Page 27 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 Online Magazine

INTERVIEW CELL POINT

checkout and seamless access to other to support any payment method that Solutions are typically installed directly
wallets such as Apple Pay and Pay Pal, its passengers are using. Airlines must or offered as SaaS solutions. Execution
will provide passengers with a frictionless examine all routes and identify which is dependent upon the airline’s particular
purchasing experience and motivate them payment methods are being used in each needs and finance strategy.
to continue making transactions. country and destination. Regional or
smaller airlines can focus on the types AAA:A major concern about the rise
AAA: The travel industry is well- of methods and transactions that are of mobile payments and other non-
known for its razor-thin margins, most common among its passengers traditional currencies is increasing
meaning low payment processing fees or localities. Global airlines, however, vulnerability to new types of fraud.
are crucial for an airline’s financial must be prepared to incorporate as How can airlines embrace the mobile
health. How can low-cost and regional many payment methods as possible wallet while protecting revenues
carriers that typically work with meet passenger expectations. Ultimately and passengers from hackers?
one PSP negotiate better rates? it’s about price of implementation and GJERDING: It is an unfortunate truth
GJERDING: They can pursue payment interchange fees versus consumer base that wherever the money goes, hackers
solutions that make available at least one using any given new payment method. will follow. Cyber criminals have taken
or more additional PSP’s. When PSP’s notice of the fact that 23% of global online
are pre-integrated into the payment AAA:How can airlines support payments are made via mobile, and they
solutions, airlines can add, remove or omnichannel payments across multiple are growing more sophisticated. Airlines
update a payment method quickly without currencies and devices within their must utilize the same (if not better)
time-consuming IT work or lengthy time- existing payments infrastructures? security measures for virtual transactions
to-market scenarios. Utilizing a central GJERDING: Airlines can support as they do for non-mobile payments, and
payments hub improves the value an omnichannel transactions using a they must treat passengers’ payment
airline’s get from their PSPs relationship solution that has pre-integrated payment and loyalty accounts as if they are bank
and enables airlines to negotiate better services for every payment method, accounts.
rates, take advantage of PSP geographic channel, device and currency. A unified Airlines must have the necessary step-
price differences and have a failover access point that sits atop an airline’s checks in place to protect revenue and
mechanism in place if issues arise with a existing payments framework can passenger trust. Tracking IPs, integrating
single PSP. support one-click check out across all a real-time view of transactions, setting
payment methods and currencies. This up alerts for early warning signs, insisting
AAA:Which payment methods type of converged payment architecture on secure passwords and deploying multi-
make the most sense for airlines puts airlines in control of the payments factor authentication are all successful
to adopt and support? ecosystem while creating a seamless ways to mitigate payment and loyalty
GJERDING: An airline should be prepared purchasing experience for passengers. program fraud.
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