Have you ever refused to buy something you really needed because of its high cost? The frustration of delaying important purchases and missing out on opportunities is all too familiar. While credit cards offer a solution, they come with their own set of challenges: difficult approval processes, complex payment plans, hidden fees, and the pressure to pay off the balance each month.
For those seeking a simpler, more transparent option, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services like Affirm provide a compelling alternative. With BNPL, you can break down the cost of your purchases into manageable installments, making it easier to get what you need without the financial strain.
Many consumers are already enjoying the benefits of BNPL services. According to C+R Research, 56% of people now prefer BNPL over credit cards, while only 25% still favor credit cards. Additionally, 19% use BNPL “sometimes.” Overall, 38% believe that BNPL will eventually replace their credit cards.
Table of Contents
A Brief Look at the Basics
What is Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)?
BNPL is a type of financing that allows consumers to make purchases and pay for them over several weeks or months, in fixed and equal installments. This can make higher-cost items more accessible by breaking down payments into manageable chunks.
What is Affirm?
Affirm is an American BNPL fintech company founded in 2012 by Max Levchin (co-founder of PayPal) along with other fintech innovators and software technology experts, including Nathan Gettings, Jeffrey Kaditz, and Alex Rampell. In 2017, Affirm launched an app enabling flexible payment options for purchases at many retailers. Affirm’s active consumer base is 17.8 million as of March 31, 2024, and the company has been demonstrating stable growth and market expansion. Affirm is integrated into the websites of 292,000 retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. It’s also integrated into the Ovago website.
What is Ovago?
Our expertise at Ovago.com is in travel booking, especially flight reservations. Having served over 200,000 clients and facilitated more than 230,000 travel service transactions, we offer flight options to more than 180 countries worldwide.
- Cost-Effective Flights: We offer a wide range of options to help you save on flights. By partnering with airlines and travel suppliers, accessing a vast pool of flight tickets, and leveraging state-of-the-art technology, we can provide you with affordable airline tickets and frequent flight deals.
- Extra Services: We provide various travel options, including accommodation, car rentals, entertainment, travel insurance, and visa assistance. We also offer value-added services such as seat selection, support bundles, flexible tickets, cancellation for any reason, and more.
To enhance our customer service and offer not only safe and convenient but also flexible payment options, we selected Affirm among other BNPL providers. Here’s why!
8 Benefits of Affirm Customer Service For Ovago Clients
- Transparency: Affirm stands out from its competitors by offering clear and straightforward terms. It clearly specifies the interest rate (if applicable), the number of payments, and the total cost of the loan upfront.
- Reliability and Personalization: Unlike many of its competitors, Affirm has been an established player in the BNPL market for over a decade. With 12 years of experience, Affirm has amassed and analyzed extensive data on customer preferences. This wealth of information enables Affirm to offer consumers more personalized BNPL solutions, setting it apart as a reliable and data-driven provider.
- Diverse Payment Plans: Affirm offers various payment plans of up to 60 months1 to cater to different financial needs. With any plan, you can pay off your balance early with no prepayment penalties to save on interest.
- No Late Fees Policy: Unlike many of its competitors, Affirm does not impose late fees. If a payment is missed, users are not charged additional fees, although their credit score might be affected.
- Eligibility Check is Smooth, using a simple online application that will not impact your credit score. Consumers will receive a real-time eligibility decision.
- Beneficial for Frequent Travelers: As an Ovago customer, you can enjoy our affordable flights, lowest price guarantee, and price drop protection, as well as benefit from convenient installment payments with Affirm. Moreover, Affirm’s network includes major travel partners, offering flexible financing options. These partners include providers of personalized travel planning, rentals, resorts, cruise lines, and more. This combined smart approach makes travel more affordable and manageable.
- Extensive Merchant Network: Affirm partners with a wide range of merchants in various industries, from travel and fashion to electronics and home goods. This broad network means users can take advantage of Affirm financing options for many different purchases.
- User-Friendly Platform: Affirm’s platform is designed to be user-friendly, with a straightforward application process and an easy-to-navigate app. This ease of use enhances the overall payment experience, providing more convenience and flexibility.
How does Affirm Work?: Concise Answers to Common Questions
- Is Affirm safe? Absolutely. Affirm uses advanced security measures like encryption and secure protocols to protect user data during transactions. They also practice responsible lending, approving only purchases they believe customers can repay, helping to prevent unmanageable debt.
- How does Affirm make money? Affirm makes money by charging merchants a fee for each transaction processed through its platform and by collecting interest from customers who choose financing options with interest rates.
- How to get approved for Affirm? Applicants must be at least 18 years old (19 in some states) and have a US-registered mobile phone number. They need to provide an SSN and have a debit or credit card for repayments. Affirm verifies identity and considers credit score, credit utilization, income, existing debt, and prior payment history when making approval decisions.
- How are installment payment options determined? Payment options provided by Affirm to each customer are unique, as decisions are based on various factors including creditworthiness, loan amount and term, and market conditions. The exact rate and terms are disclosed to the customer before they complete their purchase, ensuring transparency. You can always refer to the Affirm convenient calculator, which shows what you’ll pay based on the offered conditions.
- How do I make payments to Affirm? You can manage your payments directly through the Affirm app or website. You can link your bank account to set up automatic or manual payments, or use Affirm or any other debit card.
- What if I’m late with my payments? If you miss or delay payments, Affirm may report the delinquency to credit bureaus, potentially lowering your credit score. It’s important to stay on top of your payments to maintain a good credit standing.
- Do I need to install the Affirm app? No, you don’t. But it can be very convenient. The app lets you manage your payments, track schedules, view transaction history, and set up automatic payments. Alternatively, you can use the Affirm website to perform these tasks.
- How does the Affirm Card work? Affirm does not require customers to get its debit card; it’s designed for added convenience. Available in both physical and virtual forms, the Affirm Card seamlessly integrates with your Affirm account. This integration allows you to manage all your payments and balances in one place, without compounding interest or late fees on loans. The Affirm Card operates like a traditional debit card for everyday purchases but also allows you to request pay-over-time plans in the Affirm app and redeem them at checkout. These plans can help you maintain better control over your spending and avoid the pitfalls of revolving credit.
Note that the initial monthly estimate by Affirm you see on the Ovago website (see the image below) is generic and doesn’t reflect your individual credit profile. Your actual payment, interest rate, and payment terms will be based on the Affirm credit assessment and may vary. The ‘Pay Monthly’ option is an invitation to explore various Affirm financing plans, not the only available option.
Read also: Flight Price Alerts by Ovago Explained
10 Easy Steps to Buy Ovago Flight Tickets With Affirm
- Browse our website and select a flight ticket.
- Follow four simple steps to check out your flight.
- Choose to pay with Affirm (see the image above) and click “Continue with Affirm”.
- Provide necessary information to check eligibility.
- Receive an Affirm notification of your qualification status.
- If approved, you’ll see specific payment plan options available.
- Select a suitable payment plan from these options.
- Complete the ticket purchase on our website using Affirm as the payment method.
- Manage payment schedules, view transactions, and set up automatic payments via the Affirm app or website.
- Get confirmation from Affirm that the debt is fully paid once all payments are made.
In partnership with Affirm, Ovago makes buying flight tickets easier and more affordable. This partnership not only provides flexible payment options but also enhances the overall travel booking experience by offering transparency, ease of use, and financial control. Start planning your next trip with Ovago and Affirm today, and enjoy the benefits of affordable, stress-free travel.
Disclosure: Rates range from 10% to 36% APR. For example, an $800 purchase might cost $72.21/month over 12 months at 15% APR. Affirm payment plans require an eligibility check, may not be available everywhere, and are provided by affirm.com/lenders. Options depend on purchase amount and may require a down payment. For licensing and disclosures, visit affirm.com/licenses.
