Flex Pay payment option overview
Flex Pay by Uplift integrates with your CRS Booking Engine to provide guests with flexible payment options during their booking experience. This feature allows guests to book immediately while paying over time, potentially improving conversion rates and reducing booking abandonment at the critical checkout stage.
For guests, Flex Pay provides booking confidence through flexible payment arrangements. For properties, this payment option can help remove friction from the booking process while maintaining standard operational procedures for reservation management.
Eligibility and availability
Outlined below is information regarding eligibility and availability.
Guest requirements
Flex Pay eligibility applies to guests residing in the United States or Canada. The system automatically checks guest eligibility when they select this payment option during booking, independent of checkout screen information collection.
Guest application requirements:
US residents: 18+ years old with last 4 digits of Social Security Number.
Canadian residents: 19+ years old.
Mobile phone number for verification.
Physical address, P.O. Box addresses not accepted.
Bank account or debit card for payment processing
Property requirements
Hotels must be located in the United States or have the capability to process payments in USD through virtual cards issued by Uplift. Properties incur no fees for offering this service to guests.
Payment integration and rate compatibility
Outlined below is information regarding payment integration and rate compatibility.
Universal rate plan support
Flex Pay works with any CRS rate plan configuration regardless of existing payment or cancellation policies. This includes prepaid rates, pay-at-hotel options, partial deposit requirements, and 100% deposit rates, ensuring guests have flexible payment options across your property's complete rate structure.
Booking journey display
The Flex Pay option appears to eligible guests during the booking process with clear information about payment flexibility. Guests can select "Learn more" to access detailed information about their payment plan options before making booking decisions.
The payment option also displays in the booking cart, allowing guests to review their payment choice alongside other reservation details before final confirmation.
Operational workflow and payment processing
Outlined below is information regarding operational workflow and payment processing.
Virtual credit card system
When guests choose Flex Pay, the system provides a Virtual Credit Card (VCC) for the booking transaction. Your property charges this VCC according to standard policies associated with the specific rate plan booked.
Payment timing by rate type:
Prepaid rates: Charge the VCC immediately upon booking confirmation.
Non-prepaid rates: Charge the VCC at guest check-in, or at booking time when operationally feasible.
Incidental charges: Collect guest's personal credit card for additional charges during stay.
Guest payment responsibility
Flex Pay manages ongoing monthly payment collection from guests, removing this administrative burden from your property operations while ensuring payment completion.
Communication and support
Flex Pay sends confirmation emails to properties when bookings are completed, along with pre-arrival notifications that include operational guidance and frequently asked questions for on-site teams.
Reservation identification and management
Outlined below is information regarding reservation identification and management.
Booking recognition
Flex Pay reservations display with specific identifiers in your reservation system, allowing easy recognition for operational teams and appropriate handling during guest arrival and departure processes.
Modification handling
Booking changes that increase total cost: When modifications are permitted under original booking policies, the hotel will need collect additional charges directly from the guest rather than through the original Flex Pay arrangement.
Booking changes that reduce total cost: Hotels may process refunds to the original Uplift virtual card for modifications or cancellations that decrease the reservation value.
⚠️Important: Modification handling depends on the original rate plan policies agreed to during initial booking.
Risk management and chargeback protection
Outlined below is information regarding risk management and chargeback protection.
Chargeback elimination
Flex Pay's virtual credit card system provides complete chargeback protection for properties. Since Flex Pay maintains control over the VCC, guests cannot initiate chargebacks against your property, reducing payment disputes and administrative complications.
Support and issue resolution
For VCC-related issues, contact Upgrade partner support for assistance retrieving card details:
Support verification requirements:
Guest first name, last name, and phone number OR email address.
Agent verification process before releasing VCC information.
Contact information:
Non-urgent support: [email protected] typically responds within one business day.
Phone support: Agent calls property with VCC details after verification.
Implementation and activation
Outlined below is information regarding implementation and activation.
Setup requirements
The support team manages Flex Pay activation by sharing Uplift's Terms & Conditions for property or group approval. Once approved, the service integrates with your existing CRS booking engine configuration.
Display configuration options
Configure Flex Pay display timing based on your booking strategy:
Checkout screen only: Present option at final booking stage.
Earlier booking journey: Display throughout the booking process for maximum visibility.