Alaska goes cashless for in-flight buys

New policy starts next month

Effective August 5, Alaska Airlines will become the next carrier to stop accepting cash for in-flight purchases. Instead, flight attendants will accept only major credit or debit cards for meals, snacks, alcoholic drinks and digital entertainment players. Some snacks will still be offered at no charge, as will soft drinks, coffee and tea. Transactions with credit cards will be processed on the same kind of hand-held devices that Alaska has been using for a year on its transcontinental routes. Through October, passengers who use the Alaska Airlines credit card issued by Bank of America will get 10 miles per dollar spent in-flight. An for a limited time, the airline’s ticket counters will sell $5 vouchers to be used for onboard purchases, for the convenience of passengers who don’t have a credit or debit card.