Service Lets Travelers Fly Through Ticket Purchase

American Express Travel Related Services said Wednesday that it is offering a new service for frazzled business travelers--computerized self-service airline ticketing machines, which it will install at several major corporations.

The financial and travel services giant has purchased the ticketing machines from Airline Computerized Ticketing, a Santa Ana firm. The machines will spew out airline tickets, boarding passes and itineraries in about 25 seconds, American Express said. However, the tickets must first be written by travel agents at any location.

American Express wouldn’t specify which major corporations will receive the equipment but said the first installations will be in the eastern United States.

American Express is the first customer for ACT, a small firm founded three years ago, said Joanne Stewart, ACT chief executive. She said the company wants to place the machines in shopping malls, hotel lobbies and other locations that are convenient for travelers.

Some airlines have already installed self-service ticketing machines at U.S. airports.

“Distribution of tickets is a major problem in the airline industry today,” said Stewart, an attorney who invested in ACT and “ended up running it.”

Quick-service airline ticketing is just another sign of the times, Stewart said. “People expect things now. They don’t want to wait.”

American Express is paying $16,400 for each machine but would not say how many machines it has purchased.