Sky is the limit for cash

In the US, airlines are turning to cashless cabins. Most
of the sales are now handled with credit or debit cards

Fliers, get ready for the cashless cabin, where you need a credit or debit card to buy food, drinks, headsets or anything else. No currency required.

Not long ago, cash ruled the skies, but no more. Some US airlines have banned cash while others are thinking about it.

Recently, JetBlue Airways announced it would take only credit or debit cards for on-board purchases. American Airlines, which accepts cash and cards, is testing the card-only option on hundreds of flights from San Francisco.

Trying the options

Besides American and JetBlue, of the dozen US airlines recently contacted, five took only cash for on-board purchases; five took only cards on many or all flights; Delta Air Lines took both; Alaska Airlines was adding the option of using cards.

Not every company is sold on the idea. Southwest Airlines, for instance, is investigating whether to accept cards, but doesn't plan to end its cash-only policy, spokeswoman Brandy King said.

Airlines that have gone cashless say few passengers complain.

“We haven't seen much push back,'' said Joe Hodas, spokesman for Frontier, which since April has required credit or debit cards for on-board purchases of seat-back TV service.

It makes an exception for unaccompanied minors who can buy TV service with cash at the ticket counter.

Plastic spares passengers the hassle of finding exact change and lets them keep cash they may want to use after they land.

But using only plastic? That's another story.

I'm not the only flier who prefers cash for small purchases. It keeps my credit-card bill uncluttered and I find that I spend less. I also worry less about identity theft when I limit the use of my cards.

Huge success

As captives of the cabin, however, passengers may get no choice. Credit has many advantages for airlines. Let's start with profit.

“It has been a huge success,'' said Thom Nulty, Aloha's senior vice-president for marketing and sales, of his airline's switch to plastic.

Glauberman said: “People are much more likely to spend money on a credit card than to fish cash out of their wallets.''
Then there is efficiency.

“Cash is messy on-board, from a handling standpoint,'' said Greg Latimer, Alaska Airlines' managing director of brand and product marketing. Using credit also helps keep track of inventory.

Crew members swipe cards through hand-held readers, which record the sales, said Candace Kolander, coordinator for air safety, health and security at the Association of Flight Attendants. They upload the data after landing.

With cash, the crew must log sales by hand and tally them at the end of their shifts, she said. Even so, Kolander thinks fliers should be able to choose between cash and cards.

In Europe, where crews on budget airlines, such as Ryanair and EasyJet, accept credit cards and make change on-board
in several currencies, that seems to pose no problem.
Why not on all the other airlines?

What's your choice?

The cashless cabin is a good concept for someone like me as I fly very often. I feel it's safer to carry a credit card than cash during travel.

It may not, however, be convenient to all as many would prefer using cash or may have lower credit limits. But, yes, where the US and other Western countries are concerned, credit cards seem to be much in use.

I think this concept should be introduced in most flights or at least in the major carriers, for it makes people's life easier and more secure.
Dr Samir Mohammad
Vice president in a
Dubai-based company

I think it's really advantageous. I normally do not carry cash in different currencies when travelling abroad and feel this will definitely be very convenient.
Naresh Oberoi
Dubai-based events organiser