Comments on: Vengeful passengers fight back against buy-on-board water and soda

By: US Airways backpedals and brings back free coffee and soft drinks | Upgrade: Travel Better

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:45:30 +0000

[...] Not to mention the fact that clever passengers were getting around the fee by paying with $20 bills… [...]

By: Dyer

Dyer — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:03:29 +0000

“(except pennies, they ironically are not considered legal tender which is why the penny squishing machines are legal).”

WHAT? That’s not the case at all. The reason those machines are legal is because the statue that governs money mutilation, U.S. Title 18, Chapter 17, Section 331, prohibits fraudulent alteration and mutilation of coins.

The statue does not bar the mutilation of coins if done without fraudulent intent if the mutilated coins are not used fraudulently.

As for pennies not being legal tender. The best I can do is point your here:

http://www.snopes.com/business/money/pennies.asp

This probably explains where you got that idea and why it is wrong.

Oh, and the airlines suck. The first rule of life is that you don’t take things away from people that they’ve come to like. Figure out another way. Seriously.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:11:45 +0000

Because the airlines have delayed so many flights, and because meals are so awful on board i generally pack enough food for two full meals and two snacks as well as 3 bottles of water and a large soda or two. If we all did that how much fuel would the airlines save?
BTW the only problem here is paying for the drinks airside due to security. The condiments fit in my toiletry bag nicely

By: jamie

jamie — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:29:28 +0000

This kind of story makes me love the world more. People are so crafty…

By: mark

mark — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:13:46 +0000

Jason, you are mistaken. The airlines (and anybody else) can refuse to take nickels, $2 bills, or any other US currency/coinage *in advance of a proposed transaction*. (In other words, they can condition a transaction on payment being made in a specified form.)

The “legal tender” doctrine only means that once a debt is incurred — as through a completed credit transaction — the debtor’s “tender” of official currency/coinage is valid. If the creditor demands another form of payment and then sues on the debt, the creditor will be denied certain legal remedies (such as interest for the period after the tender).

By: Jason H

Jason H — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:20:13 +0000

I believe that Alaska Airlines, nor any other airline, can refuse cash because it is legal tender for all debts (except pennies, they ironically are not considered legal tender which is why the penny squishing machines are legal).

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:29:18 +0000

This from Alaska Airlines today:

“Beginning August 5, you no longer need to hunt for cash to pay for onboard purchases. At that time we begin our “Cashless Cabin” which allows the use of major credit or debit cards for all in-flight purchases. As part of the cashless cabin, cash will no longer be accepted onboard. However, for a limited time, when you use your Alaska Airlines Visa card you’ll earn 10 miles for every dollar spent in flight.”

Obviously they’ve calculated the fuel savings of not having to carry wads of cash and change on board

By: simon hb

simon hb — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:18:38 +0000

They needn’t bother rolling out the card machines – once people get used to being charged two dollars for a small bottle of water, they’ll be boarding carrying their own.

Of course, it would be better if airside shops flogged anything other Dasani…

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:06:18 +0000

Just because they’ll have a card-swipe machine doesn’t mean that they’ll get my credit card. I’m one of those guys who’s made the switch to a cash-only lifestyle. Because it’s good for ALL debts, public and private.

They’ll continue to get $20s from me at least, and here’s hoping they can make change for me and everyone else.

By: Dan Webb

Dan Webb — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:58:15 +0000

I think AirTran already scans debit and credit cards for onboard purchases, there might be some others. I believe Southwest will be going cashless soon as well.