PayPal accepts travel company payments, Google doesn’t

Plenty of discussion on the web regarding whether eBay will move into travel (seems likely - see article from Travolution). There is also speculation that Google will also dip their toe into the travel sector - although they continue to deny these rumours - so who knows. (You could argue that Google is already in travel - in that they sell advertising (a lot of it!) to travel companies)

In this clash of the titans the key will be facilitating payments to small travel providers (and therefore getting small companies supporting you). Google is way behind on this in comparison to eBay / PayPal as they, alongside various illegal products, exclude travel companies from using Google Checkout. This is how Google defines travel:

Travel packages and offers - Tours (including hotel, flight and car reservations), travel clubs and timeshare properties

See for yourself

eBay / PayPal on the other hand  seem to like travel, as long as you are registered:

You may not use PayPal to sell travel services unless you are appropriately registered and licensed in all states in which you do business Generally, individuals or businesses that sell travel packages, travel certificates, or operate travel clubs must be registered and become licensed travel sellers in all states where they do business or have customers. Please visit the California Tourism website for more details on California’s travel selling laws.

Travel agents, promoters, and other businesses selling travel services
If you sell, advertise, or arrange air or sea travel (but do not directly provide the travel service yourself), you may use PayPal to sell air and ship related travel items (for example, airplane tickets and cruise trips) only if you are licensed as a seller of travel lawfully able to do business. You must be prepared to provide PayPal with your travel license number. For travel services other than air or sea travel, you may offer gift certificates or coupons that are issued by a specific provider of travel, such as a gift certificate to a particular hotel.  

See for yourself

So - I would say that is round one to PayPal / eBay….

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