Going to a big music festival like Coachella is a dream for many, but with prices rising every year, it’s becoming harder for young people to afford. That’s why more and more fans are now choosing payment plans to book their tickets. Instead of paying the full price at once, they are splitting the cost into smaller, more manageable payments.
Experts believe this is actually a smart financial move, especially for students and young professionals who want to enjoy the experience without going into debt.
Coachella Tickets Are Expensive — But Fans Are Still Going
This year, more than 60% of Coachella attendees used installment plans to pay for their $600 general admission tickets. For just $49.99 down, fans could lock in their entry and pay the rest later. However, there is a $41 fee added for choosing the payment plan option.
Festivalgoers say that with travel, hotels, and food, the total cost can run into thousands. So breaking the ticket cost into smaller chunks is the only way they can afford it.
Payment Plans: A New Marketing Strategy
According to a festival insider, organizers are no longer focusing on selling just the big artist lineups or the party lifestyle. Now, their key message is affordability. Slogans like “$20 down gets you in” are used to attract fans.
Even Coachella’s official website now encourages users to “explore flexible payment options” when buying tickets. Other popular festivals like Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud, and Electric Daisy Carnival are also using similar payment systems.
How These Plans Work (And the Catch)
Unlike services like Klarna or Sezzle, which pay the full amount upfront for the customer, platforms like Ticketmaster and AXS charge service fees (around 8% of the ticket price) and profit from those fees. The good part is that no interest is charged.
If someone misses a payment, they have 10 days to pay it. After that, their order is cancelled, but they get a credit for the amount already paid, which they must use within a year.
Experts say most people don’t default after the second payment. The first payment sees the highest number of dropouts. Promoters don’t want people to miss payments — they earn more when fans show up and spend on food, drinks, parking, and merchandise.
Fans Say It’s Worth It — Despite the Hassles
This year’s Coachella started with some chaos — many fans waited up to 12 hours just to enter the camping grounds. But still, the festival continues to draw huge crowds every year, showing that the experience is worth the cost for many.
As ticket prices have gone up nearly 40% in the last 10 years, installment plans are becoming the only realistic option for many fans who love live music but don’t have a big budget.
A Smart Way to Enjoy Big Events
In a time when everything is getting more expensive, payment plans offer a way for music lovers to still enjoy top festivals like Coachella. Breaking up the cost into smaller payments means more people can attend without financial stress.
As long as fans are careful about making their payments on time, this system can help them experience live music and once-in-a-lifetime performances — without breaking the bank.