United Airlines is working with PayPal to make touchless purchases on board even when WiFi is not available, World Airline News reported on Wednesday (October 6).
Starting in November, United customers will be able to show a flight attendant a PayPal QR code on some flights and use it to purchase snacks and other items, the report said.
“PayPal QR codes can be used on select flights departing Chicago O’Hare International Airport in November and will be extended to all contactless flights across the network before the end of the year,” said in the report.
See also: Airlines are returning to profitability, but the recovery from B2B travel is far from certain
United is the first airline to offer PayPal QR codes as part of their contactless payment tools, according to the report. The airline was also the first to offer economy passengers the option to pre-order snacks and drinks through the United app and website. Customers can also store their payment information in a digital wallet.
Continue reading: United is now offering travelers the ability to pre-order food and drinks
Expanded dining options for those in premium domestic cabins have also been introduced on flights over 1,500 miles and hub-to-hub flights over 800 miles, the report said.
Last year was one of the worst the aviation industry has ever seen, losing more than $ 35 billion as the pandemic lockdowns brought most flights to a standstill. Although more sales were expected this year, the Delta variant shook the recovery.
See more: United Airlines wants to fill up seats with a vaccination campaign
In May, United launched a campaign to get people flying again. CEO Scott Kirby said at the time that the two-pronged promo called “Your Shot to Fly” was aimed at getting people vaccinated while encouraging them to dream of exotic destinations with the chance to win free travel for a year.
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