paying for food on a airplane

[kacaju]

Does anyone know if you can pay for food on United using a visa gift card?
My 2 dd's (18 and 16)are going to Alaska tomorrow for a 4-H exchange progra. Alaska airlines says you can use a Visa Gift card, but United doesn't mention it.
They will only be traveling with a small amount of cash, but I plan on grabbing a gift card for them

 

[dudspizza]

Does anyone know if you can pay for food on United using a visa gift card?
My 2 dd's (18 and 16)are going to Alaska tomorrow for a 4-H exchange progra. Alaska airlines says you can use a Visa Gift card, but United doesn't mention it.
They will only be traveling with a small amount of cash, but I plan on grabbing a gift card for them

I believe a Visa gift card spends the same as a Visa credit card, so it shouldn't be an issue....

Most planes are now cashless, so some sort of credit type card would be needed.....

Another option would to bring food on the plane.... food can be carried through the TSA checkpoint.

 

[Hannathy]

Wouldn't it be easier just to give them each an extra $20 bill? They aren't little kids. I would just feel better knowing they for sure could buy something wherever they needed to . (plane, airport if there was a delay)

 

[kacaju]

Wouldn't it be easier just to give them each an extra $20 bill? They aren't little kids. I would just feel better knowing they for sure could buy something wherever they needed to . (plane, airport if there was a delay)

You cannot pay for food on the plane with cash.

 

[Hannathy]

You are right I'm sorry. Need more coffee!

United does say they take debit cards, does you 18 yr old have a debit card? I would think he would or should be getting one for school.

 

[kacaju]

she does not have one yet. She will be getting one once we transfer her bank account (small town bank) to a larger bank for school..but we have not done it yet. She always gets paid in cash...so she has not had a real reason to have a debit card yet.
Worse case is they can buy the food before boarding the plane. Just thought if they got hungry they might want something on the plane.

 

[MartyM]

I have flown on United planes (as well as Delta and US) without the credit card system who have required cash only. Most of the other planes in the fleet are CC only. It really has ticked me off when I was hungry and unprepared (or uninformed).

I'd say take both, with plenty of small bills, as sometimes, they aren't into making change. Also take more than you think. A 1.5oz can of almonds on Delta is $5.

From the United Site:
"Inflight purchases
We only accept credit and debit cards for inflight purchases on most United-operated flights."
(Bold is mine)

Their prices look better than Delta's...menu here:
http://pss.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/economy/menu.aspx

 

[Friendly Frog]

As well as cash and a form of credit card, a frozen lunchable placed in a thermal lunch bag (w/no gels, liquids or Peanut butter in it) is worth its weight in gold on a long flight! It might not seem "cool" at first, but 3-4 hours into a flight it can look like filet Mignon.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have flown on United planes (as well as Delta and US) without the credit card system who have required cash only. Most of the other planes in the fleet are CC only. It really has ticked me off when I was hungry and unprepared (or uninformed).

I'd say take both, with plenty of small bills, as sometimes, they aren't into making change. Also take more than you think. A 1.5oz can of almonds on Delta is $5.

From the United Site:
"Inflight purchases
We only accept credit and debit cards for inflight purchases on most United-operated flights."
(Bold is mine)

I fly UA all the time and on every flight they announce that they do not take cash for inflight purchases.

OP, a Visa gift card should be fine. Personally, I think the food available for purchase in UA economy is not very good; better to bring your own.

 

[kacaju]

OP, a Visa gift card should be fine. Personally, I think the food available for purchase in UA economy is not very good; better to bring your own.

Thanks...and I do agree about the airline food...but since they are traveling without me, I wanted to be sure they COULD pay for food if they got hungry. They have the gift card...that was the best I could do at such short notice. They made it to Alaska just fine and I am sure they will be just fine on the way home too.

I did instruct them to try to buy food before they boarded...hey I'm their Mom..I will always worry about making sure they have food.right?