Introduction

You’ve spotted an unbeatable fare—now you need time to decide. Enter Delta’s Pay Later feature: a short-term hold on your reservation with a small deposit. As a frequent Delta flyer, I’ve used this multiple times to lock in sub-$200 fares while finalizing travel plans. In this deep dive, we’ll cover eligibility, deposit mechanics, timeframes, and pro tips to maximize this tool (877-297-0699).

1. Overview of Pay Later

Delta’s Pay Later lets you reserve Main Cabin fares in select markets for 24–72 hours by paying 10–20% of the ticket price. Full payment is due by the hold expiration, or the reservation is automatically released.

Official Note: “Pay Later is available for select Main Cabin fares; deposit amounts and hold periods vary by route.”

2. Eligibility & Requirements

• Markets: U.S. domestic only (some international markets excluded).
• Fare Class: Main Cabin (standard refundable and non-refundable).
• Deposit: Automatically calculated—usually 10% of base fare.
• Hold Duration: Shown at checkout (24, 48, or 72 hours).

3. How to Use Pay Later

1. Search & Select Flight as Main Cabin.

2. At Checkout, choose “Pay Later.”

3. Review Deposit & Deadline in the confirmation modal.

4. Receive Email Reminder 12 hours before hold expires.

5. Complete Payment via link in email or “My Trips.”

4. Managing Holds

• Extend Holds: Not possible—must rebook if expired.
• Cancel Hold: Log into “My Trips” → “Cancel.” Deposit is refunded within 7 days.
• Failed Payment: If payment fails after hold, reservation is dropped; you forfeit deposit.

5. Pro Tips

• Combine with Alerts: Use Google Flights alerts to trigger a Pay Later hold when price dips.
• Multiple Holds: You can hold up to two reservations at once to compare.
• Corporate Accounts: Some corporate rates exclude Pay Later—verify via your booking tool.