Does "cash only" mean "Cash. Only!" ?
 

Today on my flight home I was in coach (DM B fare, 3 on the list) in an aisle seat. The lady next to me wanted to use the bathroom and I decided I could use a drink, so I walk back to the galley where the two flight attendants are chatting and they hand me the bottle and a can and say "7 dollars" - I go to hand him my amex and he says they'll only take cash. I was a little surprised as I hadn't seen anyone pay cash for a drink in a very long time, I didn't want to question them as I don't really care, but it seemed really irregular and when I paid with a 10 he made change using his personal wallet.

strange? normal?

Shena was on board

You don't say if this was a mainline or express flight. If it was express, the FA was being nice by making change, if it was mainline, then the FA is probably robbing Delta blind. :)

How do I make purchases onboard flights?
For purchases onboard Delta flights, we only accept credit and debit cards. Debit cards must bear a major credit card logo to be valid for acceptance. Cash, ATM cards and gift cards are not accepted. For purchases onboard Delta Connection flights with single class service, only cash is accepted. On Intra-Asia routes and flights between Japan and Hawaii, credit/debit cards or cash are accepted.

Maybe the FA was raising bail money for the Delta baggage handlers here at DTW???

Ask for a receipt. No cash transaction on board has been implemented for a while already, cannot recall the dates.

Based on the statement, "the two flight attendants," I'd assume this was an connection flight (since mainline equipment as at least 3 FAs). As mentioned, cash is whats accepted on connection flights. It is completely normal for FAs to make change with their personal cash.

Plastic only on mainline. Connection carriers used to be cash only, but recently started to change over. Not sure if this is completed yet, but if this is a Connection flight, probably nothing to see here.

Cashless Cabin? Legal?
 

While I'm not a frequent purchaser of in-flight products, one dumb question has bugged me for a while (my apologies if it has been asked before).

How can Delta legally have a 'Cashless cabin'?

If I request a beverage / snack and provide cash (USD), don't they by law have to accept the cash as compensation for this transaction?

My reasoning for this is that it explicitly states on every US Dollar Bill...

"This note is legal tender for all debts, public, and private"

One could make an arguement on international flights that this does not apply, but I think for domestic flights it should.

I know it's a very dumb question, but am I off base?

I have been on Delta connections that only accept cash. If it's a regular delta flight it's plastic only. I think it's absurd and confusing they have these policies and all airlines should be plastic only. It cuts down on fraud, saves the flight attendant the responsibility of handing and keeping track of cash and having to make change if someone doesn't have ones (I used to it on WN when they accepted cash and they were always making announcments when drinks were $4 asking people to ring their FA button if they had change).

When they made the announcement about the service, they usually say they are cashless or if it's a connection they only accept cash.

OT - Cashless makes me wince
 

Everytime I hear "Delta is a cashless airline", I always assume that it is a sign of things to come - are they going bankrupt?:p

There are some places that don't accept cash. I know some property management companies will not accept cash for rent payments. Not sure how they get away with it.

From a passenger standpoint I am glad to see airlines cashless. The FA's get their service done faster and don't have to worry about finding change for customers without correct change. The FA's dont have to worry about accounting for cash at the end of their shift either.

I used to take VIA Rail in canada a lot and they used to sell vouchers that wer elike gift certificates you could use onboard the train for purchases. I think American tried it as well but not sure how succesful it was.

I have always wondered what UM's do since they aren't old enough to have a credit card if they want a snack box or to use the IFE or wifi on board. Do their parents buy them a prepaid mastercard for those purchases??

They've been there and done that already :eek:

Actually I think this would be considered a 'mainline' flight, DL2019 on an A319. The two flight attendants I interacted with were in the rear galley but a third flight attendant was working the front.

That should have been a cashless flight.

Debts is the key word. Since you don't owe them anything they don't have to take it. If you drink your drink first then you are in debt to them so they have to take it. If you pay first and then drink they can make whatever conditions they want.