19 January 2010

Airline trend: cash cabins

Keep your credit cards handy. More and more, airlines are turning away from cash payments.
 

The latest airline to join the trend: AMR or American. All sales on flights effective Feb. 1 will have to be credit cards.
 

The carrier previously required passengers to use only credit or debit cards for onboard purchases in the continental US and on flights to and from Hawaii, Alaska and Canada, said Dow Jones Newspapers.
 

"The implementation of cashless cabins on select flights last summer has simplified the in-flight transaction process for both customers and flight attendants," American vice president for onboard service Lauri Curtis said in the carrier's announcement.
 

Flight attendants use a hand-held device to charge credit and debit cards and provide receipts on request.
 

Among the carriers AMR joins in accepting only plastic in the air are Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV), JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU), UAL Corp.'s (UAUA) United and Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL).
 

American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights will continue to accept only cash for onboard purchases.
 

By David Wilkening
 

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