Sun Country Airlines Done with Cash On Board

Filed in archive Travel on June 17, 2008

There have been a few stories in the last few years about airlines starting to accept credit cards in flight, but Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines is going a big step further:

Sun Country Airlines will accept credit cards for snacks and beverages sold on board, but starting today it will not accept cash.

With the airlines' new "Cashless Cabin," customers will have to use Visa or Master Card credit or debit cards to pay for snacks, sandwiches, candy, premium beverages, pillow and blanket sets, headphones and upgrades to first class, the airline said.

I personally don't have a problem with that, but I think turning their backs completely on cash is a bad move. There are still plenty of people who see their credit cards as being something to pull out rarely, not something they are forced to use, and they will not be happy about using a credit card for a $5 drink.

Unfortunately, these days the airline industry is in shambles, and anything they can do to cut costs or increase profits is done without thought to passenger convenience.