Paying with plastic: Airlines move toward credit card purchases in-flight

Don’t fly without it…your credit card, that is. More and more airlines are going cashless and now accept only credit or debit cards for in-flight purchases. Among those carriers are AirTran,AirTran, Spirit, ATA, Hawaiian and Frontier. Observers say passengers tend to spend more when using credit or debit cards. American Airlines accepts credit cards, but still takes cold, hard cash as well. Continental takes cash, but passengers also can purchase “Continental Currency” at airport kiosks with a credit card before departure. The currency can be redeemed in-flight for audio headsets, beer, cocktails and wine. One coupon costs $5, two coupons $10, three coupons $13 ($2 discount) and six coupons $25 ($5 discount). Continental Currency coupons can be used on any Continental, Continental Express or Continental Micronesia flight up to a year from the date of purchase. They cannot be exchanged for duty-free purchases.