Southwest Airlines to accept credit cards for in-flight drinks instead of cash

Southwest Airlines, the low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas, the United States, will not accept cash for in-flight items such as beer, wine, cocktails and energy drinks from September 9, 2008. Instead, the airline will accept from passengers credit cards and debit cards as well as Rapid Rewards drink coupons as the accepted forms of payment.

All aircraft of Southwest Airlines will be equipped with handheld credit-card devices that will enable flight attendants to take cash-less drink orders, the airline said in a press release.  

Southwest Airlines Company, with its largest focus city at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, the United States, is the largest airline in the United States by number of passengers carried domestically per year and also the largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried. It is also the 6th largest airline in the United States by revenue and maintains the fourth-largest fleet of aircraft among all of the world’s commercial airlines. 

Southwest Airlines will accept all major credit and debit cards for payment as well as Southwest Airlines Drink Coupons. Additionally, Customers paying with their Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase will receive double reward dollars by using their card onboard.  

Scott Halfmann, vice-president (provisioning) of Southwest Airlines, explained in the press release: “No service fees will be charged for credit and debit card payments for cocktails, beer, wine and Lo-Carb Monster energy drinks. For years, customers have been asking Southwest to accept credit cards for onboard payment, and now we can give our customers one more feature they want.” 

Passengers will continue to receive offers of peanuts, snacks, juices and sodas at no cost. “The only difference our customers will see is a convenient way to pay for alcoholic beverages and Monster energy drinks, and no more in-flight announcements asking who has change for a $20 bill!,” Halfmann added. 

Flight attendants and provisioning employees of Southwest Airlines had given their input on what device would be the easiest to handle credit cards and debit cards. Finally, the airline settled upon a hand-held device and software service from GuestLogix Incorporated that makes paying for drinks as quick as a swipe of a credit card.  

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Southwest Airlines said: “Southwest is the only airline in the United States to remain consistently profitable this decade, and enjoys an unprecedented string of 35 consecutive years of profitability. Southwest has one of the industry’s lowest cost structures, a strong balance sheet, and the most comprehensive fuel hedge among any major airline in the US. At Southwest Airlines, what you see is what you pay with no hidden fees. You can check your first two bags for free, there are no change fees, no fees for a window seat or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary.” 

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, “offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all Boeing 737 fleet,” the statement continued.  

Southwest Airlines recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure with a view to making flying more convenient and simple. 

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Southwest Airlines, the low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas, the United States, will not accept cash for in-flight items such as beer, wine, cocktails and energy drinks from September 9, 2008. Instead, the airline will accept from passengers credit cards and debit cards as well as Rapid Rewards drink coupons as the accepted forms of payment.

All aircraft of Southwest Airlines will be equipped with handheld credit-card devices that will enable flight attendants to take cash-less drink orders, the airline said in a press release.  

Southwest Airlines Company, with its largest focus city at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, the United States, is the largest airline in the United States by number of passengers carried domestically per year and also the largest airline in the world by number of passengers carried. It is also the 6th largest airline in the United States by revenue and maintains the fourth-largest fleet of aircraft among all of the world’s commercial airlines. 

Southwest Airlines will accept all major credit and debit cards for payment as well as Southwest Airlines Drink Coupons. Additionally, Customers paying with their Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase will receive double reward dollars by using their card onboard.  

Scott Halfmann, vice-president (provisioning) of Southwest Airlines, explained in the press release: “No service fees will be charged for credit and debit card payments for cocktails, beer, wine and Lo-Carb Monster energy drinks. For years, customers have been asking Southwest to accept credit cards for onboard payment, and now we can give our customers one more feature they want.” 

Passengers will continue to receive offers of peanuts, snacks, juices and sodas at no cost. “The only difference our customers will see is a convenient way to pay for alcoholic beverages and Monster energy drinks, and no more in-flight announcements asking who has change for a $20 bill!,” Halfmann added. 

Flight attendants and provisioning employees of Southwest Airlines had given their input on what device would be the easiest to handle credit cards and debit cards. Finally, the airline settled upon a hand-held device and software service from GuestLogix Incorporated that makes paying for drinks as quick as a swipe of a credit card.  

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Southwest Airlines said: “Southwest is the only airline in the United States to remain consistently profitable this decade, and enjoys an unprecedented string of 35 consecutive years of profitability. Southwest has one of the industry’s lowest cost structures, a strong balance sheet, and the most comprehensive fuel hedge among any major airline in the US. At Southwest Airlines, what you see is what you pay with no hidden fees. You can check your first two bags for free, there are no change fees, no fees for a window seat or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary.” 

After 37 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, “offers a very comfortable ride with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all Boeing 737 fleet,” the statement continued.  

Southwest Airlines recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure with a view to making flying more convenient and simple.