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Continental Airlines flight crews today begin accepting credit and debit cards exclusively for on-board purchases (except duty-free).
Continental says it is making the change in response to feedback from customers and flight crews who expressed interest in using card readers for on-board purchases to eliminate the hassle of fumbling for money and making correct change. The hand-held devices read cards for purchases of alcoholic beverages and headsets during flight in addition to providing valuable sales information to help better manage product inventory. Cash is still being accepted for duty-free purchases. Testing of the hand-held devices began in the summer of 2009.
The new cashless system will be available on all Continental Airlines flights, except for service to and from China, as the company continues to develop its process for accepting that country’s predominant credit card, The China Union Pay card. Cash is still being accepted on Continental Express, Continental Connection and Continental Micronesia flights. Continental is aiming to switch to a cashless cabin on those flights in the first quarter of 2010.
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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Dewaashita
I like using cash. Hopefully that will remain viable in the future.
Sarge
"purchases of alcoholic beverages and headsets during flight"
I will never pay extra for a can of not ice-cold beer or a headset that provides tinny sound.
Dewaashita
You have a point there, Sarge.
Orangeporange
This would make it a lot more convienient for travelers, especially since on some flights you even have to buy your own meals!
UnagiDon
Or go back to the good old days when we only had to pay for booze and not for pillows...
Beelzebub
My friend once got her card "swiped" on board a plane, and had to fight with the card company over hundreds of dollars of goods she never purchased. Are all of Continental's crew trustworthy?
gogogo
Not everyone has a card it is really stupid not to accept cash.
noborito
gogogo, you have got to be kidding me. Almost 2010 and someone might not have a credit card? My nephew in Singapore has his own credit card and he is only 15. Only in Japan would someone not have a credit card....(As many Japanese credit card companies reject foreigners based solely on that they are foreigners.) As for cards and usage. Using a card, instead of pulling out 5 USD for a can of coke makes it less painful. Marketing has proven it is easier to over-charge someone when no physical money is exchanged.
cwhite
ah yes, just watch Bones on Fox right now, Season 4 Epsiode 10. This is the one with a cabin attendant who swipes credit cards...
gogogo
noborito: I don't disagree but like I said not everyone has credit cards and mobile phones.