Flywire

Flywire is a global payment platform specifically designed for the travel and tourism industry, helping tour operators accept international payments efficiently while reducing costs. The platform enables businesses to receive 100% of payment amounts in their preferred currency while allowing customers to pay using local payment methods in their own currencies. Flywire specializes in solving the unique challenges travel operators face with international payments, including high currency conversion fees, expensive wire transfer charges, and complex payment reconciliation across multiple booking sources. The platform serves various travel segments including destination management companies, tour operators, travel agencies, and hospitality providers worldwide. Flywire processes payments in over 240 countries and territories across 140+ currencies through a single integration, eliminating the need for multiple payment processor relationships. Tour operators benefit from Flywire's industry expertise, with dedicated travel payment specialists who understand booking cycles, deposit structures, and the importance of cash flow timing in the tourism business. The platform combines payment processing with back-office automation tools for invoicing, payment matching, and reconciliation, reducing administrative burden significantly.

Flywire uses custom pricing models tailored to each travel business rather than publishing standard rate cards, with costs typically lower than traditional payment processing alternatives. The platform positions itself as a cost-saving solution compared to standard merchant services that charge around 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction plus additional currency conversion fees of approximately 1%. Tour operators using Flywire report saving tens of thousands of dollars annually by consolidating all payment processing through the platform, particularly on international wire transfers that traditionally cost $10-15 per incoming transfer plus 3% foreign exchange markup. Flywire's competitive advantage comes from optimized global payment routing that significantly reduces incoming merchant card and bank wire fees compared to traditional solutions. The platform offers a Best Price Guarantee, promising to match better rates if tour operators find lower costs at competing banks or payment providers for equivalent services. Pricing structure varies based on payment method used by customers, transaction volumes, currencies involved, and settlement preferences. Tour operators should request a comprehensive pricing analysis during the sales process, providing details about current payment volumes, currency mix, and average transaction sizes to receive accurate cost projections and potential savings estimates.

Flywire serves tour operators across the full business spectrum but provides greatest value for established businesses processing significant international payment volumes. Small boutique tour operators with primarily domestic customers and low transaction volumes may find Flywire's pricing less competitive than simpler payment solutions, though those serving international clients can still benefit from currency savings. Medium-sized tour operators experiencing growth in international bookings find Flywire particularly valuable as the platform scales efficiently without requiring additional payment processor relationships in new markets. Large tour operators and destination management companies with complex payment needs, multiple revenue streams, and high international volumes typically see the strongest return on investment through Flywire's cost savings and operational efficiencies. The platform works exceptionally well for businesses that struggle with high wire transfer fees, currency conversion costs eating into margins, or administrative burden from manual payment reconciliation across multiple booking sources. Tour operators offering high-value experiences like luxury safaris, expedition cruises, or multi-country tours benefit significantly from Flywire's ability to offer flexible payment options and installment plans that improve booking conversion rates. Businesses processing at least several hundred thousand dollars annually in international payments typically find Flywire's value proposition compelling enough to justify implementation efforts.

Flywire provides flexible integration options designed to work with tour operator booking systems, accounting software, and customer relationship management platforms. The platform offers RESTful APIs that enable custom integrations with proprietary booking systems, allowing automated payment processing, booking confirmations, and payment status updates without manual intervention. Tour operators can embed Flywire's payment collection interface directly into their checkout process or invoicing systems, maintaining brand consistency while leveraging Flywire's payment infrastructure. The platform integrates with common accounting systems to streamline reconciliation, automatically matching incoming payments to outstanding invoices and reducing manual data entry errors. Flywire's comprehensive API documentation and developer resources enable technical teams to build integrations that fit specific operational workflows, including automated payment reminders, installment plan management, and commission tracking for supplier payments. The platform supports both hosted payment pages that redirect customers to Flywire-branded interfaces and embedded solutions that keep customers within the tour operator's website throughout the payment process. Webhook notifications provide real-time updates about payment status changes, enabling automated booking confirmations and operational workflows. For tour operators without development resources, Flywire's customer success team can assist with integration planning and may offer pre-built connectors for popular travel technology platforms. The integration flexibility allows businesses to start with simple implementations and add sophistication as needs evolve.

Flywire provides comprehensive customer support designed specifically for the travel industry's needs, including 24/7 live support for travelers making payments through the platform. Tour operators benefit from dedicated account management with travel industry specialists who understand booking cycles, seasonal payment patterns, and cash flow requirements unique to tourism businesses. The platform's customer success team assists with implementation, integration guidance, and ongoing optimization to ensure tour operators maximize value from the platform. Technical support covers payment processing issues, integration troubleshooting, API assistance, and platform configuration through multiple channels including email, phone, and online documentation. Flywire's support extends to travelers paying through the platform, with multilingual customer service representatives who can assist with payment questions, currency selection, and transaction status inquiries, reducing support burden on tour operators. The platform provides educational resources including webinars, guides, and best practice documentation focused on travel industry payment optimization and chargeback prevention. Flywire's anti-money laundering, compliance, and fraud monitoring teams work behind the scenes to protect tour operators from fraudulent transactions and ensure regulatory compliance across all operating markets. Support response times vary by issue severity and account tier, with critical payment processing problems receiving prioritized attention to minimize business disruption.

Flywire typically establishes formal service agreements with tour operators that outline pricing structures, service levels, integration requirements, and responsibilities of both parties. Contract terms vary based on business size, transaction volumes, and negotiated arrangements, with enterprise clients often securing multi-year agreements that include volume-based pricing advantages. The service agreement covers important details including payment processing fees, currency conversion rates, settlement timing, liability provisions, and compliance requirements that govern the business relationship. Tour operators should expect contracts to address chargeback responsibilities, dispute resolution procedures, data security obligations, and the division of fraud liability between Flywire and the merchant. Minimum term commitments may apply, particularly for businesses receiving customized integrations or dedicated account management resources, though specific duration requirements are negotiated case-by-case. Contract provisions typically include termination clauses outlining notice periods, wind-down procedures for ongoing transactions, and any early termination fees that might apply if agreements are canceled before minimum terms expire. The formal agreement protects both parties by establishing clear expectations around service delivery, support responsiveness, and system uptime commitments. Tour operators should carefully review contract terms related to pricing adjustments, volume commitments, and renewal conditions before signing, ensuring alignment with business growth projections and operational requirements for the contract period.

Flywire's transaction fee structure varies based on payment method selected by customers, currencies involved in the transaction, and the negotiated pricing agreement with each tour operator. The platform's fees are structured to be competitive with or lower than traditional payment processing costs, particularly when accounting for the full cost of international payments including wire transfer fees and currency conversion charges. Standard merchant card processing typically costs around 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction plus an additional 1% for currency conversion, while Flywire's optimized routing often achieves lower effective rates on international card payments. Wire transfer fees through traditional banking channels average $10-15 per incoming transfer plus 3% foreign exchange markup, whereas Flywire's bank transfer processing significantly reduces these costs through its global payment network. The platform transparently displays fees to customers during the payment process, with the option to structure pricing so customers pay the payment processing fees or tour operators absorb these costs into their pricing. Transaction fees also vary by settlement currency preferences, with some currency pairs offering more favorable rates than others based on Flywire's banking relationships and payment routing options. Volume-based pricing discounts are available for tour operators processing significant monthly or annual payment volumes, with potential for more favorable rates as business grows. Tour operators should request detailed fee breakdowns during sales discussions to understand exact costs across different payment scenarios relevant to their customer base and typical transaction patterns.

Flywire settles funds to tour operators according to agreed-upon schedules that balance cash flow needs with fraud risk management requirements. Standard settlement timing for most payment methods ranges from 1-3 business days after payment confirmation, though exact timing varies by payment method, currency, and the tour operator's banking relationships. Bank transfers typically settle within 2-3 business days once funds clear from the customer's bank, while card payments may settle slightly faster depending on card network processing speeds. International payments involving currency conversion may experience marginally longer settlement times as funds are converted and transferred through Flywire's global banking network. Tour operators receive 100% of the payment amount in their chosen settlement currency after Flywire deducts its processing fees and any currency conversion costs. The platform provides real-time payment tracking and settlement reporting, allowing tour operators to forecast cash flow accurately and reconcile expected deposits against actual bank transfers. Settlement timing can be affected by weekends, bank holidays in relevant countries, and any additional verification requirements for high-value or first-time transactions flagged for fraud review. Flywire's settlement processes are designed to optimize the balance between speed and security, protecting tour operators from fraudulent payments while minimizing delays in accessing funds. For established clients with strong transaction histories, expedited settlement options may be available through negotiation, providing even faster access to funds for improved operational cash flow.

Flywire supports payment acceptance and settlement in over 140 currencies across 240+ countries and territories, providing exceptional flexibility for tour operators serving global customer bases. Tour operators can receive 100% of payment amounts in their preferred settlement currency while customers pay using local payment methods in their own currencies, eliminating confusion and providing transparent pricing for travelers. The platform handles all currency conversion automatically using competitive exchange rates, with conversion costs transparently displayed to customers during the payment process so they can make informed decisions. Major international currencies including US dollars, euros, British pounds, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, Japanese yen, and other common tourist currencies are fully supported with optimized exchange rates. Flywire's currency support extends beyond major currencies to include numerous regional and emerging market currencies, allowing tour operators to reach customers in markets that traditional payment processors struggle to serve efficiently. The multicurrency capability eliminates the need for tour operators to maintain multiple local bank accounts or payment processor relationships across different countries, significantly simplifying international operations. Tour operators can configure pricing displays in multiple currencies simultaneously, letting booking systems show prices in visitor-preferred currencies while accepting payments through Flywire's unified platform. The platform's Best Price Guarantee applies to currency conversion rates, ensuring tour operators and their customers receive competitive foreign exchange pricing compared to alternative payment solutions and traditional banking channels.

Flywire provides comprehensive refund processing capabilities and chargeback defense support specifically designed for the travel industry's unique challenges. Refunds can be initiated by tour operators through Flywire's merchant portal or via API integration, allowing full or partial refunds for canceled bookings, modified itineraries, or service issues. The platform processes refunds back to customers using the same payment method and currency they originally used, with most refunds completing within 3-5 business days once all verification information is confirmed. Flywire charges no additional fees to process refunds, though original transaction fees are typically not returned to merchants, creating a cost consideration for tour operators when determining refund policies. The platform takes an active role in chargeback prevention and defense, helping tour operators fight illegitimate disputes by providing documentation and evidence to card networks. Flywire's travel industry expertise helps structure cancellation policies, refund terms, and booking confirmations in ways that reduce chargeback vulnerability and strengthen merchant positions in disputes. The platform encourages bank transfers over credit card payments when possible, as bank transfers eliminate chargeback risk entirely while often carrying lower processing fees. For tour operators dealing with high-value bookings, Flywire's approach of collecting detailed booking information and maintaining clear cancellation policies creates strong defense positions against fraudulent chargeback attempts. Chargeback defense is included as part of Flywire's service offering, with the platform's team managing the dispute process and communicating with card networks on behalf of tour operators to win valid chargebacks.

Flywire maintains PCI DSS compliance and comprehensive security certifications required for safely processing payment card data, protecting both tour operators and their customers from data breaches. The platform's security infrastructure includes encryption of sensitive payment information, secure data storage, regular security audits, and compliance with international data protection regulations including GDPR for European customers. Tour operators using Flywire benefit from reduced PCI compliance burden because payment card data flows directly through Flywire's secure infrastructure without touching the merchant's servers or systems in most integration configurations. The platform's hosted payment pages and API integrations are designed to minimize the tour operator's PCI compliance scope, simplifying the often complex and expensive process of maintaining merchant PCI certification. Flywire's security extends beyond PCI compliance to include fraud monitoring, anti-money laundering controls, and risk assessment tools that identify suspicious transactions before they process. The platform's security and compliance teams monitor transactions continuously, maintaining the infrastructure and protocols necessary to protect against evolving fraud tactics and security threats. Tour operators still maintain some security responsibilities depending on integration method, particularly regarding how booking data and customer information are stored in their own systems, though Flywire significantly reduces overall compliance complexity. The platform undergoes regular third-party security assessments and audits to verify ongoing compliance with industry standards, providing assurance that security controls remain effective as threats evolve over time.

Flywire excels at supporting recurring and installment payment structures essential for tour operators offering deposit-and-balance arrangements or payment plans for expensive travel experiences. The platform allows tour operators to set up installment payment schedules and recurring invoice options with just a few clicks, automating the collection process and reducing administrative overhead. Automated payment reminders notify customers when installment payments are due, improving collection rates and reducing the manual follow-up burden on tour operations staff. Tour operators can configure flexible payment schedules that align with typical booking patterns in the travel industry, such as deposit at booking with balance due 30, 60, or 90 days before departure. The recurring payment functionality works across multiple payment methods including cards and bank transfers, providing customers with choice in how they fund installment payments. Flywire's tokenization capability securely stores payment credentials with customer permission, enabling automated charging for subsequent installments without requiring travelers to re-enter payment information. The platform's fraud monitoring evaluates recurring transactions to identify suspicious patterns while allowing legitimate repeat charges to process smoothly, protecting both tour operators and customers. Clear communication of recurring payment terms is facilitated through Flywire's invoicing and notification systems, helping prevent disputes by ensuring customers understand payment schedules before agreeing to installment plans. The ability to offer flexible payment options through Flywire often improves booking conversion rates for high-value tours, as customers appreciate the ability to spread payments over time rather than making single large payments upfront.