Transaction authorization route optimization

A payment network system, comprising:

• a processing system;
• one or more storage media;
• and
• instructions stored on the one or more storage media that, when executed by the processing system, direct the payment network system to:
• receive a transaction request for a transaction on behalf of a cardholder, wherein the transaction request includes a time of the transaction;
• determine a recommended transaction approval system for authorization from a plurality of authorization-performing systems based on a primary issuer identified from the transaction request, wherein the plurality of authorization-performing systems comprises a stand-in system at the payment network and at least one other possible transaction approval system, wherein the recommended transaction approval system is based on historical processing with respect to the primary issuer and features extracted from the transaction request, including at least the time of the transaction;
• and
• send an authorization request for the transaction to the recommended transaction approval system.

A computer readable storage medium having instructions of payment network system stored thereon that when executed by a computing system, direct the computing system to at least:

• receive a transaction request for a transaction on behalf of a cardholder, wherein the transaction request includes a time of the transaction;
• determine a recommended transaction approval system for authorization from a plurality of authorization-performing systems based on a primary issuer identified from the transaction request, wherein the plurality of authorization-performing systems comprises a stand-in system at the payment network and at least one other possible transaction approval system, wherein the recommended transaction approval system is based on historical processing with respect to the primary issuer and features extracted from the transaction request, including at least the time of the transaction;
• and
• send an authorization request for the transaction to the recommended transaction approval system.