Continental Airlines to Begin Cashless Cabin
November 30 2009 - 3:07PM
PR Newswire (US)
Customers prefer to use credit and debit cards for onboard
purchases HOUSTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental
Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced that its flight crews will
begin accepting credit and debit cards exclusively for on-board
purchases (except Duty-free) on Dec. 1, 2009, utilizing new
hand-held devices that are more convenient for customers.
Continental is making the change in response to feedback from
customers and flight crews who expressed interest in using card
readers for on-board purchases to eliminate the hassle of fumbling
for money and making correct change. The hand-held devices read
cards for purchases of alcoholic beverages and headsets during
flight in addition to providing valuable sales information to help
better manage product inventory. Cash is still being accepted for
Duty-free purchases. Testing of the hand-held devices began in the
summer of 2009. The new cashless system will be available on all
Continental Airlines mainline flights, except for service to and
from China, as the company continues to develop its process for
accepting that country's predominant credit card, The China Union
Pay card. Cash is still being accepted on Continental Express,
Continental Connection and Continental Micronesia flights.
Continental is on track to switch to a cashless cabin on those
flights in the first quarter of 2010. Continental Airlines is the
world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with
Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400
daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving
130 domestic and 132 international destinations. Continental is a
member of Star Alliance, which provides access to more than 900
additional points in 169 countries via 24 other member airlines.
With more than 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New
York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional
partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.
DATASOURCE: Continental Airlines CONTACT: Continental Airlines
Corporate Communications, +1-713-324-5080, Web Site:
http://www.continental.com/
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