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-   Credit Card Programs (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs-599/)
-   -   How do inflight credit card transactions work? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs/1662707-how-do-inflight-credit-card-transactions-work.html)

Johnny Rocket Mar 12, 2015 1:20 pm
How do inflight credit card transactions work?
 
On a recent flight that did not have any internet access, a gentleman next to me purchased a number of items from the duty free trolley.

He paid for it through his credit card, the receipt was generated and he signed the same.

Won't the machine need some sort of communication with a server to authenticate the payment?

At such a high altitude, how does this communication take place, and how is the transaction processed?

us1549 Mar 12, 2015 1:22 pm
They authorize your card when the a/c is on the ground. So yes, you can use a bad card and they wouldn't know. They do note your seat number, so you will get found if you are a chronic cheater.

mia Mar 12, 2015 1:34 pm
This article from 2009 provides some background:

At present, credit cards are swiped via wireless handhelds on aircraft but the transactions are processed when the aircraft gets on the ground. Because of this billing mechanism – which sometimes results in fraudulent transactions – there is a ceiling of the value of items that can be comfortably sold today.
The article goes on to mention that some companies were then beginning to offer real time in-flight card authorizations, but I do recall seeing a maximum purchase limitation on a recent transatlantic flight.

I don't think there is as much fraud risk as there might have been at one time. Think about the identification requirements to board a flight, especially the longhaul flights which sell duty free merchandise.

Johnny Rocket Mar 12, 2015 1:49 pm
Originally Posted by us1549 (Post 24497137)
They authorize your card when the a/c is on the ground. So yes, you can use a bad card and they wouldn't know. They do note your seat number, so you will get found if you are a chronic cheater.
I think you'd be foolish to try anything!

They have your name, address, passport details, FF number etc.

Often1 Mar 12, 2015 3:23 pm
There are far easier ways to defraud a vendor. I don't think that the fraud risk inflight is particularly significant. Certainly not worth the costs associated with real-time links. That may change.

tmiw Mar 12, 2015 3:32 pm
Originally Posted by Often1 (Post 24497803)
There are far easier ways to defraud a vendor. I don't think that the fraud risk inflight is particularly significant. Certainly not worth the costs associated with real-time links. That may change.
Wi-Fi is already extremely common on domestic flights (at least in the US) and becoming more common for international flights. It really doesn't add that much more cost to buy the equipment that can do real-time authorization.

josephstern Mar 12, 2015 4:08 pm
So next time someone wants to switch seats with you, just make sure they don't make a fraudulent purchase from your seat.

AllieKat Mar 13, 2015 1:34 am
Originally Posted by tmiw (Post 24497847)
Wi-Fi is already extremely common on domestic flights (at least in the US) and becoming more common for international flights. It really doesn't add that much more cost to buy the equipment that can do real-time authorization.
It is also about reliability.

tmiw Mar 13, 2015 1:39 am
Originally Posted by AllieKat (Post 24499745)
It is also about reliability.
I'm sure the airlines can make deals with Gogo/Row44/Viasat to prioritize their traffic over their passengers' if they haven't already. Two of those services are also satellite based so they should be faster than anything air to ground.

reclusive46 Mar 13, 2015 6:52 am
Originally Posted by tmiw (Post 24497847)
Wi-Fi is already extremely common on domestic flights (at least in the US) and becoming more common for international flights. It really doesn't add that much more cost to buy the equipment that can do real-time authorization.
I recently had a transaction authorised in real time on an AA flight from JFK to LHR. The plane had wifi.

Often1 Mar 13, 2015 7:17 am
Originally Posted by tmiw (Post 24497847)
Wi-Fi is already extremely common on domestic flights (at least in the US) and becoming more common for international flights. It really doesn't add that much more cost to buy the equipment that can do real-time authorization.
It's not about whether the technology exists, it's whether it is worth equipping the card readers and the aircraft with the system and whether it is worth cutting into available bandwidth.

That all comes back to fraud risk. The machines can be stuck in a cradle within minutes of arrival and the payments batch-processed. There is always a fraud risk, but it may not be much.

tmiw Mar 13, 2015 8:26 am
Originally Posted by Often1 (Post 24500563)
It's not about whether the technology exists, it's whether it is worth equipping the card readers and the aircraft with the system and whether it is worth cutting into available bandwidth.

That all comes back to fraud risk. The machines can be stuck in a cradle within minutes of arrival and the payments batch-processed. There is always a fraud risk, but it may not be much.
Right. If the plane didn't already have Wi-Fi it probably wouldn't be worth it. But since there's already an Internet connection and they probably need to replace their equipment to support stuff like Apple Pay anyway, why not? Also, I don't think a credit card authorization takes up all that much bandwidth relative to what's available since satellite Internet is capable of something like 10 megabits per second per aircraft.

mia Mar 17, 2015 7:51 am
Originally Posted by mia (Post 24497206)
... I do recall seeing a maximum purchase limitation on a recent transatlantic flight.
Here it is:

Please be advised that from 19 January 2015, on all Virgin Atlantic flights with the exception of our flights to and from Lagos, all inflight purchases of duty free products and snacks will need to be paid for by credit card only. We will no longer be accepting cash payments of any currency.

We accept the following cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners’ Club, JCB. Cards are accepted for orders up to £550. We do not accept Solo, Electron, personal cheques or travellers cheques.

For all purchases over £20, passport details will be required and there is no minimum spend.

AllieKat Mar 17, 2015 10:01 am
Originally Posted by tmiw (Post 24499761)
I'm sure the airlines can make deals with Gogo/Row44/Viasat to prioritize their traffic over their passengers' if they haven't already. Two of those services are also satellite based so they should be faster than anything air to ground.
Why do you claim satellite should be faster than air to ground? A good air to ground network should be at LEAST as fast as a good satellite network.

tmiw Mar 17, 2015 10:42 am
Originally Posted by AllieKat (Post 24520578)
Why do you claim satellite should be faster than air to ground? A good air to ground network should be at LEAST as fast as a good satellite network.
(I think) ATG runs at lower frequencies, meaning lower throughput. And that throughput has to be shared amongst multiple passengers on multiple planes.


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