American to Go Cashless Fleetwide

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

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American is the latest major U.S. carrier to go cashless across its entire fleet. As of February 1, the airline will no longer accept cash for in-flight purchases. Passengers must pay with a credit or debit card.

Domestic travelers will notice little change, as American has been cashless on flights within the U.S. and Canada since June. The February 1 move simply extends that policy to all international travel.

American said the June switch “simplified the inflight transaction process for both customers and flight attendants,” making fleetwide cashless purchases a no-brainer for the airline.

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