Mobicred Flights: Book Now, Pay Monthly in South Africa (2026)
Quick answer: Yes, you can buy flights with Mobicred — Travelstart accepts it at checkout across all major SA airlines. You book instantly at today's fare and repay monthly on your Mobicred account. Here's the process, the real costs, and when PayFlex beats it.
What Mobicred is (in plain language)
Mobicred is a South African revolving online credit facility owned by RCS. Think of it as a virtual store account that works across participating online retailers — Takealot, iStore, Superbalist, and crucially for travellers, Travelstart. Once approved, you get a credit limit. Purchases land on a single monthly invoice, you repay a minimum amount each month, and interest is charged on the outstanding balance under National Credit Act regulated terms.
The key difference from PayFlex-style BNPL: Mobicred doesn't split one purchase into fixed instalments. It's a running account — more flexible, but interest-bearing.
How to book a flight with Mobicred, step by step
- Get a Mobicred account first. Apply at mobicred.co.za — you need to be 18+, hold an SA ID, have a bank account and verifiable income. A credit check applies, and you'll receive your limit on approval. Do this before fare-hunting so a good price doesn't expire while you wait.
- Search flights on Travelstart. Compare FlySafair, LIFT, Airlink, SAA and CemAir in one search.
- Select Mobicred at checkout. It appears among Travelstart's payment options alongside cards, EFT and Discovery Miles.
- Log in to your Mobicred account to authorise. The fare is charged to your account and the ticket is issued immediately — you get the airline booking reference straight away.
- Repay monthly. The flight joins your Mobicred invoice. Pay more than the minimum to cut the interest cost fast.
Ready to lock today's fare?
Compare all SA airlines on Travelstart, then choose Mobicred at checkout.
Compare Flight Prices →Mobicred vs PayFlex vs credit card budget facility
| Mobicred | PayFlex | Card budget facility | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it works for flights | Travelstart checkout | Travelstart checkout | Any airline or OTA |
| Structure | Revolving monthly account | 4 instalments over 6 weeks | 3–24 month conversion via your bank |
| Interest | Yes — NCA-regulated rate on balance + monthly fee | None (pay on time) | Yes — typically 15–22.5% p.a. |
| Fare locked instantly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best when | You need 2–4 months to repay and want reusable credit | You can repay within 6 weeks | You need the longest terms or are booking direct with an airline |
Which airlines can you effectively pay with Mobicred?
None of the SA carriers offer Mobicred at their own checkout — but because Travelstart sells tickets across all of them, booking through Travelstart with Mobicred effectively covers:
- FlySafair — SA's biggest low-cost carrier
- LIFT — premium low-cost on trunk routes
- Airlink — the widest regional network
- SAA — full-service domestic and regional
- CemAir — niche regional routes
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy flights with Mobicred in South Africa?
Yes — select Mobicred at Travelstart checkout. The ticket is issued immediately and the fare is added to your monthly Mobicred account.
Do airlines accept Mobicred directly?
No SA airline offers Mobicred at its own checkout. Travelstart is the practical route, covering every major SA carrier in one search.
Is Mobicred or PayFlex better for flights?
PayFlex if you can repay in six weeks (interest-free). Mobicred if you need longer and its rate beats your credit card. Compare total cost, not just convenience.
What do I need to qualify for Mobicred?
18+, SA ID, bank account, verifiable regular income, and passing an NCA-required credit check. Approval and your credit limit typically come through quickly.
Does using Mobicred affect the fare price?
No — the fare is the same regardless of payment method at Travelstart. What differs is your financing cost afterwards: zero with EFT, zero with on-time PayFlex, interest-bearing with Mobicred.