BA introduces Chip and PIN payment system – 14/12/06

The Clue Trader Chip and PIN payment device has no trailing wires

UK. British Airways is now accepting payment for goods by Chip and PIN on all flights using the Clue Trader system.

Clue Trader’s SkyPort Plus solution (known to BA as the Barplus II system) is used by BA crew as an integrated onboard POS system with Chip and PIN. The system is designed to protect against credit card fraud.

The SkyPort Plus device has a long battery life, integrated printer, barcode scanner and a handset which provides the POS functionality as well as Chip and PIN payment.

BA Inflight Services Retail Business Manager Richard Cushing said: “With all ‘off-line’ authorisations fraud was an ever-present risk; with the introduction of Chip & PIN the level of fraud has reduced substantially.”

BA is the first UK airline to achieve ‘end to end’ Chip and PIN accreditation with the banks. This means that every part of the process, from the point where the credit card is inserted into the machine, to the point where the card details are exported to the bank, meets the stringent requirements laid out by EMV (Europe, MasterCard and Visa), PCI (Payment Card Industry), APACS (Association for Payment Clearing Services) and the acquiring banks.

The new regulations surrounding Chip and PIN state that customers should never have to hand their credit card to someone else. With the SkyPort Plus handset this is now possible. Crew can undock the handset to take the POS and certified PINpad to the passenger (even the passenger in the window seat) with no trailing wires.

About Clue Trader

Clue Trader manages all aspects of inflight sales, both on the ground and in the air. The Clue Trader solution is developed and supplied by BOM. For further information, see www.cluetrader.co.uk

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