Airbnb introduces new way for Aussie travellers to pay

Budget is one of the biggest considerations for Aussies planning a holiday, especially as cost of living pressures remain constant.

So it is little surprise that more than half of Australian travellers value flexible payment options when making bookings. Particularly when it comes to accommodation.

Now, Airbnb is introducing a new way to pay, offering Australian guests the option to reserve a stay and pay $0 at booking for eligible listings.

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The booking platform's new Reserve Now, Pay Later is now officially available for Aussie travellers for both domestic and international trips, after a successful launch in the US in mid-2025.

What it means is that when booking a listing with a flexible or moderate cancellation policy, you now won't need to pay the full amount until shortly before the end of the free cancellation period.

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Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, tells 9Travel the response globally has been "really strong".

"Since launching in the US, adoption for eligible bookings has been over 70 per cent, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive," she says.

"Australians are watching every dollar, and they want more control over when they pay."

It is important to note that the feature is not a loan, so it doesn't involve credit checks or interest.

Research by Airbnb confirmed travellers are seeking more flexibility when it comes to booking a stay, with 58 per cent of respondents saying that having flexible payment options is important.

Almost 60 per cent said they have already used a flexible payment option before, while 62 per cent said they planned to do so for their next trip, according to the data.

"Reserve Now Pay Later helps people lock in the right place before it is booked without needing to pay upfront, which helps reduce the stress of booking a getaway," Susan adds.

This becomes especially important in group travel settings, which may require arranging funds with friends or family.

"It can reduce the back and forth that causes people to miss out," Susan says.

In fact, 30 per cent of travellers said they had delayed and missed out on preferred accommodation options because of the time spent coordinating payment with fellow travellers.

Reserve Now, Pay Later is now available in addition to Airbnb's suite of flexible payments, including Pay Part Now, Part Later, where guests can pay a portion at checkout and the remainder closer to check-in, as well as Pay Over Time with Klarna.

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