Sothwest Airlines goes exclusively plastic!

Beginning September 9th 2008, Southwest Airlines will not except cash for in-flight items that they sell – alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, cocktails) and energy drinks. They will only accept credit cards, debits cards and rapid rewards drink coupons. Passengers using their Rapid Rewards credit card (from Chase) to buy the in-flight items will receive double reward dollars.

It is a good news in some sense -
1. Ease of payment – Don’t need to wait for change
2. No need to carry cash – For the airlines that don’t accept credit/debit cards for items on flights, it can be quiet a routine to hit the ATM machine before the flight.
3. Earn points (or cash back) – With most the credit cards offering cash back or points benefits, it is better to use your credit card (only if you don’t revolve the balance and pay interest on it).

Though it might be a problem for some international travelers esp. from countries where either the credit cards are not that common or else the credit cards don’t work. Maybe the ability to buy coupons on the ticket counter might help? Then again, for a 1-4 hour domestic flight I can survive without my Monster energy drink .

Southwest did add that they will still be serving free snack and soft drinks on the their flights.