Silly How to Pay For Airfare Question

[Marionnette]

Airtran and jetBlue take PayPal....



Arrgh sorry didnt read that you were flying Delta...sorry.

Delta.com accepts Paypal.
http://www.delta.com/help/faqs/reservations/index.jsp (scroll down about 2/3 of the way down the page.)

 

[kirstenb1]

we just use a cc, get the rewards, and pay it off, easy peasy.

 

[SenecaWolf]

Delta.com accepts Paypal.
http://www.delta.com/help/faqs/reservations/index.jsp (scroll down about 2/3 of the way down the page.)

Nice find! Thanks for adding that!

 

[Poohforyou]

How is using a credit card and paying the balance off any different than using a debit card? I get not carrying a balance especially for a vacation but if the money is in the bank to pay for the tickets why not use the credit card.

 

[cornflake]

Doesn't buying airline tickets with cash trigger potential security questions?

Not to pile on but using a debit card for transactions in general is asking for trouble, imo. After having mine cancelled by the bank twice in 6 months and being told by the bank security guy how many compromised cards they're alerted to every day, I stopped.

 

[lizzyb]

Personally, I'd just buy the air tickets on the credit card. Then immediately put a reminder on your calendar to pay off the credit card the following day.

There's no difference in doing it that way than withdrawing the money from your bank and paying for the tickets with cash.

This.

 

[dzorn]

How is using a credit card and paying the balance off any different than using a debit card? I get not carrying a balance especially for a vacation but if the money is in the bank to pay for the tickets why not use the credit card.

Only difference is you get better protection with a CC, but some just don't have the will power/desire needed to treat it as such.

Denise in MI

 

[rigs32]

How is using a credit card and paying the balance off any different than using a debit card? I get not carrying a balance especially for a vacation but if the money is in the bank to pay for the tickets why not use the credit card.

There is zero difference, except psychological. Without knowing what the background is on this restriction they have placed on themselves, it's tough for me to not scratch my head.

I put my upcoming cruise on a rewards credit card to get the frequent flier miles. As soon as I finished that transaction, I opened up my online banking account and sent a payment to the credit card for the exact amount of my purchase.

I understand the reasoning for your agreement, but why make things more complicated for yourself? If you have the cash, can't you make an immediate payment once you submit the charge and not worry about price differences from two separate transactions? What if you and your husband sit at the computer and make the transactions together so you both know exactly what is happened?

You then get the benefit of the CC's protection if something goes off the rails. The CC protections can be better than those on debit cards with a visa logo on them.

As for off-topic comments...... Sometimes it's tough to answer a question that seems too specific without knowing why my (to me) perfectly logical answer is not sometimes the OP can consider.

 

[Trae13]

Doesn't buying airline tickets with cash trigger potential security questions?

Not to pile on but using a debit card for transactions in general is asking for trouble, imo. After having mine cancelled by the bank twice in 6 months and being told by the bank security guy how many compromised cards they're alerted to every day, I stopped.

I was thinking the same thing about the security issue. Purchasing tickets at the airport with cash can trigger potential terrorist alerts, and something best avoided if there are other ways to make the purchase. Just my 2 cents. Whatever way you decide to purchase your tickets, have a great trip!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Mathematically no difference.

Some people draw a mental line in the sand so to speak of no credit card use. It is a personal preference and nothing wrong with doing so. Not against this poster particularly but I think some people act like a preference or desire not to use credit cards is some sort of crime against society.

I think of it as the 3rd law of the DIS Budget Board replies - Whenever any poster asks for tips on how to avoid credit card use, at least three replies of the top 10 will be geared toward telling them to use their credit cards.

The 4th law of course is that when anybody asks for a way to maximize the benefits of credit card use, they'll get 4 Dave Ramsey links.

This is very true. If I stated I wanted to use a CC I would get endless replies on making it sure it is paid off. My reasons may not make sense but they are my reasons. I'm not asking anyone to understand.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Delta.com accepts Paypal.
http://www.delta.com/help/faqs/reservations/index.jsp (scroll down about 2/3 of the way down the page.)

This just may work...thanks

 

[elfbo]

While I understand the desire to NOT use credit cards, wouldnt it be worth the lowered stress level, and lack of headache to just decide you can pay for the tickets with the credit card, with the caveat that you will pay the balance asap? That way you wont have to be worrying about how to get around your debit card limits.

We set aside a money order with the approx value of what the plane tickets for our next trip will be. We will be ordering them on the CC, and then paying them off the next day. No hassle, no worries.

This doesnt even factor in the added problems of paying cash for airplane tickets. If you chose to go that route, be sure to get to the airport super early so that you will have a chance to fix any security issues that may pop up due to the "non traceable" payment choice.

 

[elfbo]

This just may work...thanks

Glad you found another option. Be sure to contact them before hand to make sure there are no daily spending limits that will keep you from buying however many tickets you need at once. I know there used to be, but I havent looked up that information about paypal in a few year so who knows what has changed.

 

[mdsoccermom]

Doesn't buying airline tickets with cash trigger potential security questions?

Not to pile on but using a debit card for transactions in general is asking for trouble, imo. After having mine cancelled by the bank twice in 6 months and being told by the bank security guy how many compromised cards they're alerted to every day, I stopped.

Paying cash can trigger a red flag, but doesn't automatically do it. It will trigger concerns when coupled with other factors, such as buying one way tickets or not having any luggage to check. In the OPs case, it's probably not going to be an issue.

 

[Lisa71]

I would not worry about "security questions" for a purchase of that amount...and really, security does lots of random things and screens all kinds of people. Our son had to be screend for "explosive residue" randomly at the Lihue airport last year when he was 4. I was screed all the time with my maiden name, which is Lebanese, and even though I am the same, my new last name has never had me screened. Pay cash, or paypal. I love paypal for lots of reasons.

 

[princessfionasmom]

Does delta offer bill me later? We fly JetBlue and use the bill me later and get 6 months interest free financing. I love it.

 

[scrapquitler]

Doesn't buying airline tickets with cash trigger potential security questions?
.

I have read this several places. If you go to the airport and buy your tickets with cash, they will be flagged as suspicious and you will get extra security screening.

 

[Green Tea]

Thanks for all that replied. It is our personal preference NOT to use a CC for WDW, at all.

I just think this is silly. You would be using it for safety, not because you can't afford the trip. The "I am not going to put something for WDW on a credit card" just makes no sense.

I can't imagine walking around with $3000 in cash in my purse to walk into an airport to pay a $25 per ticket surcharge to buy the ticket in person instead of online.

With cash there is no recourse if the airline went out of business. If you pay with a card, you can dispute the charges.

With the card you most likely receive free travel insurance just for using the card. If weather interferes, someone gets sick and can not travel, the suitcase gets lost....

I understand not wanting debt, but this isn't a matter of debt or not affording a trip. Just buy the tickets on your card. Sign out of that site, then go to your bank website and transfer the funds to pay off the card.

To each their own, but the no card at any cost just seems to be unreasonable for no reason other than making something way more complicated.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Paying cash can trigger a red flag, but doesn't automatically do it. It will trigger concerns when coupled with other factors, such as buying one way tickets or not having any luggage to check. In the OPs case, it's probably not going to be an issue.

Along with buying the ticket/s the day of the flight.