Continental Airlines Begins Cashless Cabin

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 mainline 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.

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