travel,” Argyle added. “Booking ahead with instalments is turning into one of the quietest – but smartest – money-saving moves travellers can make.”