No Paper only Plastic Starting 12/1
Nov 9, 2009, 9:43 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL FO, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
Also, FL has been CC only for many years.
Nov 9, 2009, 10:09 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SEA, ROA, DHN
Programs: DL DM (Now Gold...)
Posts: 176
I will be very impressed if they transition all DL flights to this policy in time for the cut off. That being all of the DL connection and former NWA metal flights. Let's see what happens. Either way is good for me.
Nov 10, 2009, 1:26 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 386
They are selling $7 drinks that probably cost 3$, so their loss would be $20 per flight if you assume 5 or so folks in a flight suffering the above.
Nov 10, 2009, 5:56 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: DL FO, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 12,003
Nov 10, 2009, 6:25 am
#37
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
Count me as one who likes the transition. I haven't yet been on a flight where the CC machine wasn't working, and I have actually seen far more delays when pax pay with cash...like when everybody wants to make a $5 expenditure with a $20 bill, and the FA quickly runs out of change. I also suspect it's an additional burden on the FAs, having to reconcile the products that were used up vs. the cash on hand.
Guess we'll see in a few weeks....
Guess we'll see in a few weeks....
I personally prefer to use plastic as it gets me an itemized receipt / proof of payment.
I'm quite happy with the EATS program when flying in Y (especially when compared to some other airline Buy on Board programs) --- I only wish they would update the menu more often or have a couple more selections ... when in the back of the bus, the menu tends to get old quick.
Nov 10, 2009, 6:35 am
#38
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
I believe the machine simply makes sure the card is valid (i.e. follows an algorithm) and stores the sale in a batch, which is then transmitted once on the ground. I would suspect the number of bad cards they get is minimal.
Nov 10, 2009, 6:37 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 26
I know of a person whose card the machine would not read on AS (they have a cashless policy).
That person got a free meal and drink...my guess is this is SOP. Nothing wrong with his card, works elsewhere, just a ghost in the machine.
The immoral lesson behind the story, randomize the magnetics on your stripe and drink free.
Dunno how to do that...microwave? bulk tape eraser? boil in water for 20 mins?
In practice, the view is not worth the climb, but perhaps it offers insight on how the process works (or is supposed to work).
That person got a free meal and drink...my guess is this is SOP. Nothing wrong with his card, works elsewhere, just a ghost in the machine.
The immoral lesson behind the story, randomize the magnetics on your stripe and drink free.
Dunno how to do that...microwave? bulk tape eraser? boil in water for 20 mins?
In practice, the view is not worth the climb, but perhaps it offers insight on how the process works (or is supposed to work).
For some reason my Korean Air SKYPASS Visa regularly fails when using it on DL flights for purchases. I prefer to use my Chase Visa in any case since the online banking is better, but it's still weird that one type of card will work when another will not.
Nov 10, 2009, 7:36 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 9,996
One of the meals I purchased onboard a Delta flight never showed up on the credit card. But it was the corporate credit card, so the oversight did not benefit me personally. In fact, it was a pain to keep track of the little receipt (which I would need for the expense report just in case it ever did hit). Eventually, the writing on the receipt becomes illegible, since they use the thermal paper in the cc machines.
Nov 10, 2009, 9:05 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 553
If the plane had WiFi (which not all do) they might be able to process those transactions real time. But otherwise, they would have to do it on the ground either every time they land or at the end of the day.
Dec 11, 2009, 2:38 pm
#42
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: DL PM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 12
Cash not welcome on Delta flights
Just sort of curious. Given the new (as of Dec 1) policy of cashless (credit cards only) on Delta flights, is that even legal? I've always thought that that phrase on the bills "legal tender for all debts public and private" meant that it was the one form of payment that just about had to be accepted. Anybody with deeper knowledge than I care to comment? Personally, I don't like using a card for every small purchase (five bucks for a beer for instance) and would prefer to use cash. I could easily buy into the idea of correct change only, but no cash accepted at all? I do admit to some curmudgeonly tendencies...
Dec 11, 2009, 2:42 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PHX
Programs: DL GM/SC/SkyBonus, UA (xCO), AS, AA, US, FL, Hilton Gold, Best Western Gold, Choice, Wyndham
Posts: 658
Just sort of curious. Given the new (as of Dec 1) policy of cashless (credit cards only) on Delta flights, is that even legal? I've always thought that that phrase on the bills "legal tender for all debts public and private" meant that it was the one form of payment that just about had to be accepted. Anybody with deeper knowledge than I care to comment? Personally, I don't like using a card for every small purchase (five bucks for a beer for instance) and would prefer to use cash. I could easily buy into the idea of correct change only, but no cash accepted at all? I do admit to some curmudgeonly tendencies...
Dec 11, 2009, 2:43 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Fairmont Prem, SPG Gold, Priority Club Plat/IC Amb, AmEx Plat
Posts: 10,839
From a WSJ article that would apply to this question. Treasury's explaination is below. You can read an alternative perspective in the link.
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/09/11/...t-is-it-legal/
There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
Dec 11, 2009, 2:45 pm
#45
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,026
The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."
This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.