Kenya Airways (KQ) has warned agents that it is now a mandatory card scheme requirement that all card payment transactions include the Form of Payment Transaction Identifier. KQ explained that Acquirer, DPO, has implemented a system change to decline transactions that lack the required transaction identifiers for compliance purposes.

KQ said agents must obtain an approval code at the time of ticketing – and not in advance, either outside the GDS or through the GDS, as that would cause the tickets to be suspended due to the missing transaction identifier. All authorizations must be done through the GDS at the time of ticketing and not before ticketing.

For partially and fully utilized documents, the full value of the ticket, plus an ADM penalty of US$100, will apply as outlined in the carrier’s ADM policy (Rejected Credit Card Transactions).

Furthermore, KQ clarified that refunds of suspended tickets are not permitted “as the payment transaction has not been received by the airline”.