The operators behind the MCC.
Airlines
IATA scheduled carriers through mainstream partners, non-IATA carriers through specialists.
OTAs and tour operators
Booking platforms and tour operators with extended booking windows, including long-window package tours.
Cruise and ferries
Cruise lines and ferry operators with long order-to-delivery windows.
Hotels and DMCs
Direct-booking lodging, resorts and destination management companies.
How card networks classify this vertical.
Typical ranges from our MCC catalogue: indicative, not a quotation. Reviewed 30 October 2026. The acquirer makes the final code assignment and sets final terms.
| MCC | Description | Risk tier | MDR (IC++) | Rolling reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4511 | Airlines & Air Carriers | Elevated | 0.5% - 3% | 10% - 20% |
| 4722 | Travel Agencies & Tour Operators | Elevated | 0.5% - 3% | 10% - 20% |
| 4411 | Cruise Lines | Elevated | 0.5% - 3% | 10% - 20% |
| 7011 | Lodging, Hotels, Motels, Resorts | Elevated | 0.5% - 3% | 5% - 10% |
Not sure which code applies? Run the 60-second MCC lookup.
What actually decides your file.
The booking window is the risk
Money arrives months before travel happens. Acquirers hold reserves against undelivered bookings, typically 10 to 20% for airlines, OTAs and cruise. Hold periods run longer for long-window travel.
Non-receipt disputes dominate
Services-not-received claims can be filed up to 540 days from the expected service date. Booking confirmations, supplier records and refund trails are the defense, and we help you structure them.
Cross-border volume needs routing
Travel volume is cross-border by nature, and cross-border interchange typically runs 2 to 3 times domestic. Multi-acquirer routing by corridor is how travel merchants keep cost down.
The BZNpay playbook for travel and otas.
01
Delivery-risk framing
Supplier contracts, bonding or protection schemes, and refund policy packaged so the underwriter can price the real exposure, not the worst case.
02
Multi-region acquiring
An EU acquirer for SEPA markets plus local partners for other corridors is a setup we place regularly.
03
Reserve negotiation
Reserves and hold periods track the booking window. A well-documented file negotiates both down over time.
What partners typically ask travel and otas merchants for.
- Supplier contracts or protection scheme membership
- Booking-window profile
- Refund policy
- UBO declarations
- Chargeback record
Send what you have; we tell you plainly what is missing. KYB documents are requested after qualification, through a secure channel, and underwriting decisions rest with the acquiring partner.
Free tools for your file:
MCC lookupChargeback risk calculatorReason codesLicense lookupGlossaryHigh-risk guideTravel and OTAs questions.
Do you work with non-IATA carriers?
Yes. IATA airlines, hotels and mainstream OTAs place through mainstream partners. Non-IATA carriers, cruise, long-window package tours and OTAs with extended booking windows are specialist placements, and we have the partners for them.
What reserves should a travel merchant expect?
From our MCC catalogue: typically 10 to 20% rolling reserve for airlines, OTAs and cruise, and 5 to 10% for lodging, with hold periods that track the order-to-delivery window. Final terms are set by the acquirer.
Can you split our volume across regions?
Yes. We regularly place multi-region setups, for example an EU acquirer for SEPA plus a separate APAC partner for local card networks.
Get your travel and otas file in front of the right acquirer.
Tell us about your business. Qualified files typically come back within 24 hours with 2 or 3 partners whose appetite fits, confidential by default.
Discuss travel acquiring →Also placed every week.
iGaming
Sportsbooks, casinos, poker, DFS. Licensed operators in regulated and newly regulating markets.
Crypto and Web3
Exchanges, on-ramps, wallets, NFT marketplaces. Card acceptance for MiCA-compliant operators.
Forex and CFDs
FX brokerage, CFDs, prop firms. Complex structures, clean settlement.
Digital Entertainment and Creator Economy
Subscription platforms, content networks, creator payouts. High AOV merchants welcome.
Subscriptions and Digital
SaaS, streaming, gaming, dating. Recurring billing with descriptor and dunning optimization.
Dating
Mainstream and niche platforms, with compliant checkout and anti-fraud controls.
Nutraceuticals and CBD
Supplements, wellness, jurisdiction-compliant CBD retail.
Prop Trading
Funded-trader programs and evaluation fees, underwritten on the strength of the compliance file.