8/14/2008

AIRPORT TAXIS TO WELCOME INTERNATIONAL CARDS

Reprinted with permission – Copyright 2006 Transportation Professional

Tired and weary international business travellers arriving at Heathrow Airport may soon no longer have to fumble for change when paying their onward taxi fare.


Black cabs licensed to operate at the airport are set to begin accepting credit cards from around the world, allowing passengers to pay their taxi fare in a currency they are familiar with.


The move will not only save the blushes of customers who have forgotten to visit the Bureau de Change, but will allow foreign visitors to pay in dollars, euros or yen if the exchange rate to pound sterling is less than favourable.


Barry Davies, chairman of JourneyPay, which installs payment systems into taxi cabs, says: “We hope that 750 taxis which serve Heathrow will be equipped with new payment devices during the second half of this year and that number could eventually rise to 4500 taxis. We want to make cabs at the airport convenient to all arriving guests.”


JourneyPay signed a deal with American firm Planet Payment last month, which provides the currency conversion service, designed to assure passengers they can make payments at the best international rates.