As of June 2026, Slice Pay is no longer available at the Alternative Airlines checkout. However, you can still pay for your flights in instalments via one of our many buy now, pay later providers, including Klarna & Affirm.
Author: Arthur Hinton (Marketing Lead at Slice Pay)
Paying for flights can be stressful. Rising upfront costs for airfares has made it harder than ever for people around the world to buy flight tickets through traditional means. That's where lay-by flights and buy now pay later come in. These payment methods have reduced the burden of rising upfront costs and have risen in popularity in the last decade. But what's the difference?
In this article, we look at how Slice Pay compares to Buy Now, Pay Later - each has its strengths depending on your plans and how you prefer to pay.
International tourism bounced back to 99 % of pre‑pandemic levels in 2024, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation. Meanwhile, airfares have kept climbing: IATA’s latest fare‑tracking dashboard shows ticket prices rising sharply through 2024, and the trade body expects further increases as airlines grapple with jet‑fuel costs and sustainable‑aviation‑fuel mandates.
Millions of travellers use Buy Now, Pay Later services like Afterpay, Klarna and Affirm to make booking flights more manageable. But if you’d rather pay a deposit now and the rest later, Slice Pay might be a better fit.
Lay‑by/lay away: means you lock in today’s fare with a small deposit, pay the balance in instalments before you fly, and return home debt‑free.
Fly Now, Pay Later providers let you book your trip upfront, then spread the cost over time - often after you’ve flown. Typical features of a fly now pay later product include:
Because these products extend short‑term credit, they now fall under new or proposed consumer‑credit frameworks in the EU, UK and US.
| Benefit | Slice Pay (Flight Lay‑By) | Generic BNPL |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose‑built | Designed for flights, with a schedule that matches your travel plan | Built for all kinds of shopping, from shoes to seats in the sky |
| Payment timing | Pay in instalments before take-off - travel knowing it’s all sorted | Book now, pay after - perfect if you need more time to pay it off |
| Cost & fees | Small upfront hold price fee. No late fees. No surprises | Late fees may apply if you miss a payment - it’s best to check the fine print |
| Credit impact | No credit checks. It’s like saving up, only your seat’s locked in. | May include credit checks, and late payments could impact your credit |
| Purchase size | Ideal for bigger bookings like long-haul flights and group travel | Great for everyday spending, but limits may vary depending on the provider |
Lay-by flight payments bring travel dreams within reach for exactly those who need a little extra runway. Whether you’re a family looking to lock in a summer getaway months in advance, a group of friends organizing festival season plans, or uni students saving up for summer holidays, Slice Pay’s flexible, interest-free instalments and automated reminders make it easy to secure flights and accommodation without tapping into your core savings.
But don’t just take our word for it—listen to what their customers say:
“I was skeptical at first, but SlicePay has transformed how I book travel. Instead of draining my savings, I could spread out the cost of flights while keeping my financial goals on track. The process was seamless - my travel agent handled everything, and SlicePay’s clear payment schedule and friendly reminders made it stress-free. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to travel responsibly without compromising their savings goals.”
If you want to discover more about why you should consider using a lay-by for your flights, check out our Why buy flights with a deposit blog, which discusses this in even more detail.
Lay-by travel lets you break down hefty trip costs into bite-sized, interest-free instalments—so you can lock in today’s prices and avoid scrambling for funds at the last minute. By spreading payments over weeks or months, it encourages responsible budgeting (no more dipping into emergency savings) and makes early-bird fares, more accessible to everyone—whether you’re on a tight student budget or planning a big group getaway. With clear payment schedules, friendly reminders and no hidden fees, lay-by turns travel planning from a financial headache into a straightforward, stress-free experience.
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