Alternative Airlines

Alternative Airlines, book flights with flexible payment

Alternative Airlines is a global flight search and booking site that presents itself as an alternative to conventional agencies and search engines. Its proposition rests on three pillars: a broad catalogue of airlines, a wide variety of payment methods and its own customer service team. The company that operates it, Alternative Airlines Ltd, is incorporated in England.

Over 600 airlines and route search

The platform lets you search and book flights with more than 600 airlines worldwide. As well as the major carriers, the site focuses on regional and smaller airlines operating remote destinations, which broadens the options per route. The search supports round-trip, one-way and multi-stop or multi-leg flights.

Over 40 ways to pay and pay later

The company's most distinctive feature is its payment system. It accepts internationally accepted credit and debit cards, e-wallets such as PayPal and also cryptocurrencies. Add to that more than 40 payment methods, including buy now, pay later options.

Instalment plans work in different ways: weekly or biweekly payment with a short-term interest-free option, or longer-term monthly financing. The company works with global providers such as Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, Tamara and Atome. According to the information on the site, most of these options do not require a hard credit check and many charge no interest when you pay on time. It is also possible to book with a small deposit and pay the rest before departure.

Managing your booking and extra services

After completing the purchase, the user receives an instant confirmation by email with the booking reference, flight details and e-ticket numbers. From the Manage My Booking portal, accessible with the reference and last name, you can add seats and baggage, as well as make other changes. The customer service team also provides support for selecting seats, adding luggage or changing the itinerary.

At checkout, additional protection is offered covering cancellations and baggage issues, with different options depending on what the traveller wants to insure.

Cancellations and customer service

To cancel a flight, the company states that you should contact its customer service team as soon as possible, who will review the airline's cancellation policy and the available alternatives. Conditions depend on the airline and the fare chosen: some allow free cancellations within 24 hours and others apply charges. If pre-travel protection was purchased and the cancellation is due to an emergency, a refund may be available.

Customer service operates seven days a week by phone, email and WhatsApp, and the company states that its goal is to resolve any issue within 24 hours. The site also has a help centre with frequently asked questions.

Destinations and audiences

The website organises browsing by destination, with dedicated pages for countries such as France, the United States, Japan, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Australia and South Africa, among others. It also offers discounts for students and recent graduates, and has a best fare finder.