Payment Policy

How payment works at TravelFirst

Two components, both disclosed before authorization.

How Payment Works

Your written authorization sets out the airfare, agency fee, charging party, and total before payment is processed.

Step What Happens Payment Status
Step 1 Quote sent to you No charge
Step 2 You review options and itinerary No charge
Step 3 Written authorization document sent; you review and sign No charge yet
Step 4 Airfare charged by the airline or accredited ticketing partner (disclosed in quote) Airfare collected
Step 5 Agency fee charged by TravelFirst LLC (separate line item) Agency fee collected

No amounts are processed without your written authorization.

Both the airfare amount and the agency fee amount are stated explicitly in your authorization document. No charge can increase after you authorize. Any additional charge for any reason requires a separate written authorization.

Airfare Component

Airfare is charged by the airline or an accredited ticketing partner, depending on the itinerary. Your quote identifies the charging party before you authorize.

What the airfare component includes

  • Base airfare (the fare itself, as filed by the carrier)
  • Government taxes and airport fees (collected at time of ticketing)
  • Carrier-imposed surcharges (fuel surcharges and carrier charges, not TravelFirst charges)

Who charges the airfare?

The charging party varies by itinerary and is identified in your quote. It will be either:

  • The airline directly (common for direct bookings)
  • An accredited ticketing partner (when booking is facilitated through a GDS or consolidator)

Agency Fee

The agency fee is charged separately by TravelFirst LLC and shown as its own line item in your quote and authorization.

What the agency fee covers

  • Flight research and itinerary sourcing across multiple carriers and routings
  • Quote preparation: presenting options with full pricing, fare conditions, and routing details
  • Booking coordination: interfacing with airlines and ticketing systems on your behalf
  • Advisor support through the booking process

For a complete explanation of the fee, see the Agency Fee Policy.

Statement Descriptor

Agency-fee statement descriptor: TRAVELFIRST

The airfare charge appears under the airline or ticketing partner identified in your authorization.

Questions about a charge? Call +1 (888) 992-4455 or email support@travelfirst.us.

Written Authorization

No payment of any amount is processed without your explicit written authorization. Authorization is provided through the authorization document TravelFirst sends you before booking proceeds.

1
Authorization document sent to you

The document details the itinerary, itemized costs, charging parties, and expected card descriptor.

2
You review every line item

You can review the itinerary and costs, and ask questions before authorizing.

3
You provide written authorization

Only at this point does booking proceed. No action is taken before your written approval.

4
Amounts are fixed after authorization

The amount authorized is the amount charged. Any subsequent service requires a separate, new authorization.

Amounts cannot increase after authorization.

Once you have provided written authorization, the total amount stated in that document is the maximum that will be charged. If any change in circumstances would require a different amount, a new authorization document will be issued and your approval obtained before any charge is made.

Cancellations within 24 hours

Some bookings may qualify for a 24-hour cancellation window. Read the Refund and Cancellation Policy for eligibility and refund details.

Accepted Payment Methods

TravelFirst accepts major credit and debit cards for the agency fee component. Accepted card networks typically include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The specific methods available will be confirmed at the time of authorization.

About card data

TravelFirst uses PCI-compliant payment processes for agency-fee transactions. Payment is handled only after you approve the written authorization.

Payment Security

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PCI-Compliant Payment Processing

TravelFirst maintains PCI-compliant payment-handling processes. Your written authorization shows the approved amount and billing details before payment is processed.

Payment Failure Protocol

If your payment method fails when we attempt to process your authorization, the following protocol applies:

1
Immediate notification

We notify you of the failure by the same contact method used for the booking.

2
Booking is not submitted

No ticket is issued and no booking is held pending payment resolution. Your authorization does not proceed.

3
Short hold period

We will hold the quoted itinerary for a short window to allow you to provide an alternative payment method. Fare availability is not guaranteed during this period.

4
Revised authorization if fare changes

If the fare has changed by the time a new payment attempt is made, we issue a revised authorization document for your approval before proceeding. No additional charges without your written approval.

Ready to start? No payment until you authorize.