No payment until you approve· ARC Verified Travel Consultant

Payment Policy

How payment works at TravelFirst

Two components, both disclosed before authorization.

How Payment Works

TravelFirst separates payment into two distinct components. Both are fully disclosed in your written authorization document before any charge is processed. You will never be surprised by an unexpected charge, an unannounced billing descriptor, or a fee not previously communicated in writing.

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

The airfare component of your booking is not charged by TravelFirst LLC. It is charged by the airline directly or by an accredited ticketing partner, depending on your itinerary. The charging party is identified explicitly in your quote and in the written authorization document before you authorize anything.

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, carrier charges — not TravelFirst charges)

Who charges the airfare?

The charging party for the airfare component varies by itinerary and is always disclosed 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)

TravelFirst LLC does not collect, hold, or process the airfare component on its own behalf.

Agency Fee

The agency fee is charged separately by TravelFirst LLC. It is always disclosed as a distinct line item in your quote and authorization document — never embedded in or commingled with the airfare amount.

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

What the agency fee is NOT

The agency fee is not any of the following:

  • Not a processing fee
  • Not a convenience fee
  • Not a carrier fee
  • Not an administrative fee
  • Not a service charge imposed by an airline
  • Not a tax or government-levied charge

The agency fee is a transparent, separately itemized fee for professional travel advisory and booking services provided by TravelFirst LLC.

Statement Descriptor

Your statement will show: TRAVELFIRST

The descriptor TRAVELFIRST will appear on your card statement for the agency fee component charged by TravelFirst LLC. This descriptor is disclosed in your written authorization document before you authorize payment.

The airfare component will show the name of the airline or accredited ticketing partner responsible for that charge — not TRAVELFIRST. Depending on your card issuer, the airline or ticketing partner name may appear in full or in abbreviated form.

If you see TRAVELFIRST on your statement and have any question about the charge, contact us before contacting your bank. We can provide same-day documentation for any transaction we have processed.

📞 +1 (888) 992-4455   ✉ 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 exact total, itemized airfare, agency fee, charging parties, and billing descriptor — before you authorize.

2
You review every line item

You have full visibility into what will be charged, by whom, and under what descriptor. Ask us any question 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 — no increases 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.

DOT 24-Hour Rule

For eligible bookings, federal regulations provide a 24-hour cancellation window with full refund.

DOT 24-Hour Rule — Eligibility & Refund Terms

  • Eligible bookings: Flights originating in the United States, booked at least 7 days (168 hours) before scheduled departure.
  • Cancellation window: You may cancel within 24 hours of booking confirmation.
  • Airfare refund: Full refund of the airfare component, processed by the airline or ticketing partner.
  • Agency fee refund: Full refund of the TravelFirst agency fee. No cancellation penalty from TravelFirst.

To exercise this right, contact us immediately at +1 (888) 992-4455 or support@travelfirst.us.

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

Payment card data for the agency fee is processed through a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. TravelFirst LLC does not store your full card number, CVV/CVC code, or other sensitive payment credentials on its own systems. Your card data is handled in accordance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS).

Payment Security

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PCI-DSS Level 1 Certified Processing

The agency fee payment is processed via a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified processor — the highest level of compliance in the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard framework. TravelFirst LLC does not store, transmit, or access raw card data on its own infrastructure.

All payment communications are encrypted in transit. Our systems do not retain full card numbers or authentication values after a transaction is complete.

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.