Not only do most airlines now charge for in-flight food, but more and more are going to a no-cash policy. The airlines say it’s more convenient and more profitable to make passengers pay with plastic. According to an article in the LA Times, Aloha Airlines has seen a 30 percent boost in in-flight alcohol sales since it went to plastic-only. An airlines representative explained, “People are much more likely to spend money on a credit card than to fish the cash out of their wallets.”

Matt’s View

It’s a fact of life that we’re moving toward a cashless society. And that makes it all the more important to understand our tendency to spend more when using plastic. The best ways to save on tray-table dining are to BYO food and opt for the usually still free in-flight non-alcoholic drinks.