Onboard Payment - Now Only Accepting Credit Cards

This seems to have been introduced under the radar but it would appear that all onboard sales will have to be made by credit cards only (except on the Lagos route).

Please be advised that from 19 January 2015, on all Virgin Atlantic flights with the exception of our flights to and from Lagos, all inflight purchases of duty free products and snacks will need to be paid for by credit card only. We will no longer be accepting cash payments of any currency.


I understand the logic behind this decision! cutting costs with processing multiple cash currencies, but on many occasion I have spent $ I may have left on duty free. It will also be a pain that every purchase over £20 will still require passengers to hand over their passport to have their details taken.

That might be to do with DFAS only taking payment in USD. As far as I'm aware they only need your passport number and don't need to see it

[Darren Wheeler]

Been on the cards for ages. Most US airlines have been cashless for long time.

It also saves the cabin crew admin on getting the cash ready for deposit, dealing with passenger change etc. It's also 2015. I'd say that 95% of all my transactions are now electronic.

[mitchja]

ID is required for purchases over £20 because the system is running off-line and so cannot verify payments until the A/C lands.

Not forgetting that the value of the Российский Рубл changes, virtually, by the minute.

On my last few flights (admittedly have been charter with BA or TCX) all my credit cards have been refused on board – so I hope the connectivity works! Mind you I will probably be pre-ordering my duty free for April!

2001 on Qantas to Oz I bought a watch. I have worn it daily since.
I think I used a card then.
It is the only time I have ever bought anything on a plane, although I still flick through the magazine.
I don't expect to buy anything soon but using a card won't be a problem as long as they accept Virgin Amex Black and give me 4 miles a £. Or is not considered as a Virgin purchase?
Dick D

So I guess that a debit card is no longer accepted?

What currency is the transaction charged at? If it a currency other than UK£, the majority of credit cards will charge a foreign currency transaction fee.

I am also wondering does this mean that visa Debit cards will not be accepted ?

wonder why they wont accept credit cards from nigeria

So I guess that a debit card is no longer accepted?

What currency is the transaction charged at? If it a currency other than UK£, the majority of credit cards will charge a foreign currency transaction fee.

Transactions are in USD or were last time I preordered duty free for delivery onboard

Transactions are in £ and visa debit is fine

I was on VS8 on Saturday and bought a perfume with my MasterCard debit without any issue ... However, I was surprised that VS doesn't offer miles for purchases on board ?????