Thomas Cook India bets on travel fintech with TC Pay app launch

114

Thomas Cook India has rolled out TC Pay, a dedicated forex payments app now live on Android and iOS platforms. The app enables travellers to book, reload, and manage prepaid forex cards directly from their phones — eliminating the need for branch visits or offline paperwork.

The move reflects a broader shift by legacy travel brands toward embedded financial services and app-based convenience. With TC Pay, Thomas Cook is positioning itself not just as a travel facilitator, but as a mobile-first fintech companion in the global travel journey.

For marketers, the launch signals a pivot from transaction-driven interactions to ecosystem thinking — where the brand stays present across multiple touchpoints, even outside trip bookings. By owning the forex moment, Thomas Cook unlocks new engagement windows across pre-travel and in-destination phases.

The app also includes features like real-time card balance checks, statement access, and fund-to-wallet transfers—blending utility with a cleaner digital UX. With international travel rebounding, particularly among students and small business travellers, the app aims to meet demand for low-touch, self-managed forex solutions.

What’s notable is the marketing narrative: TC Pay isn’t framed as just another banking tool, but as a value-added service within the larger travel lifecycle. This enables loyalty loops, cross-sell opportunities, and greater customer retention for the brand’s holiday and visa portfolios.

In an industry where fintech players have chipped away at travel margins, TC Pay reflects a counter-move — one that turns service fragmentation into a unified, mobile-first brand experience.