Q: Delta and other airlines no longer accept cash on flights. But U.S. currency clearly states it is “legal tender for all debts, public and private.” How do airlines get by with not taking it?
—John Siegel, Atlanta
A: A business can make its own payment policy because there is "no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services," according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's website. Many airlines, including Delta, United, AirTran, Virgin America and American, accept only credit cards in their cabins. A Delta spokesman told NBCNews.com in 2009 that cashless cabins mean "increased convenience and speed of transactions for customers." An American executive told The Los Angeles Times in 2010: "The implementation of cashless cabins on select flights last summer has simplified the in-flight transaction process for both customers and flight attendants." A New Jersey man sued Continental, which has since merged with United, regarding its cashless policy after he couldn't purchase headphones or alcohol during a 2010 flight. An appeals court threw out the lawsuit in February. "Airlines have increasingly moved to a cashless environment for onboard transactions with acceptance of credit/debit cards because customers have increasingly asked to use these methods of payment, plus it allows airlines to better track inventory and customer preferences," Airlines for America, an industry advocate group, said in a statement after the ruling.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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