Passengers on a JetBlue Airways flight will be able to purchase menu items and other amenities onboard using Apple Pay in their iPhone 6 devices. Transactions can be done even at a height of 35,000 feet. There's also the chance to use Apple Pay when one would like to upgrade to available premium seats.
So far, JetBlue has been the first airline company to accept Apple Pay when paying for transactions in the midst of a flight. The company will start rolling out the privilege to their passengers beginning next week.
"Somebody else doing it always puts pressure on the other guy," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior VP for Internet software and services, as he discussed the possibility of Apple Pay's roll out to more airline companies. He added that eventually, Apple Pay will be integrated into other transit systems such as the municipal rail. However, dealings in the system tend to have a slower pace due to regulation and funding.
Now that passengers can use Apple Pay, paying for stuff on planes would definitely become much easier and more convenient. Doing these things can be cumbersome when seated on the plane's cramped seat. Movements can be limited or maybe even impossible such as pulling a credit card out of one's wallet or checking one's purse by reaching for it under the seat or in the overheard bin.
Payments will be handled by the airline's trained employees who would be using iPad minis that are enclosed in NFC-equipped cases. More than 3,500 iPad minis have been distributed so far to the staff at JetBlue. The cases are also equipped to accept regular credit cards and will be used as a full replacement for the current in-flight payment terminals.
Receipts from the transaction will be e-mailed to the customers in lieu of a printed copy. The tablets will also feature a customized type of software that will enable crew members to determine frequent fliers or even those who are traveling on the date that is the same as their birthday. JetBlue hopes to gain FAA certification to finally replace hard copies of its flight attendant manual with the soft digital versions that can be retrieved from the iPads.
Rachel McCarthy, JetBlue executive, said that Apple Pay is the only accepted mobile wallet at this point in time. Other services such as Google Wallet will be made available in the future.
"In our world, we really do want to replace the wallet at some point in time, and Apple Pay is the start of that," added Cue.
Come April, travelers will also be able to pay goodies aboard JetBlue flights using Apple Watch.
