AirPlus has announced a new aspect to its AirPlus Company Account: the automated carbon offset feature.
The new component will enable clients to pay for the offsetting of their purchased flight(s), automatically, with their lodge card.
AirPlus requires the client to select which carbon offset provider is to be supported. The client”s flight data is then transferred to the chosen organisation, which calculates the offset donation, which will then be settled automatically using the AirPlus account.
”This is a payment industry first,” said AirPlus International MD, Yael Klein (pictured above).
”It is the easiest way for our clients to offset their emissions and is extremely straightforward to implement for everyone, from the smallest client to the largest global corporation.”
The new feature only requires the client to sign one additional contract which will allow AirPlus to transfer flight data to the provider, who will then be able to use it to calculate the offset figure.
When the amount has been worked out, it is then deducted from the client”s AirPlus Company Account, and the transaction information is fed into the AirPlus Information Manager, or MIS tool.
Business travellers also have the option of breaking down and organising their payments by department, project, or branch office.
AirPlus will liaise directly between the client and the offset provider, eliminating the need for travel agencies to get involved.
Offsetting is available on a global scale, allowing travellers to support any organisation, anywhere in the world.
The carbon offset feature is already available to AirPlus account holders, and was awarded the Business Travel Show Innovation Award at the recent Business Travel Show in D”sseldorf.
AirPlus has more than 32,000 corporate customers worldwide, and settles flight tickets from more than 260 airlines.
Klein also hinted at future plans: ”This solution will stand the test of time: if clients want to offset their space travel in a few years time that will be just as easy as offsetting flights right now.”