Flight attendants will get handheld devices

Starting September 9, customers of Southwest Airlines will no longer be able to pay cash for in-flight purchases of alcoholic beverages or energy drinks, the company announced. Instead, Southwest flight attendants will be equipped with new handheld devices that let them accept credit and debit cards for all such purchases. Southwest vice president of provisioning Scott Halfmann said that the airline’s customers have been requesting the credit card in-flight payment option “for years.” Besides accepting all major credit and debit cards, flight attendants will still accept Southwest drink coupons as well. Halfmann emphasized that the airline is not initiating any new fees for in-flight services or amenities. The best part about the cashless cabin, he said, is that there will be “no more in-flight announcements asking who has change for a $20 bill.” He added that customers who pay for drinks with a Rapid Rewards affinity credit card will get double award dollars.