Sabre first launches automated credit card process for travel agents in Chile

The technology enhancement is available for all agencies connected to the Sabre travel marketplace. This is the first implementation in market to enable online authorization

SANTIAGO, Aug. 28, 2013 – Sabre, a global technology company, today announced the implementation in Chile of a new capability that facilitates Credit Card payments for air tickets booked through travel agencies. The enhancement meets international industry standards, and results from a collaborative technology project between Sabre, national agencies association ACHET and Transbank.  This enhancement enables travel agents to obtain online authorization through Sabre, for all transactions made with credit cards issued in Chile and abroad. The capability also addresses the growing trend in the travel industry to boost sales with credit cards as form of payment, while driving process automation. Sabre is the first travel technology company to offer this capability in Chile. Eduardo Diaz Garcia, general director of Sabre Travel Network in Chile, said: “The automation of processes modernizes and builds competitiveness for every industry, and this joint announcement with ACHET and Transbank is a testament that travel and tourism in Chile will start to leverage this technology enhancement”. “We are now providing agencies a more efficient process and work-flow which replaces the current time-consuming and error-prone manual credit card authorization process. Furthermore it will drive business opportunities industry wide, and it will benefit travel buyers and sellers connected to our travel marketplace, facilitating travel commerce by easing the purchase of travel via credit card”. As part of the Sabre Red solutions portfolio for travel agencies, the automated process enables agents to offer this extensively used form of payment as choice for travelers, increase their revenue and to be more efficient in customer service. Travel agents connected to Sabre will be able to request and manage authorizations within their work-flow for charges made to Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards. Additionally the automated credit card authorization will allow agencies to benefit from special offers and settlement payments to be offered by the airlines. Agents will access this new capability without additional cost or activation fees. The only requirement is that agencies are subscribed to Sabre, and are IATA/BSP participants.