Amadeus to Provide Virtual Credit Card to Agents
by Michèle McDonaldAmadeus teamed up with AirPlus International, a provider of payment and billing solutions for business travel, to offer travel agencies a new virtual payment solution.
Called the Amadeus AirPlus Travel Agency Card, the virtual credit card solution simplifies payment to suppliers such as rail, hotel and non-BSP airlines.
It enables travel agency staff to generate a virtual credit card number using AirPlus’ Integrated Data and Acceptance payment function, which has been integrated into the Amadeus Selling Platform, during a booking process. The number is then used to complete the payment.
Saves time for agents
Amadeus said the tool will enable travel agents to track and reconcile payments easily, saving time and reducing errors.
The card provides guaranteed global payment acceptance via the UATP and MasterCard networks. It will be deployed gradually throughout the world, starting with Italy and the U.K.; Switzerland and Germany will follow.
The payment platform is compliant with PCI DSS standards.
Earlier initiatives
In 2007, Amadeus and Sabre formed a joint venture called Moneydirect that was aimed at creating an “industry standard solution” for processing non-air payments, but Travelport declined to join.
Two years later, Travelport formed a joint venture with PSP International to create eNett International, a provider of a virtual card solution.
Amadeus and Sabre shuttered Moneydirect in 2011. The operation reportedly did well in Australia, where its corporate ancestor was based, but it was said to have lost money in other regions of the world.
