United - No Cash..."Card Info"

In a Press Release from United Airlines, they announced No Cash...Visa!  So your Martini's, Dewars, Makers Mark and other in-flight purchases must be paid for with CASH only.

If the reasoning behind this is that they don't want their steward's to pocket cash, then they apparently are not aware of the potential danger this poses for their customers.   Hopefully people will be able to swipe their cards from their seat because it's highly unrecommended to hand over your card (and thus the Track 2 data on the magnetic stripe) to a waitress at a restaurant, let alone a waitress in the sky.  The opportunity, and thus temptation to "skim" the card information might be too great for some and the passenger can be taken a ride.

Credit/Debit
Credit/Debit
Credit/Debit

No Cash...Card

United Airlines introduces onboard credit/debit card acceptance beginning March 23

CHICAGO, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines is making the search for exact change a thing of the past. With United's new EasyPurchase, customers will be able to use credit and debit cards for onboard purchases beginning March 23.

After a brief transition period through the spring break season, United will phase out cash and only accept credit and debit cards on flights within the United States (including Hawaii) and on flights to and from Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

United will continue to accept cash in addition to credit and debit cards on flights to and from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

On United Express flights, cash will continue to be the accepted form of payment.

"Our customers have responded very positively over the past year as we tested credit and debit card purchases on many flights including trans-continental routes," says Alex Marren, senior vice president - Onboard Service. "Whether customers want to enjoy an in-flight cocktail or a popular snackbox, our customers' purchases will soon be just a quick swipe away."

With EasyPurchase, customers will be able to use major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club, and debit cards bearing the Visa or MasterCard logos.

In addition, users of United Mileage Plus Visa cards from Chase will earn 10 miles for every dollar spent on in-flight purchases. Travelers who apply and are approved for a Chase Mileage Plus Visa card using the exclusive onboard application will earn 30,000 Mileage Plus bonus miles and receive $25 off their next United Airlines ticket, after their first purchase.

About United

United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) operates more than 3,000* flights a day on United and United Express to more than 200 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 912 destinations in 159 countries worldwide. United's 49,500 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com.

*Based on United's flight schedule between Jan. 1, 2009, and Jan. 1, 2010.

SOURCE United Airlines