Getting Started
In some bookings, a guest may need to use more than one card to complete outstanding payments. This can happen, for example, when they want to split the amount between several cards or when one of the cards doesn't have enough funds.
With the Avantio Payments Multi-card feature, you can add multiple cards to a single booking and choose which one to use for each payment line. Each transaction is processed individually, and the cards used are securely tokenized for future charges related to that booking.
What will you learn in this article?
You’ll learn how to add or request new cards, assign them to different payments in a booking, and properly manage future charges and refunds.
Benefits
Gives your guests more flexibility by allowing them to use multiple cards for a single booking.
Centralizes the cards linked to the booking and makes it easier to reuse them for future charges.
Keeps a detailed transaction history and lets you control which card is used for each payment line.
When should you use this feature?
You should use this feature when you need to split the payments for a booking between several cards or when the guest wants to provide a different card for one or more outstanding charges.
Before you start
It’s a good idea to check beforehand:
That the booking is managed through Avantio Payments.
Which amounts or payment lines you want to charge to each card.
Which cards are already available and tokenized in the booking.
It’s also recommended to agree with the guest in advance which amount should be charged to each card before processing the payments.
Follow these steps
Go to
VRMS → Bookings → Bookings List.Select the booking you want to manage and click on “Full view”.
Go to “Payment breakdown” and click on “View card”.
Before adding a new card, set the amount for each payment line you want to charge to the corresponding card.
Add a new card using one of these options:
Add card: opens the Payment Form to enter the card details.
Request card: sends an email to the guest so they can securely enter their details.
Once the card is added, select it as the payment method for the relevant line.
Process the necessary payments. Each transaction will be handled individually.
Check the payment history to see which card was used for each transaction.
Expected result
At the end of the process, the cards used will be securely registered and tokenized within the booking.
You’ll be able to reuse them for future charges on that same booking and select any of the available cards from the payment method selector for each outstanding line.
The last card added will automatically be set as the default payment method.
Recommended next steps
After processing the payments:
Check the booking’s payment history to make sure each transaction was processed with the correct card.
Review any outstanding payment lines and verify which card is selected before making new charges.
Main fields and options
Add card: lets you directly enter a new card using the Payment Form.
Request card: sends a request to the guest so they can securely provide their details.
Payment method selector: shows all tokenized cards available in the booking so you can choose which one to use.
Default card: by default, this is the last card added to the booking.
Payment history: lets you identify which card was used for each transaction.
Limitations and considerations
Keep in mind that:
Each payment is processed as a separate transaction.
The last card added is automatically set as the default payment method, but you can select another available card before making the charge.
Cards tokenized in a booking will only be available for charges linked to that same booking.
Refunds must always be made to the same payment line and the same payment method used in the original transaction.
It’s not possible to refund an amount to a different card than the one used for the original payment.
Before processing multiple charges, always review the amounts assigned to each payment line and the card selected for each one.
Best practices
Decide in advance which amount should be charged to each card.
Check the selected payment method before processing each transaction.
Review the payment history after making the charges.
Use “Request card” when you prefer the guest to securely enter their own payment details.
Before issuing a refund, always identify the original transaction and the card used.
Practical example
A guest has a booking with an outstanding amount of €1,000, but wants to split the payment between two cards.
You can set up the payment lines to charge, for example:
€600 to the first card.
€400 to a second card.
Add or request both cards and select the appropriate card for each payment line before processing the transactions.
Once the charges are completed, both cards will be recorded in the booking’s history and can be used again for future payments related to it.
Common mistakes
A card doesn’t appear in the payment selector: check that the card has been correctly added or tokenized in the booking.
The charge is attempted with a different card: review which payment method is selected for the relevant line. Remember, the last card added is set as the default.
The amount is charged to the wrong card: verify the amount and the selected card before processing each payment line.
You can’t issue a refund to another card: refunds must be made to the same payment method used in the original transaction.
If something isn’t working
If the feature isn’t working as expected, check these points before contacting our customer support team:
Make sure the card has been correctly added to the booking.
Check that it appears in the payment method selector.
Review the payment line amount, the selected card, and the transaction history.
Make sure you’re not trying to issue a refund to a different card than the one originally used.
Refresh the page and check the result again.
If the problem persists, contact our customer support team and, whenever possible, include screenshots, booking reference, affected payment line, and details of the transaction.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use multiple cards to pay for a single booking?
Can I use multiple cards to pay for a single booking?
Yes. You can add multiple cards to a single booking and choose which one to use for each payment line. Each transaction will be processed individually.
Which card is used by default for future charges?
Which card is used by default for future charges?
The last card added is automatically set as the default payment method. However, you can select any of the tokenized cards available before processing a new charge.
Can I refund a payment to a different card?
Can I refund a payment to a different card?
No. Refunds must be made to the same payment line and the same payment method used in the original transaction.
Can I reuse a card that was previously added?
Can I reuse a card that was previously added?
Yes. Cards tokenized in the booking will remain available for future charges linked to that same booking.
Is it safer to request the card from the guest than to enter it manually?
Is it safer to request the card from the guest than to enter it manually?
Both options are available within the Avantio Payments flow. If you select “Request card”, the guest will receive a request to enter their details through the appropriate form, so they don’t have to provide them directly to the manager.