Cashless Cabin Date
#1
In Memoriam - Company Representative - Southwest Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest spokesperson
Posts: 1,201
Cashless Cabin Date
Howdy FTers,
Well it's official, Cashless Cabin rolls out on September 9 (minus any unforeseen glitches). Below is from our Employee daily newsline.
Beginning Tuesday, September 9, Southwest Airlines will accept only credit cards, debit cards, and Southwest Airlines drink coupons to pay for Inflight beverage purchases. Each aircraft will be equipped with three handheld devices that will be used to account for sales and inventory. The handheld devices can be attached to a clipboard, which will allow Flight Attendants to take orders and charge Customer credit or debit cards easily. Additionally, stickers on the clipboards will promote the Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase and interested Customers can pick up a credit card application onboard. Thanks to our partnership with Chase, we are able to offset the majority of the cost of implementing these devices.
With the introduction of these handheld devices, Southwest will move to a “cashless cabin,” accepting only credit cards, debit cards, and drink coupons. This new onboard feature will set us in the right direction as Southwest Airlines seeks ways to generate increased revenue per flight. More Customers these days are traveling without cash, and this initiative allows us to enhance the Customer Experience by creating opportunities for Customers that they may not have been able to previously enjoy. As they currently do today, a Customer can buy a drink coupon book with cash at the Ticket Counter prior to departure.
Drink coupons, including the ones attached to Business Select BPs, will still be honored.
Well it's official, Cashless Cabin rolls out on September 9 (minus any unforeseen glitches). Below is from our Employee daily newsline.
Beginning Tuesday, September 9, Southwest Airlines will accept only credit cards, debit cards, and Southwest Airlines drink coupons to pay for Inflight beverage purchases. Each aircraft will be equipped with three handheld devices that will be used to account for sales and inventory. The handheld devices can be attached to a clipboard, which will allow Flight Attendants to take orders and charge Customer credit or debit cards easily. Additionally, stickers on the clipboards will promote the Rapid Rewards credit card from Chase and interested Customers can pick up a credit card application onboard. Thanks to our partnership with Chase, we are able to offset the majority of the cost of implementing these devices.
With the introduction of these handheld devices, Southwest will move to a “cashless cabin,” accepting only credit cards, debit cards, and drink coupons. This new onboard feature will set us in the right direction as Southwest Airlines seeks ways to generate increased revenue per flight. More Customers these days are traveling without cash, and this initiative allows us to enhance the Customer Experience by creating opportunities for Customers that they may not have been able to previously enjoy. As they currently do today, a Customer can buy a drink coupon book with cash at the Ticket Counter prior to departure.
Drink coupons, including the ones attached to Business Select BPs, will still be honored.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 315
As a FA I am VERY VERY VERY excited about this! It's not been an easy learning process mainly because the new procedures (while they make PERFECT sense) are the opposite of how we used to keep track of purchases so it's all a matter of switching those synapses around to something new. MOSTLY I'm excited because I won't have to worry about landing standing up in the back galley trying to clean, re-stock, close kits and secure the galley!!!
I hope it's received well by all of our customers because I think it will give us more time to interact with each person on those incredibly short flights! Yes, it EVEN works on MCO-RSW, BWI-ORF, AUS-HOU etc! I wonder how the company will advertise this to our customers?
I hope it's received well by all of our customers because I think it will give us more time to interact with each person on those incredibly short flights! Yes, it EVEN works on MCO-RSW, BWI-ORF, AUS-HOU etc! I wonder how the company will advertise this to our customers?
#6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MDW
Programs: SWA EMP (the ultimate program)
Posts: 713
As luck would have it, I have a flight on the 9th. I'll get to try that out I guess.
Also I think this move is going to result in an increase in drink sales.. Not only is it going to make buying a drink super simple and quick, but it's going to appeal to people such as myself who hardly ever carry paper cash in their pocket. I'd expect drink sales to increase 30% overall.
Also I think this move is going to result in an increase in drink sales.. Not only is it going to make buying a drink super simple and quick, but it's going to appeal to people such as myself who hardly ever carry paper cash in their pocket. I'd expect drink sales to increase 30% overall.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Yes.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,219
I just flew on a WN flight tonight where two different announcements were made, one asking for change for $100, another asking for change for $50. I can understand the convenience of not having to deal with this. I must admit, I was surprised to hear change needed for a $50 and $100 bills. Usually it's $20s.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Placentia, CA 92870
Posts: 175
How can Cashless be legal?? Class Action Suit probably will follow
Alaska Airlines now is cashless too. I don't see, no matter how it helps the airlines, how this could be legal. They have the abillity to accept cash on-board (vs. ordering merchandise online, for example). Even the $1 bill clearly states that "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER, FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE." Now you can argue that it's your choice whether to order a cocktail, food, etc., and you aren't forced to order any of these. BUT, if you do order, how can it be legal for the airlines NOT to accept cash -- just because it makes their lives easier.
If you don't have a credit card or a debit card, and you want something for a charge, you are basically being discriminated against, assuming you have the cash and are willing to pay, which goes against the point of what cash is all about.
Anyway, I'm not a lawyer, but I think this policy will be legally challenged.
If you don't have a credit card or a debit card, and you want something for a charge, you are basically being discriminated against, assuming you have the cash and are willing to pay, which goes against the point of what cash is all about.
Anyway, I'm not a lawyer, but I think this policy will be legally challenged.