OTAs and travel merchants often use payment orchestration platforms like Primer to manage multiple payment providers, and automatically switch between them when a transaction fails.
These tools sit between the checkout and payment providers, allowing travel companies to connect multiple PSPs, control how payments are routed, and retry failed transactions in real time. This is the most common way to reduce failed payments in travel, where cross-border transactions and high booking values increase the risk of declines.
The main type of tool: payment orchestration platforms
The most effective tools for this use case are payment orchestration platforms.
Since we’re writing this article, we’ll tell you about how Primer’s payment orchestration works.
Primer enables travel merchants to:
- Connect multiple PSPs through a single integration
- Route transactions based on performance, geography, or payment type
- Automatically retry failed payments through backup providers
- Manage all payment logic from one platform
- Monitor performance across providers in real time
Instead of relying on one PSP, merchants can actively control which provider processes each transaction and switch instantly when needed.
How payment routing decisions are made with Primer
Switching between payment providers is driven by routing logic.
With Primer, this logic is defined using Workflows, which allow teams to control how each transaction is processed based on specific conditions.
For example, a Workflow might:
- Route EU card payments to a European acquirer
- Send high-value transactions to a more reliable PSP
- Direct specific payment methods to the best-performing provider
- Adjust routing based on real-time performance data
These decisions are configured once and then applied automatically.
Because workflows are configurable using drag-and-drop, teams can update routing logic without rebuilding integrations or changing the checkout experience. This makes it easier to test different strategies and improve performance over time.
How automatic fallbacks recover failed payments
In addition to routing, Primer allows merchants to set up automatic fallbacks to recover failed transactions that are recoverable (known as soft declines).
This works by retrying a payment through another provider if the initial attempt fails.
A typical fallback setup looks like this:
- A payment is sent to the primary PSP
- If the transaction fails and is recoverable, the failure is detected instantly by Primer
- The payment is retried through a secondary PSP (that you’ve specified)
Because Primer 3DS is processor-agnostic, customers aren’t required to re-enter their details, and the booking flow remains uninterrupted.
Why this matters in travel
In travel, payment failures are more than a technical issue. They directly impact revenue.
Common causes of failed payments include:
- Cross-border transactions
- Issuer declines
- Fraud checks
- High transaction values
Customers are unlikely to retry manually, especially for time-sensitive bookings. This means even small improvements in authorization rates can have a significant impact.
Using Primer to manage routing and fallbacks allows travel merchants to:
- Recover transactions that would otherwise be lost
- Improve approval rates across regions
- Reduce reliance on a single provider
- Maintain performance during outages or peak demand
Read more: Payment retry strategies to combat involuntary churn
Why multiple PSPs alone are not enough
Many travel merchants already use multiple PSPs but still experience failed payments.
This usually happens because:
- Routing is static rather than dynamic
- There is no automated fallback logic
- Switching between providers requires manual intervention
Without orchestration, having multiple PSPs does not guarantee better performance.
With Primer, switching between providers becomes automatic, data-driven, and continuous.
Learn more about how Primer can help your business manage multiple payment providers. Book a call with our payment experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What tools let OTAs and travel merchants manage multiple payment providers and switch between them to avoid failed payments?
What is the best tool to manage multiple payment providers for OTAs?
Payment orchestration platforms like Primer are the most effective tools. They allow OTAs to connect multiple PSPs, control routing logic, and automatically switch between providers when needed, all from a single platform.
How do travel merchants switch between PSPs automatically?
Switching is handled through routing logic and fallback rules. Transactions are first sent to a primary PSP, and if they fail, they are automatically retried through secondary providers based on predefined conditions.
Does using multiple PSPs reduce failed payments on its own?
No. Simply adding more PSPs is not enough. Without orchestration, transactions are not routed dynamically and failed payments are not retried automatically. Platforms like Primer enable real-time switching and optimization, which is what improves performance.
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