AmEx Cardholders Can Book Flights Now and Pay Later With Plan It Feature

American Express cardholders now have more options to pay for their next vacation. Starting on May 13, AmEx consumer cardholders can book flights at AmexTravel.com and pay later when using the Plan It® feature. Terms apply.

At checkout, customers purchasing flights of $100 or more can use the Plan It® option to pay their bill in installments. Card members will be offered up to three monthly payment plans with a fixed monthly fee so they'll know exactly how much they'll pay each month. Cardholders will also be able to earn rewards on these purchases. AmEx expects to make Plan It® available for prepaid hotel bookings on AmexTravel.com later this year.

This payment option is timely given that a recent survey showed a rising interest among consumers to make big purchases like travel with a buy now, pay later option, said an American Express spokesperson in an email. Thirty-six percent of people are seeking deals or flexible payment options to pay for their next trip, according to an AmEx Trendex poll in April.

» MORE: Buy now, pay later already comes standard on many credit cards

Is it a good option for travel?

It's understandable that the pandemic has many aching to travel and experience a sense of normalcy. However, racking up credit card debt to pay for a vacation isn’t ideal if you can’t afford to pay the bill right away.

AmEx Plan It® is certainly convenient, and the fixed monthly fee might even be cheaper than the interest rate on your card, but there could be a more cost-effective option. If you must finance a vacation with a credit card and you have a good credit score (a FICO score of 690 or higher), you can’t beat a 0% introductory APR that offers time to pay off a trip without interest charges.