Airbnb’s “Reserve Now, Pay Later” Feature: What Denver and Foothills Property Owners Should Know

Airbnb Unveils “Reserve Now, Pay Later” for US Guests

If you own a rental property in Denver or the scenic Colorado Foothills, you know how quickly the short-term rental landscape can shift. Keeping up with these changes isn’t just a matter of curiosity—it can shape your bottom line. Now, Airbnb is rolling out a “reserve now, pay later” feature in the United States, and it could have ripple effects for hosts and guests alike. With tourism fueling the metro area and the nearby mountains, this update may soon play a role in how visitors choose, book, and pay for your property.

In June 2025, Airbnb quietly updated its Payments Terms to introduce a payment delay option for travelers. With this new feature, guests can secure a booking right away but defer the payment until a set date before check-in. It’s designed to give travelers more breathing room, especially those making plans ahead of time but not ready to pay in full immediately.

How Does “Reserve Now, Pay Later” Work?

Now, with the “reserve now, pay later” system, Airbnb guests in the US have the flexibility to book a stay without facing a full upfront payment. Instead, Airbnb will charge the total booking amount on a due date determined at checkout. Typically, this charge comes due before the guest arrives for their stay, giving them time to sort out their finances or finalize travel plans.

Should a payment attempt fail, Airbnb notifies the guest and gives them three days—precisely 72 hours—to update their payment method. If the guest doesn’t fix the issue within that window, Airbnb may automatically cancel the reservation. For local Denver and Foothills hosts, this safeguard is good news because it helps prevent late no-shows or unpaid bookings.

Comparing With Past Payment Options

Airbnb hasn’t been a stranger to flexible payments. Previously, it let guests split payments with partners like Klarna and Zip, offering installment plans for stays. But those options involved third-party handling and separate approval processes. This time, Airbnb is running its “reserve now, pay later” solution directly, bypassing outside payment platforms entirely.

For property owners accustomed to the old system, there’s an important difference: guests won’t need to apply with Klarna, Zip, or another external service. They simply choose the delayed payment option right at checkout, streamlining the booking process for everyone involved.

Why Airbnb Made This Move

The latest change seems aimed at boosting booking conversions—especially with travelers who want to lock down prime dates without handing over their credit card numbers immediately. With travel patterns resetting after years of uncertainty and guests eager to return to mountain cabins or city condos around Denver, Airbnb is offering assurance and greater flexibility right at the moment people are deciding to book.

What This Means for Denver and Foothills Hosts

For property owners in Colorado’s competitive rental market, understanding this update means being ready for shifting guest expectations. Here’s what stands out:

• More Flexible Bookings: With the option to pay closer to check-in, guests who might have hesitated before could be more likely to commit—potentially increasing occupancy rates for local owners, especially in shoulder seasons.
• Improved Safeguards Against Non-Payment: The 72-hour window to resolve payment issues helps minimize risk for hosts. If a guest’s payment fails and they don’t update it, their reservation gets canceled before the stay ever begins.
• Direct Airbnb Management: Since Airbnb handles the delayed payments rather than passing things off to Klarna or Zip, hosts don’t have to mediate between guests and third-party providers if anything goes wrong. Everything happens within the main Airbnb platform.

Imagine a young family planning a ski trip to Breckenridge, but unsure about their travel calendar. With this payment flexibility, they might lock in your cozy foothill home now, even if the budget isn’t settled yet. That can help fill winter or holiday gaps—without adding uncertainty for you as a host.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

While the benefit to guests is clear, hosts may have questions about the potential downside. Could delayed payments create last-minute cancellations or increased gaps in the calendar? Here’s what the current rollout suggests:

• Payment Security: Airbnb still guarantees payment for owners as long as the guest meets their deadline. If not, the platform’s auto-cancellation feature kicks in—meaning, in most cases, you won’t lose out on rent or be left in limbo.
• Booking Calendar Management: Owners should keep an eye on their calendars and availability settings to handle any late-stage cancellations. But for most Denver and Foothills properties, modern dynamic pricing and management tools can help backfill dates quickly if a cancellation happens.

For many hosts, the upsides—like increased bookings and a simpler payment experience—outweigh the risks. Still, staying alert and responsive to booking updates is part of running a successful rental in 2025.

How Will This Impact Airbnb Bookings?

This payment delay trial is currently active for select users in the United States. There hasn’t been confirmation yet on a worldwide rollout, so if you regularly host international guests or have properties beyond Colorado, keep an eye out for changes down the road.

From a local perspective, though, this trial could bring even more flexibility to Denver’s bustling rental scene. Guests booking for big conventions, local events, or seasonal festivals might be more inclined to reserve early, confident they won’t have to pay the full amount months in advance. As more travelers view Colorado as an accessible getaway, this flexibility could be a subtle but strong driver of higher occupancy and happier guests.

What Denver Property Owners Should Watch For

The move toward flexible payments mirrors wider trends in travel and hospitality, where convenience often tips the scales for travelers. Here in Denver and across the foothills, it’s easy to see how guests booking everything from mountain retreats to city apartments will appreciate having more payment options.

It’s worth monitoring how this feature shapes your own reservation patterns over the coming months. Will you see more bookings from guests booking far in advance? Are there any shifts in cancellations or guest profiles? Staying attuned to Airbnb’s updates—and adjusting your strategy accordingly—puts local owners in a strong position to make the most of what’s ahead.

“Guests want choice and security, while hosts count on reliable bookings. Airbnb’s ‘reserve now, pay later’ aims to give both.”

Ultimately, this change highlights just how quickly booking and payment options can evolve. As travel bounces back and property managers in Denver seek to stand out, staying well-informed is half the battle. Flexible payment models may just become the new normal, so it’s the perfect time to consider how agility and transparency can work in your favor.