Southwest Airlines this week has integrated Apple Pay support in its mobile app. The new capabilities allow customers to purchase tickets, buy in-flight meals, adjust baggage options and more using Apple’s electronic payments service.
Starting on Wednesday, Apple Pay has been a payment option in the Southwest Airlines app, alongside the traditional credit and debit card payments and PayPal.
Apple Pay integration is provided via a a multi-year partnership between Southwest and digital payments firm CellPoint Digital, along with the assistance of airline-owned payment network UATP.
“Providing modern digital payment solutions to our Customers is critical,” said Christopher Priebe, Director, Treasury, Payments and Risk at Southwest Airlines. “The launch of Apple Pay enhances our ability to sell flights, as well as ancillary products using one of the most widely-used digital wallets in North America.”
“We are delighted to partner with a leader like Southwest Airlines, to help boost their digital payment capability and improve their conversion and payment acceptance rates. This is another key milestone in our international expansion,” said Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital. “Together with our strategic partner UATP, we are providing a unique solution that enables airlines to fast-track the launch of alternative forms of payment with minimal development on their side. This is how technology should always be: fast and efficient.”
CellPoint Digital provides airlines with access to payments system run by 350 partners, including Apple Pay, Visa Checkout, Google Pay, Alipay, and many others.
When passengers purchase tickets from the Southwest Airlines app, they can store the tickey on their iPhone’s Wallet app for presentation at the gate.
