Alaska Airlines to Introduce Inflight Apple Pay to Select Flights
Nov. 18, 2023
•
3 min read
Alaska Airlines has announced that it will be introducing Apple Pay as one of its inflight payment methods. This move comes as part of a partnership between the airline, Apple, and Stripe, a payment processing software company. With this new feature, passengers will no longer need to carry their physical credit cards if they want to purchase inflight beverages or snacks.
Initially, Apple Pay will only be available on select flights, but Alaska Airlines has plans to expand its availability across its entire fleet in the near future. Using Apple Pay on an Alaska flight is simple and convenient. Passengers just need to hold up their iPhones or Apple Watches to a flight attendant’s iPhone, and their payment will be processed.
The introduction of Apple Pay will make inflight purchases much easier for passengers. Traditionally, passengers would have to use the airline’s app or retrieve their credit cards from their wallets to make a purchase. This can be inconvenient, especially on a cramped flight where accessing your card may be challenging. In contrast, United Airlines requires customers to pay for inflight purchases through the carrier’s app, which means having a credit card registered within the app.
Alaska Airlines is not the only US carrier to integrate Apple Pay into its payment methods. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines already have Apple Pay in their respective apps for booking tickets or making inflight purchases. However, JetBlue was the first airline to accept Apple Pay for inflight purchases back in 2015.
According to Charu Jain, Alaska’s vice president of innovation and merchandising, the addition of Apple Pay is part of the airline’s ongoing initiative to enhance the customer experience. Jain stated, “We’re constantly innovating to give our guests the most seamless and caring experience possible.”
The introduction of Apple Pay on Alaska Airlines flights aligns with the growing trend of contactless and mobile payment options in various industries. With the increasing popularity of smartphones and smartwatches, consumers are increasingly relying on these devices for making payments. By providing Apple Pay as a payment option, Alaska Airlines is catering to the preferences and convenience of its passengers.
In conclusion, Alaska Airlines has announced that it will be introducing Apple Pay as an inflight payment method on select flights. Passengers will be able to make purchases by simply holding up their iPhones or Apple Watches to a flight attendant’s iPhone. This move is part of Alaska Airlines’ commitment to enhancing the customer experience and aligns with the growing trend of mobile payment options in the industry. With this new feature, passengers will no longer need to carry their physical credit cards when flying with Alaska Airlines.