Hosted Payment Page

A hosted payment page is a secure platform provided by a third-party payment processor, specifically designed to allow customers to safely enter their payment information during online transactions. For travel companies, this solution is essential for managing payments while alleviating the responsibility of directly handling sensitive financial data. By redirecting customers to this external site for processing transactions, travel companies can ensure that all sensitive payment information is handled in a secure environment overseen by the payment provider. This arrangement not only complies with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements but also significantly mitigates the risk of potential data breaches for the company.

Hosted payment pages reduce the liability and resource requirements for businesses by eliminating the necessity for in-house data security measures, enabling them to concentrate on improving the customer booking experience. They are a favoured option for travel companies managing bookings across various channels and customer locations. By utilising hosted payment pages, travel companies can uphold high standards of security and compliance without facing the complexities and expenses associated with the direct management of payment data. The added benefits of seamless integration and customisable branding further empower travel companies to deliver a smooth and cohesive payment experience, thereby enhancing customer trust and loyalty. In the travel industry, where transactions are frequently high-value and international, hosted payment pages provide a secure, efficient, and streamlined payment solution.

How Do Hosted Payment Pages Work?

The following is a comprehensive overview of the process a customer undergoes when making a purchase via a hosted payment page:

Commencing the Purchase: Upon deciding to finalise their purchase, the customer clicks the “Buy Now” or “Checkout” button on your website. This action indicates their intention to complete the transaction and leads them to the subsequent stage of the payment procedure.
Transition to Secure Hosted Payment Page: After selecting "Checkout," the customer is smoothly redirected to a hosted payment page managed by a third-party payment processor. This page is typically tailored to reflect your brand's identity, providing reassurance to customers that they remain in a secure environment overseen by a reputable provider.
Inputting Payment Information: On the hosted payment page, the customer is required to input their payment details, including credit or debit card information, billing address, and any necessary security verifications. The layout of this page often features clear instructions or prompts to assist customers in navigating each field, thereby enhancing their experience and reducing the likelihood of data entry mistakes.
Secure Data Handling: As the customer submits their information, the payment processor’s system encrypts and securely transmits this sensitive data directly to the processor, ensuring that it does not pass through or get stored on your website’s server. This arrangement minimises your website’s obligations regarding PCI DSS compliance, as sensitive cardholder information is exclusively managed by the payment provider.
Transaction Approval and Confirmation: Upon submission of the customer's information, the payment processor initiates a verification process with the customer's bank or card issuer. This approval occurs in real time and typically takes just a few seconds. Once the transaction is successfully processed, the payment provider presents a confirmation message, reassuring the customer of the successful completion of their payment.
Redirection Back to Your Website: Following the completion of the transaction, the customer is redirected to your website. They may encounter a personalised order confirmation page or a thank-you page that acknowledges their purchase. This concluding step enhances the brand experience and allows for the inclusion of post-purchase communications, such as estimated delivery information, additional product suggestions, or options for reviewing their purchase.

This process ensures that the customer enjoys a smooth and secure experience from beginning to end, with all sensitive information managed securely by the hosted payment provider.

Are Hosted Payment Pages PCI Compliant?

Hosted payment pages serve as vital instruments for merchants aiming to adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), thereby creating a secure framework for processing credit card transactions. The following outlines how these pages contribute to enhanced PCI compliance:

Data Management: Hosted payment pages alleviate merchants from the obligation of directly handling sensitive cardholder information. Instead, customer data is processed within the infrastructure of a third-party provider, such as Felloh, which significantly diminishes the merchant's PCI compliance responsibilities.
Security Infrastructure: Essential security measures, including encryption and firewalls — both of which are crucial for PCI compliance — are implemented and managed by the third-party provider that hosts the payment page. This arrangement lessens the merchant's need to invest in and oversee intricate security systems.
Diminished Compliance Burden: By selecting a hosted payment page provider that complies with PCI DSS, merchants can transfer a considerable portion of their compliance duties, thereby reducing potential liability risks.
Frequent Updates: Reputable hosted payment providers regularly update their systems to remain in accordance with the latest PCI standards, ensuring that security measures are both robust and current.

Although hosted payment pages facilitate the PCI compliance process, merchants must still ensure they partner with PCI DSS-compliant providers, maintain a secure website, and follow best practices to safeguard customer data.

How Hosted Payment Pages work in Travel

In the travel industry, where online bookings are common and transaction amounts can be substantial, hosted payment pages offer a secure and compliant method for managing payment information. Travel businesses can utilise these pages to process payments for flights, accommodations, tours, and other services without the burden of storing or handling sensitive card data on their own systems. By adopting a hosted payment page, travel companies can confidently handle transactions, assured that customer information is safeguarded by robust security measures, including encryption and tokenisation provided by the payment processor.

Hosted payment pages enhance customer confidence, as users can easily identify secure payment features like HTTPS and security badges on the page. This level of transparency gives customers peace of mind regarding the safety of their payment information. For travel companies, the straightforward integration of a hosted payment page allows for rapid and efficient deployment, enabling them to deliver a smooth online booking experience with minimal development effort. Additionally, these pages help ensure compliance with PCI standards, allowing travel companies to adhere to industry regulations without requiring extensive internal security protocols.

Challenges with Hosted Payment Pages

Hosted payment pages provide robust security and compliance, but customising these pages to reflect a travel company's branding can be difficult. Many payment processors restrict the options available for altering the appearance of hosted payment pages, which can create a disconnect with the overall look of the booking site. This inconsistency in branding may negatively affect the customer experience, as users might hesitate to complete their payment on a page that does not fully represent the brand they trust.

Moreover, some hosted payment pages can add unnecessary steps to the booking process, potentially leading to higher cart abandonment rates if customers feel frustrated or confused by being redirected to an external site. For travel companies aiming to deliver a seamless booking experience, it is crucial to strike a balance between security and user experience. The limitations in customisation and possible usability issues underscore the importance of selecting a payment provider that offers adaptable, brand-consistent solutions.

How Felloh can Help with Hosted Payment Pages

Felloh offers travel companies customisable hosted payment pages that ensure PCI compliance while maintaining brand integrity. With Felloh, these companies can design a payment experience that aligns perfectly with their website’s aesthetics, colours, and branding elements, thereby reinforcing customer trust throughout the booking process. This level of customisation allows travel businesses to deliver a unified and professional user experience, reducing interruptions and building confidence during transactions.

In addition to visual appeal, Felloh’s hosted payment pages prioritise security and compliance, featuring encryption, tokenisation, and fraud prevention strategies that safeguard customer information at every stage. Felloh takes on the responsibility of managing PCI compliance for travel companies, freeing them from the complexities of handling sensitive data directly. By offering a fully compliant and secure solution, Felloh enables travel companies to concentrate on providing outstanding customer service without sacrificing payment security.

Felloh also enhances the booking process by minimising unnecessary steps, ensuring that the hosted payment page seamlessly integrates with the overall site. With real-time transaction monitoring and reporting capabilities, travel companies can effectively track payment performance and swiftly resolve any potential issues, further improving the booking experience. By merging brand customisation, security, and user-friendliness, Felloh’s hosted payment pages present travel companies with the perfect solution for secure, compliant, and customer-centric online payments.