Credit Building > Can you use Fly Now Pay Later if you have bad credit?

Can you use Fly Now Pay Later if you have bad credit?

Wollit Team2 minute read · Updated 4th July 2024

No, you cannot use Fly Now Pay Later if you have bad credit.

Fly Now Pay Later requires a credit check as part of setting up an account, since it’s technically a loan.

The company does not mention its minimum credit score requirements, but it recommends checking your credit score before applying. This means that if you have bad credit, Fly Now Pay Later may not be an option for you.

However, you should also keep in mind that right now, Fly Now Pay Later does not accept new applications while reviewing its business model.

In other words, for now, it doesn’t matter whether you have bad credit or not.

You'll have to use some other payment method to spread the cost of your trip over several months, like a credit card or a personal loan.

How did Fly Now Pay Later used to work?

Fly Now Pay Later used to let users book flights and pay for them in monthly instalments, usually over 3 to 12 months.

This payment plan aimed to make travel more accessible, especially if you don’t have the full amount upfront. However, the service was technically a loan, which means that it involved a credit check to assess creditworthiness and determine the interest rates offered.

Can I use Fly Now Pay Later with bad credit?

Because Fly Now Pay Later requires a credit check as part of the application process, this might make it hard to get approved for it when it resumes service.

Can Fly Now Pay Later affect my credit score?

Using Fly Now Pay Later can affect credit scores in a few ways. The service involves a hard credit check during the application process, which can temporarily lower credit scores.

On top of this, missed or late payments with Fly Now Pay Later may be reported to credit reference agencies, leading to even more negative impact on your credit score.

What are some alternatives to Fly Now Pay Later?

While Fly Now Pay Later is still not accepting applications for now (regardless of your credit score), a better alternative is using a credit card.

However, if you have bad credit the only kind of credit card you’re eligible for is a credit builder card. These cards are meant for people with bad credit or even no credit history at all, in the idea that making payments on time and showing financial responsibility can eventually improve credit score.

While they don’t have the travel rewards that good credit score cards come with, they can be an option to spread the cost of your trip. Just be mindful of the 0% interest period. Most credit builder cards only offer 30 to 60 days of interest free purchases. After that, expect very high APRs, often above 35% per year.

This is why you should look to rebuild your credit score. A better credit score can open access to credit cards with long 0% interest period on purchases (even more than a year), as well as travel perks like zero currency exchange fee, free overseas cash advance, miles which you can redeem, and lounge access in the airport.

Luckily, now there are many apps that can help you improve credit.

One such app is Wollit. Wollit is an app available both on Android and iOS, and it works by reporting a fixed-fee monthly subscription as a loan repayment to all three credit reference agencies.

This builds your credit history and helps you improve your credit score. Eventually, a better credit history will increase your approval chances not only for tools like Fly Now Pay Later, but also for credit cards with great travel rewards so you can really make the most of your trips.