American Express Automates Multi-GDS Refunds, Exchanges

American Express Business Travel announced today that it is providing automated U.S. ticket refunds and exchanges through every global distribution system it uses, claiming to be the first agency with that capability.

Quick Exchange, which uses Worldspan's Rapid Reprice technology, will be integrated into the TravelBahn Distribution Solution and the company's centralized ticket database, which enables tracking of unused and refundable tickets.

Although other companies, such as GetThere, have some automated ticketing processes, Amex's solution is significant because it works with multiple GDSs and could reduce transaction costs involved in these ticketing processes, said Tom Wilkinson, president of Pennington, N.J.-based TRW Travel Consulting. "Customers don't really care as long as they end up paying less for the exchange process," he said. "What they do care about is that it is done quickly, done right and it costs less."