Airlines move to accept credit cards on board

Before long, when you step on an airplane, you may need a credit or debit card if you want to buy food, alcoholic beverages and headsets.

AirTran, ATA and Spirit accept only credit cards for on-board purchases, and we expect that other carriers may follow suit.

Revenue has increased dramatically with the move to credit-card-only purchases, and airlines can easily track what has been sold.

While American Airlines still accepts cash, it began in May to accept credit and debit cards for sandwiches, snack boxes, alcoholic beverages and headsets.

Most American aircraft are now equipped for credit-card charges, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the carrier announced a switch to accepting only credit and debit cards for in-flight purchases.

Continental continues to accept cash, but it also sells “Continental Currency” coupons for credit card purchase at airport kiosks.

These coupons can be used on the plane for buying headsets and alcoholic beverages and are valid for one year. They cost $5 each for one or two coupons, $13 for three and $25 for six. One coupon is required for each drink or headset.

If you don’t carry credit cards and want to make in-flight purchases on cashless carriers, you can buy a Visa, MasterCard or American Express gift card. They’re sold at many malls and grocery stores, and as long as they have a magnetic strip, you should be able to use them for onboard purchases.

The same can’t be said of gift cards sold by the airlines themselves. The ones we’ve encountered so far can be used only for buying tickets.