Hi,

Seems that whenever I try to book a flight for a small group I travel with, the airline wants all the money right away.

Am I doing something wrong? Can't I put a deposit down and pay the balance later?

Thanks,
Pooky123

Airlines all require payment in full at the time you make the reservation or you don't have a confirmed reservation. Is that the question or have I missed something?

Yes, that is thewquestion, MmePerdu. Is there really no way to put down a deposit and pay the balance at a later date?

Thank you,
Pooky123

No. To buy an airline ticket you have to pay for it.

With all due respect, who mentioned not paying for the ticket?

How is putting down a deposit and paying the balance at a later date not paying for the ticket?

I guess what you are saying is that airlines want all their money up front and that's that.

Seems like BS to me, but that's fine. I can deal with it.

Next time I want some friendly advice, though, I will go somewhere else.

<I guess what you are saying is that airlines want all their money up front and that's that>.

Yes that is what we are both .

I'm sorry you don't like the answer, but there's nothing unfriendly about our answers. That's just how it is.

I think the answer is just simple Pooky, no disrespect intended. It's always been that way as far as I can remember which is since my first trips in the '60s. Package tours and cruises are different unless booked at the last minute. Most of those will ask for a deposit and the balance at a set time prior to departure. But an airline ticket alone is cash & carry.

<<<<< Am I doing something wrong? Can't I put a deposit down and pay the balance later? >>>

You are doing nothing wrong. You can’t pay a deposit now and pay in full later. One thing to have a look at is the airline cancellation policy, in case your group changes its collective mind.

Airlines sell you a seat, and make the commitment / contract to provide that seat on a certain date. The other part of the contract is that you have to pay in full for the commitment.

>>Next time I want some friendly advice, though, I will go somewhere else.<<

Who was unfriendly? They answered what you asked. For you to consider it friendly, would they have to say 'oh sure, you can get away with just putting down a deposit on a flight.'

Sorry, but air travel doesn't work that way. There is no lay away for airline tix.

Talk to a travel agent - not sure if it makes a difference, but I know you can make payments on vacations booked through travel agents. I'm fairly certain however that cost of plane tickets have to be made in full at time of reservation...

An airplane ticket won't be booked/locked in w/o full payment. So even IF a TA will take payments on a tour/cruise/itinerary of some sort - there wouldn't be any flights reserved without paying for them.

Sometimes the agent is able to hold a ticket for 24 hours for you but that's as close to a "deposit" that I have ever encountered.

pooky123

Goodbye.

Find somewhere else to complain and argue that you didn't get better treatment that the rest of us.

airline tickets have always meant paying for them when you buy them, the idea of a deposit is something you made up. grow up.

If you charter a flight, they'll accept a deposit.

Perhaps you should look into chartering a flight, pooky123.

When you ask a question here, people assume you want the correct answer.

Possbily by going thru a Travel Agent they may be able to front the money or do some kind of accounting for you.

But as far as the airlines is concerned, you don't have a ticket until you pay in full for it. That's simply how it works.