Black-owned startup ‘Airfordable’ lets you pay for flights on layaway

[Esther]

Airfordable, a Chicago-based, black-owned startup, is making it easier to afford flights so that you can go on a trip without having to pay a huge lump sum.

The startup allows you to pay for your trip in more affordable installments by submitted a picture of your itinerary and travel plans, and after an initial deposit, you can make payments up to your departure date.

Cofounder and CEO Ama Marfo, a Ghana native, said that she was inspired to create the startup while she was attending Drexel University in Philadelphia.

“I wanted to see my family in Ghana during school breaks, but couldn’t afford the $2,000 ticket,” she recalled. “I stayed in the dorm alone or with other international students who couldn’t go home. Because of this personal frustration, I set out to determine how to make travel more accessible.”

She then joined forces with COO Craig Henry and Emmanuel Buah, the company’s chief technical officer to create Airfordable, and they have already seen college students in similar situations to Marfo using the startup, not to mention others.

“We have a lot of students using Airfordable to travel home or for study abroad programs. While other users are planning travel based around life milestones such as destination weddings and family vacations. We are covering just about any travel need you can think of,” Marfo said.

http://thegrio.com/2016/10/11/black-owned-startup-airfordable-lets-you-pay-for-flights-on-layaway/

 

[Jumbodicc]

Not a bad idea.

 

[RepostKing]

love the name!! dope and will support

 

[Ceenote]

Dats whats up..hell yeah.. itz a start..we can do this stuff too..

 

[younggiftedandblack]

I'm sitting here kicking myself. That's a brilliant idea and a great name. Wish I'd thought of it.

 

[Mask]

Man love this shit...

 

[Tha Great Muta]

This is about to blow up.

 

[Nzinga]

Is this an airline or a travel agency? Because if it is
a travel agency, there is one doing the same thing
here in the Metroplex

 

[kinglickk]

I wish them well but if you can not afford to travel, maybe you ought not to.

 

[g0nbad real bad]

Seems like it has the potential for fraud.

Disappearing deposits.
Airlines raising prices.

 

[TheAlias]

Seems like it has the potential for fraud.

Disappearing deposits.
Airlines raising prices.

There's always one.

Know what, just trust that some people out there are capable of creating a better business model than you.

 

[TEN]

I wish them well but if you can not afford to travel, maybe you ought not to.

nah everyone deserves the opportunity bro. Possibilities may lie elsewhere in the world waiting for them.

 

[g0nbad real bad]

There's always one.

Know what, just trust that some people out there are capable of creating a better business model than you.

Lol yea layaway is innovative. Creating a business model that already exist in travel agencies is brilliant.

Not questioning the viability of a new business is dumb shit.

 

[TheAlias]

Lol yea layaway is innovative. Creating a business model that already exist in travel agencies is brilliant.

Not questioning the viability of a new business is dumb shit.

Fuck all of that. I consider it a duty to be optimistic about black owned businesses. Especially when it's an innovative concept.

Listing all of the ways it can fail without knowing anything about it is just hating, crab in the barrel, nigga shit.

 

[spider705]

I wish them well but if you can not afford to travel, maybe you ought not to.

This is an ignorant statement, bruh...

 

[peterlongshort]

Short term loan at 10-20% interest. Ouch.

 

[exiledking]

People got taken for home loans they couldn't afford , cars they can't afford, and now they will get taken for flights they can't afford as well.

 

[JamesATL]

why not just save your money, until youre ready?

 

[Simply_Black]

The startup allows you to pay for your trip in more affordable installments by submitted a picture of your itinerary and travel plans, and after an initial deposit, you can make payments up to your departure date.

Some travel agents in the UK have been doing this for years.

 

[HUNTSVEGAZ]

I looked into it once. A bit expensive but it's a cool platform.

They probably lean on flight insurance. Can't really lose as long as you have that.

 

[richminded]

they wanted to change me 300 on 2k



fuck that

 

[Esther]

Some travel agents in the UK have been doing this for years.

Are they black owned?

 

[kinglickk]

This is an ignorant statement, bruh...

So is yours. Your point? And can you define...IGNORANT...cuz when I look the word up, it means that I do not have knowledge of certain facts. Of which fact do I lack knowledge?

 

[spider705]

So is yours. Your point? And can you define...IGNORANT...cuz when I look the word up, it means that I do not have knowledge of certain facts. Of which fact do I lack knowledge?

well, sir...you seem to overlook the premise of the website and what its intentions and goals are.

the FACT is that the website sets out to make traveling abroad or out of state more affordable and easily accessible to those that couldn't otherwise afford it.

based on your statement which essentially says if you can't afford to travel don't do it and your definition of the word ignorant, a fact you seem to be IGNORANT of is the sole purpose and intentions of this website, which was covered in the initial post.

this, in turn, makes your statement IGNORANT.

 

[POSTERBOY]

Seems like it has the potential for fraud.

Disappearing deposits.
Airlines raising prices.

What are you talking about? This is a GREAT idea. The potential for fraud is no different than it is/was for paypal and billmelater. When BillMeLater hit 1800 flowers, ebay and other places I was a broke ass college student extremely THRILLED I could sent my mother or grandmother flowers for their birthday and pay it off in 6 months before interest kicked in.

I don't see how airlines raising the price of a ticket affects anything if the company is purchasing it at the initial price. It's no different than any credit based system be it credit cards or a payday loan ...and Americans love them some credit, from the private citizen right up to the government.

Bravo to these cats.

 

[kinglickk]

nah everyone deserves the opportunity bro. Possibilities may lie elsewhere in the world waiting for them.

So why can't they save it themselves?

 

[TEN]

So why can't they save it themselves?

I suppose they could yeah. This way just solidifies their plans somewhat. Plus, if as in this case, its a black owned company, its ticking other boxes too.

 

[kinglickk]

I suppose they could yeah. This way just solidifies their plans somewhat. Plus, if as in this case, its a black owned company, its ticking other boxes too.

You are right on the black owned angle.

 

[noriega]

Man I'm really digging this.... I hope they don't sell to some Jewish owed company if this catches on.

Also I would love for them to incorporate the "round up" feature that is offered by the Acorns App... Pretty much it just rounds up the change needed to give you an even dollar amount. Example: you buy a drink at the bar for $12.35 (you would be charged $13.00).... .65 cents would go towards paying off your vacation. You book early enough in advance...you can really have change paying off your vacation

 

[BDR]

Seems like it has the potential for fraud.

Disappearing deposits.
Airlines raising prices.

Not really

What I get from it is if approved the start up purchases the ticket and in turn the person pay back the startup..

That why the ticket is locked in and paid for.. I'm sure the start up charges a one time fee for processing So if the person defaults on the payment the airline already have their money and start up already collected the fee

I'm sure the start up insures the purchase of the ticket to cover themselves in the event a ticket isn't fully paid for by the departure date

 

[POSTERBOY]

Not really

What I get from it is if approved the start up purchases the ticket and in turn the person pay back the startup..

That why the ticket is locked in and paid for.. I'm sure the start up charges a one time fee for processing So if the person defaults on the payment the airline already have their money and start up already collected the fee

I'm sure the start up insures the purchase of the ticket to cover themselves in the event a ticket isn't fully paid for by the departure date

Exactly! This is why you can't tell niggas your moves before you make them, there's always some dream killer waiting in the wing to tell you why it wouldn't work or what's wrong with it

Again, props to them! Like @themainman said, I think she's going to get RICH.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Seems like it has the potential for fraud.

Disappearing deposits.
Airlines raising prices.

everything has the potential for fraud.
The people who use this though already put stuff on lawaway and pay it off to begin with they just never could do it for flights before.
Now you planning vacations 6 months in advance and buying a cheaper ticket 6 months in advance and can pay it off probably before the trip even happens as opposed to seeing the ticket, can't afford it, and then trying to find the ticket closer to the date of departure and the shit has jumped $200 and now you and whoever can't even go.

practical use.... i could buy a ticket to the super bowl city or to the nba all star game right now...and have that cheap ass ticket paid off by january. instead of trying to buy it in january and be fucked off in the game.

 

[Mello Mello]

I remember black people use to clown how we always trying to put everything on layaway back in the day.

This app idea is awesome.

 

[Joe Money]