Ryanair has introduced an account verification system for new passengers to prevent customers booking through third parties other than the GDS system.
Ryanair has recently contracted with Amadeus and Travelport to allow travel agencies through the GDS systems, but is battling other thirds party operators such as Edreams, Kayak and Kiwi to prevent them making what it calls “unauthorised” bookings.
Since Friday it has introduced a mandatory verification process for new customers. According to the airline, the “Know Your Passenger” (KYP) initiative ensures that myRyanair accounts are set up by real individuals, preventing fraudulent activities like ‘ghost brokering’ and ‘phishing’.
A travel agent said that while travel agents were caught in the middle during the pandemic refunds process the situation has improved with licensed and bonded travel agents, especially since Ryanair renewed its agreements with the GDS’s.
Ryanair signed initially with Travelport in 2012, then with Amadeus in 2014, but broke with Amadeus in 2017 a disagreement over charges that an Amadeus source described as a “collision of egos.”
It made content available once more to Amadeus since November 11 which has led to greatly improved relations with Ireland’s travel agents..
Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: “this verification process allows customers to have direct control over their bookings and receive important notifications, including safety and security updates.
“KYP helps protect customers from the rise of ‘ghost brokering’, ‘phishing’ and other malicious technology scams employed by online fraudsters, and also from the overcharging scams of pirate OTAs – with new free of charge customer account verification. This quick and easy, once-off verification process takes less than 30 seconds to complete. Ryanair’s new customer account verification will help protect our customers by ensuring that they get access to the lowest fares, have direct access to manage their bookings, and receive up to date flight information and online check in reminders. KYP will apply to new myRyanair account users from Friday December 8.”
