What IATA EasyPay means
Most BSP sales are cash sales: the agent collects money from the traveller and holds it until the remittance date, which is why IATA requires financial security. EasyPay removes that credit exposure. The agent pays first, and each ticket draws down a balance that already exists.
IATA introduced EasyPay as one of the pillars of NewGen ISS. In November 2017 it named Edenred as a partner to develop the system for more than 70 countries, and pilots were running in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland at the time. It is optional, and IATA states it is not meant to replace existing forms of payment.
In practice, the agent funds its wallet by bank transfer from one registered account, then generates an IEP number in the EasyPay portal. IATA's portal FAQ describes this as a virtual card number that is pasted into the GDS as the form of payment. When the ticket is issued, the system checks the balance, authorises the amount and blocks it. IATA settles EasyPay amounts to airlines daily, with money reaching them 48 to 96 hours after issue.
For the agent, the big benefit is risk treatment. EasyPay sales are not part of cash sales at risk, so they do not consume Remittance Holding Capacity and can reduce the financial security IATA requires. It is the payment method that makes GoLite accreditation, which has no cash facility, workable for many agencies.
How IATA EasyPay works
EasyPay works like a prepaid card that only the BSP accepts.
- Fund the walletAn authorised user sends a bank transfer from the agency's registered account using the reference shown in the portal. IATA's FAQ says funds appear in 3 to 5 business days.
- Generate an IEP numberIn the EasyPay portal, a user generates an IEP number linked to a wallet in the ticket currency. The button only works when the wallet has funds.
- Enter it in the GDSThe agent pastes the IEP number into the GDS form of payment when issuing the ticket or EMD. For NDC sales, IATA says EasyPay is valid when properly authorised.
- Funds are authorised and blockedAt issue the balance is checked. If it is sufficient, the amount is authorised and blocked; if not, the transaction is declined and the balance is untouched.
- IATA pays the airlineIATA settles EasyPay sales to airlines daily through BSP processes, typically 48 to 96 hours after issue. Voids and refunds run through the BSP as usual.
IATA EasyPay in practice
Illustrative case: a GoLite agency with no cash facility tops up its wallet each Monday. On Wednesday it issues a ticket by generating an IEP number and pasting it into its GDS. The fare is blocked at once and the airline receives the money within four days, with no exposure on the agency's next BSP remittance.
Illustrative case: a GoStandard agency nears its Remittance Holding Capacity in a busy week. Rather than wait for its remittance date, it switches some sales to EasyPay, which IATA's NewGen ISS FAQ confirms remain possible after cash sales are restricted.
Airline rules still apply. Qantas, for example, has said it accepts EasyPay only where GDS systems are ready and not on products that carry a credit card form of payment restriction.
Who uses it
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- EasyPay sales are excluded from cash sales at risk, so they do not use up Remittance Holding Capacity.
- Agencies can lower their financial security needs, freeing working capital tied up in guarantees.
- Airlines are paid within 48 to 96 hours and IATA says they carry no chargeback risk on these sales.
- IATA notes EasyPay cannot be restricted the way cash or card forms of payment can.
Limitations
- The agency must prefund the wallet, and deposits can take several business days to appear.
- Only one bank account can be registered, and withdrawals beyond three a year carry a fee.
- Acceptance depends on GDS readiness and individual airline rules, such as fares restricted to card payment.
- Money waiting in the wallet is working capital the agency cannot use elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions about IATA EasyPay
How do travel agents add money to IATA EasyPay?
By bank transfer from the single bank account registered to the agency's EasyPay profile. An authorised user finds the payment reference under the wallet's Add Funds option. IATA's EasyPay FAQ says deposits appear in the wallet within 3 to 5 business days, so agencies need to top up ahead of busy sales periods.
What is an IEP number?
An IEP number is the virtual card-style number that an agent generates in the EasyPay portal and pastes into the GDS as the form of payment. It is linked to one wallet and its currency, and the balance is checked when the number is used to issue a ticket, refund or EMD, not when it is generated.
Does IATA EasyPay count towards Remittance Holding Capacity?
No. IATA treats EasyPay sales as outside cash sales at risk, so they do not consume an agent's Remittance Holding Capacity. When an agent reaches its RHC and cash sales are restricted, it can keep issuing with EasyPay or customer cards, or remit early to reopen capacity.
Can IATA EasyPay be used for NDC bookings?
Yes, for NDC sales processed in the BSP, provided they are properly authorised. IATA's customer portal says airlines can either reserve funds in the agent's wallet through an IATA API or use their card authorisation process, and that airlines using IATA's IFG gateway can also process EasyPay.
Run your agency on one booking platform
ReservationHub's Subscription Cloud Edition gives agencies GDS, NDC and low-cost content, B2B and B2C sales, and back office in one hosted platform.
See the SaaS platformSources and further reading
- IATA — IATA EasyPay
- IATA — IATA EasyPay portal FAQ
- IATA — NewGen ISS frequently asked questions
- IATA Customer Portal — Is EasyPay possible with NDC sales processed in BSP?
- IATA — Press release: NewGen ISS approved (23 November 2017)
- GTP — IATA chooses Edenred to develop EasyPay in over 70 countries (16 November 2017)