Credit Cards in the Air: Onboard Purchases not for Cash

Some 50 years ago an ordinary person could not imagine that half a century later very few sale operations will involve cash money. But today everything is just the other way round. Few people would step outside without a little plastic in their wallet. Credit cards are a frequent and welcome guest at any store or supermarket.

Credit cards invaded our life. They have become omnipresent. But this sort of coexistence is pleasant for cardholders, as plastics make our life more convenient and give us more opportunities. But credit card companies decided to go further. It seems they want to turn plastic cards into a person's best friends. People and credit cards can become a finger and thumb. Now they can be inseparable even in the air!

Now air travelers can make onboard purchases with credit cards. A lot of airlines have begun to accept plastics onboard lately. People, who prefer using plastics when travelling, especially airlines credit cards, find this option of paying with plastics in the air very convenient. First, they do not have to deal with cash when buying a $5 glass of wine, for instance. Did not you happen to wait for your drink, while a flight attendant running circles around the cabin asking passengers to change your 20 bucks?

The second, and the most pleasant advantage of using a credit card onboard is rewards (if you have one of the rewards plastics). If you have an airline rewards plastic or a hotel rewards credit card that gives you more bonus points for buying items of a particular airline brand, with the option of making onboard purchases with a plastic, you will have a chance to earn extra miles. You do not have to look for a specialized store to shop and collect your miles. You can strike while the iron is hot. Just use your plastic on a plane and get more miles!

Paying with plastics onboard makes it easier for business and leisure travelers to keep track of their spending and helps to plan budget, track amount of taxes and reimbursements.

What can you pay for with a credit card onboard?

You can buy food, entertainment, alcoholic beverages, and other goods and services provided by the airline you fly with. Your plastic will do for all of this merchandise. Flight attendants have hand-held wireless credit card machines to swipe your plastic through. This takes seconds, you will not even need to sign any receipts. This makes the purchase-and-sale process much faster and convenient.

Such airlines as JetBlue, Midwest, Frontier, Virgin America, AirTrain, and Spirit accept only credit cards onboard. American Airlines and Delta accept cash, credit and debit plastics. Continental Airlines accept nothing but cash, but you can purchase Continental Currency coupons at an airport with your plastic. The coupons function as cash and enable you to buy anything you want on a plane.

Alaska Airline was the latest carrier to join the cashless system of onboard purchasing. This airline stopped accepting cash on August, 5. To encourage travelers make onboard purchases with plastics, the company has launched a promotion program. They offer even more credit card rewards. You will get 10 miles for every dollar spent for onboard purchases made with Alaska Airlines Visa card with airmiles rewards program.