What is a wire transfer?
A wire transfer allows travelers to pay for their trip directly from their bank account when they choose USD or EUR as their payment currency at checkout. It is a secure and reliable method, often faster than a direct debit, especially for larger amounts, since the funds typically clear within 1–5 business days depending on the bank.
How do travelers complete a wire pay-in?
At checkout, participants select Wire Transfer as their payment method and receive instructions to complete the wire pay-in. They must follow these instructions to ensure the payment reaches your WeTravel balance.
Are there fees for wire pay-ins, and can I absorb or pass them on?
Yes. Wire pay-ins incur a 30 USD or 30 EUR fee, depending on the currency. There is no WeTravel fee for payments made via wire transfer. As the organizer, you can choose to absorb this wire transfer fee yourself or pass it on to the traveler as usual. Read more here.
Please note that fees are subject to change, so we recommend checking the latest information here.👈🏽
What happens if the traveler underpays or overpays via wire?
Underpayment: The partial amount will be applied to the booking, with the remaining balance marked as past due.
Overpayment: If a traveler has upcoming installment payments, any extra amount will be applied to the next payment. If there are no upcoming payments, the overpayment will be sent to your WeTravel balance. You can then contact the traveler to settle the amount further.
When we receive a partially funded wire, we usually cancel the previous payment and create a new payment intent. As a result, the original transaction will appear as cancelled in your reporting.
How long do wire pay-ins take to process?
Wire pay-ins typically take 1–5 business days to process, depending on the traveler’s bank. During this time, the payment will show as pending.
Will I receive an email once the wire is processed?
Once the booking is made, the regular booking confirmation will be sent to your traveler, and you’ll receive a copy. When the wire is received and processed successfully, you will be notified via email, and the corresponding amount will be added to your available balance.
What if the wire transfer isn’t received within 5 days?
If payment isn’t received within 5 days of booking confirmation, the traveler will see the payment as expired. For organizers, the transaction will officially fail after 10 days to allow time for international wires to clear. Both you and the traveler will be notified. At that point, you can choose how to proceed — either request the traveler to pay using an alternative method or cancel the booking.
How do refunds work for wire transfers?
Refunds for wire transfers work the same way as regular refunds. When you issue a refund, the full amount paid by the traveler is returned to them. The wire transfer fee is deducted from your, the trip organizer’s, balance. No WeTravel fees are applied, as mentioned earlier. Once the refund is initiated:
EUR Refunds: Once the refund is initiated, your traveler will receive a notification email. The funds should appear in their bank account within 5–10 business days.
USD Refunds: Your traveler will receive an email from our payment partner, Stripe, requesting their bank details. They will need to submit their bank information within 90 days to ensure their refund is processed. Once the details are provided, the refund should appear in their bank account within 5–10 business days.
Can participants reuse wire pay-in instructions for multiple payments?
No. Each wire pay-in requires a new set of instructions to prevent delays or errors.
How can organizers monitor wire transfers?
You can track the status of all wire transfers on the Payments Reporting page. Payments will show as pending until processed, then update automatically.
Will the wire transfer method be available when registering a traveler or paying on their behalf?
Yes. When adding a traveler to the trip, you can choose to pay via wire transfer on their behalf. Payment instructions can be shared with the traveler, as they will need to complete the payment through their bank.
If you’d like to take a look at the traveler-facing FAQ, you can find it here. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or issues — we’ll be happy to help!