Does "cash only" mean "Cash. Only!" ?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wherever the airlines take me!
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat, DL 0.8MM
Posts: 212
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?
strange? normal?
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,818
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?
strange? normal?
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.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,701
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?
strange? normal?
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SEA
Posts: 12,485
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.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
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Posts: 16,297
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.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 380
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?
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?
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,401
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.
When they made the announcement about the service, they usually say they are cashless or if it's a connection they only accept cash.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: GSO
Programs: Delta Skymiles - Diamond; HH - Diamond; Priority Club - Platinum;
Posts: 136
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?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,401
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?
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?
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??
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wherever the airlines take me!
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat, DL 0.8MM
Posts: 212
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.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,401
#15
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AGR,CO,PC,AA
Posts: 411
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?
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?