How to Book Flights with Crypto: Complete Guide for 2026
Everything you need to know about booking flights with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies.
Where
Booking flights with crypto works on Travorio for 600+ airlines using Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and 100+ other tokens. Prices match fiat rates exactly, the exchange rate locks for 15 minutes at checkout, and your ticket is issued as soon as the blockchain confirms the payment.
Booking Flights with Crypto: What You Need to Know
Book flights with crypto on platforms like Travorio and pay for airline tickets using Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, or any of 100+ supported tokens. The flight inventory includes 600+ airlines worldwide, from major carriers like Delta, Emirates, and Lufthansa to budget airlines like Ryanair and Spirit.
The process is almost identical to a regular flight booking. You search for routes, pick your flights, enter passenger details, and choose crypto at the payment step. The platform handles the conversion from your cryptocurrency to the airline's fiat currency behind the scenes.
This guide walks you through the entire process, including which wallets work, how exchange rates are locked, what happens with cancellations, and the tax angle you should not ignore. If you hold crypto and fly even a few times a year, this is worth reading.
How Crypto Flight Payments Work
When you select crypto as your payment method for a flight on Travorio, the platform calculates the exact amount of cryptocurrency needed based on the current USD price of the ticket and the real-time exchange rate of your chosen coin. This rate is locked for 15 minutes to give you time to complete the transaction.
You then send the exact crypto amount to the provided wallet address or QR code. The payment processor confirms the transaction on the blockchain and converts the crypto to fiat currency. The airline receives full payment in their local currency and issues your ticket.
The entire process takes between 1 and 30 minutes depending on which cryptocurrency you use. Solana and USDC on fast networks confirm in under a minute. Bitcoin takes 10 to 30 minutes for the first block confirmation. Your e-ticket is emailed as soon as the payment clears.
There is no difference in the ticket itself. You get the same fare class, baggage allowance, seat selection options, and frequent flyer mileage accrual as you would with a credit card payment. The airline does not know or care that you paid with crypto.
Supported Cryptocurrencies for Flight Bookings
Travorio supports over 100 cryptocurrencies for flight payments. The most commonly used are Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDC, USDT (Tether), Litecoin (LTC), Solana (SOL), and Dogecoin (DOGE). Each coin works on its native blockchain, and the payment processor handles all conversions.
Bitcoin remains the most popular choice by transaction volume, though stablecoins are growing fast. USDC and USDT are favored by travelers who want to avoid exchange rate risk entirely. When you pay with a stablecoin, the price you see in USD is almost exactly what you send from your wallet.
Layer 2 solutions and alternative chains are also supported. Payments on Polygon, Avalanche, and Arbitrum offer lower fees than Ethereum mainnet while still using familiar tokens like USDC and WETH. This gives you flexibility to pick the cheapest network for your transaction.
Before paying, check which network your wallet supports. If you hold USDC on Ethereum but the payment page defaults to Polygon, you will need to bridge your tokens or switch networks. Travorio shows the supported networks at checkout so you can plan accordingly.
Step-by-Step: Booking Your Flight with Crypto
Search for your flight on Travorio by entering your departure city, destination, travel dates, and number of passengers. Filter results by airline, stops, departure time, or price. The search results are identical regardless of payment method.
Select your outbound and return flights, then proceed to the passenger information page. Enter names exactly as they appear on each traveler's passport or government ID. Add any extras like seat selection or baggage if available for your fare class.
On the payment page, select the cryptocurrency option and choose your preferred coin. The total price in USD converts to the crypto equivalent with a 15-minute rate lock. A unique wallet address and QR code appear on screen.
Open your wallet app, scan the QR code or paste the address, and send the exact amount shown. Wait for the blockchain to confirm the transaction. Once confirmed, your ticket is issued automatically and sent to your email. The confirmation page also displays your booking reference and ticket number.
Flight Cancellations and Refunds with Crypto
Cancellation rules for crypto-paid flights follow the same airline policies as any other booking. If you purchased a refundable fare, you can cancel and receive a refund. Non-refundable fares may allow changes with a fee but typically do not offer cash refunds.
Refunds for crypto-paid flights are processed in fiat currency (usually USD) rather than the original cryptocurrency. This is standard across the industry because the crypto-to-fiat conversion happened at booking time. Returning the exact same amount of crypto could mean a different dollar value due to price changes.
Most refunds take 7 to 14 business days depending on the airline. Travorio initiates the refund request once the airline confirms the cancellation. You can track the refund status in your Travorio account dashboard.
For airline-initiated cancellations (schedule changes, flight cancellations), you are entitled to a full refund regardless of your original fare type. These refunds follow the same process and timeline as card-based refunds.
Managing Crypto Price Volatility When Booking Flights
The 15-minute rate lock at checkout protects you from short-term price swings, but broader volatility is worth planning around. If Bitcoin drops 10% overnight, your holdings buy 10% less flight. Conversely, if it rises, your buying power increases.
Stablecoins eliminate this concern entirely. Loading USDC or USDT into your wallet before a trip lets you lock in your purchasing power at any time. When you are ready to book, the conversion is essentially 1:1 with USD.
Some travelers use a strategy of converting volatile crypto to stablecoins during price spikes and then spending those stablecoins on travel. This way, they realize gains by converting to stablecoins and use a stable asset for bookings without triggering additional volatility risk.
If you prefer to pay with Bitcoin or Ethereum directly, try to time your booking during a period of relative price stability. Avoid booking during major market events or announcements when prices can swing 5% or more in minutes.
Tax Considerations for Crypto Flight Purchases
In the US, paying for a flight with cryptocurrency is treated as a disposal of a capital asset by the IRS. If your crypto has appreciated since you bought it, the difference between your cost basis and the value at the time of spending is a taxable gain.
For example, buying a $600 flight with Bitcoin that you originally purchased at a cost basis of $400 creates a $200 capital gain. If you held the Bitcoin for over a year, it qualifies for long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on income). Under a year is short-term, taxed as ordinary income.
Using stablecoins like USDC typically does not trigger capital gains because the value stays at $1. This makes stablecoins the most tax-efficient option for crypto travel spending. You still need to report the transaction, but there is usually no gain or loss to calculate.
Keep detailed records of every crypto travel purchase. Note the date, amount of crypto spent, its USD value at the time, and your original cost basis. Tax software like Koinly, CoinTracker, and TurboTax can import wallet data and calculate gains automatically.
Why Crypto Is Gaining Traction for Air Travel
The number of travelers paying for flights with crypto has grown every year since 2022. Improved payment infrastructure, faster transaction confirmations, and growing stablecoin adoption have removed most of the friction that held back early adoption.
International travelers benefit the most. A traveler from Nigeria booking a flight to London can pay with crypto without needing a dollar-denominated bank account or dealing with restrictive foreign exchange limits. The crypto payment bypasses traditional banking infrastructure entirely.
Privacy-conscious travelers appreciate that crypto payments do not require sharing credit card numbers or bank details with multiple intermediaries. The booking platform sees a blockchain transaction hash rather than sensitive financial data.
For frequent flyers who earn crypto through staking, mining, DeFi yields, or work payments, spending crypto on flights feels like using rewards points. It converts digital earnings into real-world experiences without the friction of off-ramping to a bank account first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered clearly and concisely
On Travorio, crypto payments are accepted for flights on 600+ airlines worldwide. The airline receives fiat currency from the payment processor, so there are no restrictions on which carriers you can book.
Yes. Flight prices are identical regardless of payment method. There are no crypto surcharges on Travorio. The only additional cost is the blockchain network fee for sending your transaction.
Bitcoin transactions typically confirm in 10 to 30 minutes. Once confirmed, your ticket is issued immediately. Faster options like Solana and USDC confirm in under a minute.
Yes. Your frequent flyer number is attached to the booking regardless of payment method. Miles are credited by the airline based on the fare class and route, not how you paid.
If you send less than the required amount, the payment processor will not confirm the booking and your crypto will be refunded to your wallet. If you send more, the excess is typically refunded. Always send the exact amount shown on the payment page.
There is no minimum. The maximum depends on the payment processor's limits, which are typically high enough to cover even first-class international tickets. Contact support for bookings over $25,000.
Yes. You can send crypto from any wallet, including hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor. Simply scan the QR code or paste the payment address into your wallet's send interface.
Creating a Travorio account is recommended so you can access your booking history and manage your trip, but you can complete a crypto payment as a guest by providing your email for the confirmation.
You receive a full refund in fiat currency (USD) regardless of your original payment method. Airline-initiated cancellations are covered by consumer protection regulations.
Currently, each booking must be paid with a single payment method. You cannot split a flight payment between crypto and a credit card. Choose the method that covers the full fare.