Online travel agency Travelstart has partnered with PEP stores to introduce Pay@PEP, a payment solution that enables customers to pay for flights at over 600 PEP stores across SA.
According to Travelstart, the partnership is aimed at making it easier for customers who prefer paying for their flights by making cash payments in-store either for security reasons or for convenience. Customers are not charged an additional fee for the Pay@PEP service.
Odette Faling, Travelstart head of global partnerships, explains: "This partnership is part of our strategy to increase access to air travel for all South Africans, including those who don't have credit cards.
"PEP is helping us reach customers that prefer to pay for goods and services in-store. Strategic partnerships are key in our customer experience and service delivery efforts, and working with a strong partner like PEP makes sense."
While PEP is the first retailer to accept payment for flights booked on the Travelstart Web site, the online travel agency says it will roll out the pay-in-store service at various other retailers across SA in the coming months.
"While it is usually more convenient to pay online, many customers are unable to make online payments for various reasons.
"In addition, the Pay@PEP service is a good option for first-time travellers, many of whom are not comfortable paying online. The market of customers who search online but do not pay online is quite substantial, therefore we expect a sharp uptake of this service among those customers who want to pay cash for flights," explains Faling.
To use the payment service, customers can follow the usual steps when booking flights on the Travelstart Web site and select 'Pay@PEP' at check out.
Users will then receive a reference number which can be taken to their nearest PEP store to complete the payment securely. Cash, credit cards, debit cards and EFT are accepted to pay for Travelstart flights in PEP stores.
Once payment is complete, a booking confirmation and flight e-ticket is e-mailed to the user.
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