Airbnb has introduced a “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option that lets guests in the United States lock in reservations without making an upfront payment. The feature is available on properties whose hosts offer either a flexible cancellation policy—allowing free cancellation up to 24 hours before check-in—or a moderate policy, which permits no-fee cancellations up to five days before arrival. Guests must settle the full amount before the end of the listing’s free-cancellation window, and Airbnb will send automated reminders ahead of the deadline. The company says the move targets budget-conscious travelers who may hesitate to commit funds weeks in advance while finalising travel plans with friends or family. The San Francisco-based platform cited a recent survey showing 55 percent of respondents value flexible payment options, while 42 percent have missed desired properties because they could not coordinate payments in time. The new tool expands Airbnb’s instalment toolkit, which already includes a 2018 “Pay Part Now, Part Later” scheme and a 2023 tie-up with Klarna that splits payments into four fortnightly instalments.