How do payments work on CharterXO?

CharterXO's payment model is built specifically for group trips, which are the overwhelming majority of yacht charters.

How splitting works: 1. The primary booker reserves the trip and selects a split type: - Even split: the total is divided equally among all guests. - Custom split: each guest's share is set individually (useful when the organizer covers a larger share or when guests contribute different amounts). - Solo pay: the booker pays everything and settles up off-platform. 2. Each non-organizer guest gets a link to pay their share in the app. 3. The trip is confirmed only when all shares are received — no "I'll Venmo you later" scrambles.

Deposit + balance: - Deposits are typically 25-50% of the total, due at booking. The exact percentage is set by the owner. - Balance is due 7-14 days before the charter date (varies by owner and trip type). - Automatic reminders go to each guest who hasn't paid their share.

Release to owner: - Funds are held in escrow until the trip completes. - The owner is paid out 24-72 hours after completion. - This model protects the customer from no-show or substitution issues.

Cancellation and refunds: - Cancellation tiers scale with lead time. Flexible tier: full refund if canceled 14+ days out. Standard tier: 50% refund if canceled 7-14 days out. Strict tier: no refund within 7 days. - Weather cancellations initiated by the captain are always full refunds regardless of lead time.

What you don't pay on CharterXO: - No 10-20% broker commission. Traditional charter brokers take a cut of your booking; direct marketplaces cut that out. - No commission on completed charters — owners keep their charter revenue.

Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, and Apple/Google Pay. ACH for larger bookings on request. No wire transfers are required for standard charters.