Link Money and Alternative Airlines Introduce A2A Payment Option

Link Money and Alternative Airlines have joined forces to offer U.S. travelers a new and convenient way to pay for flights.

This partnership aims to provide a seamless open banking payment experience, allowing customers to make payments directly from their bank accounts, the companies said in a Tuesday (Aug. 15) press release.

The integration of Link Money’s open banking payment platform into Alternative Airlines’ website eliminates the need for credit cards, offering a safe and easy alternative payment method, according to the release. This not only provides customers with a more convenient way to pay, but also helps prevent them from going into debt or committing to long-term payment plans.

Alternative Airlines Managing Director Sam Argyle said in the release that the partnership furthers the company’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience and gaining a competitive advantage in the market. “Link Money provides a convenient solution for those looking for an alternative to interest-bearing payments,” he said.

Link Money CEO Eric Shoykhet said the collaboration is a significant milestone for the company. “We are excited to work with such an innovative company to provide guaranteed payments, bank-grade security and lower transaction costs,” he said in the release.

This partnership brings the ease and security of direct, account-to-account (A2A) payments to U.S. travelers, according to the press release. The integration was completed in July and is available to all U.S. customers with a U.S. checking account.

Alternative Airlines offers a quick, easy and personalized flight search and booking platform, plus the support of a customer service team, the release said. The platform allows customers to book flights with over 600 global airlines. Additionally, Alternative Airlines offers a wide choice of more than 40 payment methods to cater to diverse customer preferences.

Among the other payment options offered by Alternative Airlines are several major buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions ‚ including Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna and PayPal Credit — and Fly Now Pay Later, an app from the British Pay Later Group that has been designed specifically for consumers shopping for BNPL travel deals.

Twenty-six percent of consumers are interested in using pay by bank transfers for retail transactions if offered the ability to earn rewards, according to “New Payment Options: The Lure of Payment Method Rewards,” a PYMNTS and Nuvei collaboration.