Introducing ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’, giving guests greater flexibility

Airbnb has announced a more flexible way for guests in Asia Pacific¹ to reserve a stay. Reserve Now, Pay Later gives travellers booking eligible stays around the world the chance to reserve a listing without paying anything at the time of booking.

This marks a major step forward in Airbnb's commitment to offering more flexible options for guests that we believe will lead to more bookings for hosts. The recent launch of Reserve Now, Pay Later in the U.S. helped drive the acceleration of nights and seats booked in Q4 2025 from Q3 2025.

Available for eligible listings globally with a moderate or flexible cancellation policy, guests don't need to pay the full amount until shortly before the end of the listing's free cancellation period. Cancellation policies selected by hosts remain unchanged, and because the payment from guests is always due before the free cancellation period ends, hosts have time to secure another booking even if a guest cancels.

This feature comes as new data reveals that today's travellers are seeking more flexibility when it comes to booking a stay, particularly a group trip that requires arranging funds with friends or family.

With Reserve Now, Pay Later, guests can secure their booking without an immediate payment, perfect for group trips or budget-conscious planning. In a recent survey² of travellers in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand conducted by Airbnb and Focaldata:

• 67% of respondents said having flexible payment options is important when it comes to booking a holiday.
• 75% of respondents plan to or may use a flexible payment option for their next trip booking.
• 41% of respondents said they have delayed or missed out on their preferred accommodation option because of time spent coordinating how to pay for their trip with co-travellers.

Our 2026 travel predictions revealed international city getaways, replacing "scrolling screens" with "touching grass", and major global events like Coachella and FIFA World Cup are driving wanderlust, and with this new way to pay, guests can now lock in an eligible stay and pay later - helping them book rare finds early and plan way ahead.

Reserve Now, Pay Later complements Airbnb's suite of flexible payments options helping make travel more affordable including Pay Part Now, Part Later - where guests can pay a portion at checkout and the remainder closer to check-in.

Reserve Now, Pay Later is available for Asia Pacific¹ guests booking eligible listings around the world with a flexible or moderate cancellation policy now.