Capital One
has launched a standalone mobile application for its travel platform,
allowing cardholders to book travel, redeem rewards and track trips in
real time, including airport lounge capacity and waitlist updates.
The
app provides a travel-specific mobile channel separate from the
company’s core banking functionality. The existing web version of Capital One Travel will continue to be available.
The service was originally developed in partnership with Hopper Technology Solutions (formerly Hopper Cloud). Capital One was a key investor
in Hopper's B2B initiative, launched in 2021, as well as its first
client. With the launch of the mobile app, that relationship is set to
enter a new phase.
"We now are evolving our relationship with
Hopper by bringing in-house the technology, talent and key capabilities
we've built together over the last four years," Capital One said in a
statement to PhocusWire. "These capabilities include licenses, servicing
contracts and supplier relationships."
Moving the technology
in-house will enable "deeper personalization, tighter integration across
planning and in-transit moments and a more seamless end-to-end travel
experience," Capital One said.
The company does not have plans to acquire Hopper and continues to be an investor.
In
the Capital One Travel mobile app, eligible cardholders can book
flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation rentals and activities and redeem
rewards during checkout. A journey-aware interface adapts as the trip
progresses.
Once a trip begins, the app surfaces real-time travel
information, including flight alerts, gate changes and nearby airport
amenities. In the case of delays or disruption, users can access
self-service tools or tap to call for assistance.
The app also
shows real-time capacity and estimated wait times at Capital One
lounges, allowing eligible travelers to join digital waitlists.
Capital One Travel is part of a broader push by
financial services companies to build travel platforms tied to rewards
credit cards and loyalty programs. Capital One has made
several investments and acquisitions in recent years as it built out its
travel business, most recently fintech platform Brex.
The
company has said previously it plans to integrate Brex’s spend
management platform into Capital One Travel to help grow business travel
revenue.
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This report originally appeared in PhocusWire, a Business Travel News portfolio mate channel under Northstar Travel Group.