Amadeus Expands Virtual Card Options

Amadeus is introducing B2B Wallet Prepaid, a new payment solution that offers two virtual credit cards linked to the same account. 

Amadeus will pay travel agents a rebate, calculated as a percentage of the amount spent, when they use the “earn” option of the Prepaid product. 

The “save” option can be used to avoid payment-card surcharges applied by many airlines, not just low-cost carriers. It is configured to be very low-cost for merchants to accept and so is not subject to payment-card surcharges. 

Both options are fully integrated with the selling interface, so payments can be made while booking a trip. 

Amadeus’ payment solutions also include the B2B Wallet Credit by AirPlus virtual card. The card was first rolled out with AirPlus in 2013 and has been rebranded. 

Both options are fully integrated with the selling interface, so payments can be made while booking a trip. 

For travel agencies, virtual cards can reduce the risk of fraud; improve reconciliation of sales; allow corporate customers to better control their travel spending; offer protection in case of supplier default; and provide a fast, automated way to pay suppliers. 

Amadeus is rolling out B2B Wallet with an initial focus on Europe, where virtual cards are better known, but it intends the product to be available worldwide, including in the United States.  

Virtual cards are less well-known in the United States, where credit card usage is ubiquitous. However, their usefulness may increase as a means of mitigating the damage of cyber attacks against suppliers. 

NOTE: This article was updated to clarify Amadeus’ rebate policy.

Pic: Youtube