Sachin Walls
While it is possible to book flights at the airport with cash, it is not as straightforward as it once was. Many airlines have transitioned to digital payment methods, and some, such as Allegiant, Delta, and JetBlue, no longer accept cash for fares, in-flight purchases, or at airport locations. However, some airlines, such as American Airlines and United Airlines, still allow cash purchases at certain airports. Additionally, online travel agencies (OTAs) have different policies regarding cash purchases. For example, Expedia does not accept cash purchases directly, but you can use a debit or credit card. Alternative Airlines offers flights with over 650 airlines and allows cash payments on all flights through Fawry or Paysafecash, which are available in Egypt and 48 other countries, respectively. While it is possible to book flights with cash at the airport, it is important to check with the airline or OTA beforehand to avoid any issues or restrictions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you book a flight with cash at the airport? | Yes, you can usually book a flight with cash at the airport. However, it is recommended to check with the airline or OTA before attempting to make a cash purchase to avoid any issues or restrictions. |
| Airlines that accept cash | American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta (at certain airports). |
| Airlines that do not accept cash | Allegiant, JetBlue (US), Southwest, and Frontier. |
| Other options for cash payments | Some online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia do not accept cash purchases directly but allow debit or credit card bookings. Alternative Airlines offers Fawry (for Egypt) or Paysafecash (for 48 other countries) as cash payment options. |
| Advantages of booking with cash | It is one of the safest ways to pay as it does not require sharing bank details, thus eliminating the risk of bank fraud and data theft. |
| Disadvantages of booking with cash | It is less convenient than booking online or over the phone. Some airlines may require you to arrive earlier than usual for cash transactions. |
| Tips for getting cheaper flights | Booking in advance (at least a week) is often cheaper than booking a few days or on the day of the flight. |
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What You'll Learn
Airlines that accept cash at the airport
While many airlines have transitioned to digital payment methods, some still accept cash purchases for plane tickets, although with certain limitations. Generally, a plane ticket can still be bought in cash at most airports, but you will need to show a government-issued photo ID, and it must have been issued within six months of your travel date.
- American Airlines — accepts cash at some airport ticket counters and travel centres, although it is advised to call ahead and confirm which locations accept cash.
- Alaska Air — accepts US and Canadian dollars at ticket counters in the US and Canada, and Mexican pesos at the ticketing counter in Mexico. They also have ReadyStation kiosks at cashless airports where consumers can convert cash to a prepaid debit card for a fee.
- Southwest — accepts cash at international locations, although they no longer accept cash at their US ticketing counters.
- JetBlue Airways — accepts Dominican pesos at airports and city ticket offices in the Dominican Republic.
- United Airlines — does not accept cash at many airports but allows cash payments at ticket offices outside of airports and select ticket counters.
- Alternative Airlines — offers flights with a choice of over 650 airlines and allows cash payments on all flights. They have two payment options: Fawry, which is available in Egypt, and Paysafecash, which is available in 48 countries worldwide.
It is important to note that the policies of these airlines may change, and it is always best to check with the airline or visit their website to confirm their cash purchase policies.
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Airlines that don't accept cash at the airport
While many airlines still allow buying tickets with cash, they will only facilitate cash transactions at certain airports. Airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Airlines allow cash purchases only at specific airports. These airlines have designated several airports as cashless, meaning they will not accept paper money as a form of payment.
Some airlines, such as Allegiant, do not allow cash payments for fares, checked bags, or in-flight purchases at any airport location. Spirit Airlines also does not accept cash as a form of payment at many of the airports it serves, although it does take cash at ticket offices outside of airports and select ticket counters.
Online travel agencies (OTAs) often have different policies regarding cash purchases. For example, Expedia does not accept cash purchases directly, but you can use a debit or credit card.
It is crucial to check with the airline directly before attempting to make a cash purchase to avoid any issues or restrictions.
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Online travel agencies (OTAs) that accept cash
While it is possible to book flights at the airport with cash, there are also online travel agencies (OTAs) that accept cash. OTAs are third-party services that offer users a convenient and easy way to research and book travel experiences. They aggregate travel services, facilitate bookings, collect payments, and publish reviews. In return, they earn a commission from the bookings they sell.
There are two ways to buy flights online: directly with the airline or via an OTA. OTAs act as a middleman between airlines and consumers, and their prices can often be cheaper than booking directly with an airline. They may sell flights at a loss to accrue market share or pass on the commission they receive from airlines to consumers. OTAs may also offer specific discounts, as airlines will sometimes negotiate with them to sell certain flights at a lower rate.
Some popular OTAs include Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, Hopper, and Priceline. There are also hundreds of smaller OTAs, such as OneTravel, Kiwi, GotoGate, JustFly, and Vayama. Momondo, Skyscanner, and Kayak are examples of "metasearch engines," or aggregators of OTAs. These platforms compare prices offered by both airlines and OTAs to find the best fares for any particular flight route.
When deciding whether to book with an OTA or directly with an airline, it is important to consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option. Booking directly with an airline often provides more perks and flexibility, and it is generally easier to change or cancel flights. On the other hand, OTAs can offer significant savings, and they can be useful for comparing prices and finding the best deals. It is also worth noting that OTAs are lawfully required to issue a ticket for the price at which you made the purchase.
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Online travel agencies (OTAs) that don't accept cash
While it is possible to book flights online using cash, it is important to note that not all online travel agencies (OTAs) accept cash payments. Some popular OTAs, such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline, primarily cater to credit card payments and may not offer cash as a payment option.
There are, however, alternative OTAs that provide the option to pay with cash. For example, Alternative Airlines offers Fawry and Paysafecash as payment methods, allowing customers to pay for their flights with cash. Paysafecash is available in 48 countries, while Fawry is a popular payment method in Egypt, with over 125,000 payment points across the country.
It is worth noting that while some OTAs may not directly accept cash payments, they might offer indirect methods to pay with cash. For instance, OTAs like Momondo and Skyscanner are flight fare aggregator engines that compare prices from various sources, including smaller booking sites. These smaller sites may be more likely to offer discounts and accept cash payments through methods such as Fawry and Paysafecash.
When considering booking with an OTA, it is essential to be aware of potential pitfalls. Some OTAs have been known for poor customer service, hidden fees, and difficulties with refunds or itinerary changes. It is recommended to research reviews and ensure the OTA is vetted for legitimacy before booking. Additionally, some airlines prefer direct bookings and may offer more perks or flexibility for customers who book through their websites or apps.
Overall, while there are OTAs that don't accept cash payments, there are alternative options available, such as using OTAs that aggregate fares from smaller booking sites that may accept cash or using indirect cash payment methods through certain payment providers.
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Buying flights with cash on the day of departure
While it is possible to buy flights with cash, it is generally recommended that you avoid doing so on the day of departure. Buying flights at the airport on the day of departure is not only impractical but also unlikely to be cheaper than booking in advance.
Firstly, it is important to note that many airlines and airports no longer accept cash as a form of payment. For example, Delta has designated over 80 airports as cashless, and other cashless airlines include Allegiant, Frontier, and JetBlue. Therefore, it is crucial to check with the airline or OTA before attempting to make a cash purchase to avoid any issues or restrictions.
Even if you can find an airline and airport that accept cash payments, there are several disadvantages to buying flights with cash on the day of departure. Firstly, you will need to arrive at the airport earlier than normal to make a cash transaction, which may be inconvenient if you are short on time. Secondly, you will need to show a government-issued photo ID that was issued within six months of your travel date, which adds another layer of complexity to the process.
In addition, while it is possible to get tickets at a discount if the flight is not filled and will depart in the next few hours, this is not a guarantee. Airlines have moved away from reducing ticket prices on the day of departure to get rid of unsold seats. Instead, they assume that if you are buying a ticket at the airport on the day of departure, you will be willing to pay a higher price, as it is likely an emergency purchase.
Therefore, while it is technically possible to buy flights with cash on the day of departure, it is generally not recommended due to the potential for inconvenience, added costs, and the lack of guarantee of finding a discounted fare.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can book a flight with cash at the airport, but it depends on the airline and the airport. Airlines such as American Airlines and United Airlines allow cash purchases only at certain airports. Delta, for example, has designated more than 80 airports as cashless. It's best to call the carrier and confirm the airport and counter that processes cash payments.
Booking a flight with cash is one of the safest ways to pay as you don't have to provide any bank card details. This eliminates the risk of bank card fraud and data theft.
Booking a flight with cash at the airport is less convenient than booking online or over the phone. You will also need to arrive at the airport earlier than normal to make a cash transaction.
Flights are not necessarily cheaper if you book them with cash at the airport. In fact, airlines may charge a higher price for last-minute bookings as they assume that you are booking at the last minute because it is an emergency.
