A three-week test on flights departing from San Francisco in which it will only accept major credit cards or debit cards for onboard purchases, including headsets, snacks, fresh light meals and alcoholic beverages has been announced by American Airlines.

The cashless test will help American determine if passengers in the main cabin prefer to pay for onboard items with plastic. The test will include more than 700 scheduled flights between Sept. 10 and Sept. 30. American Express Cards and other major credit and debit cards will be accepted. Receipts will be provided to passengers upon request.

Lauri Curtis, American Airlines Vice President - Onboard Service, said: “These days, consumers are more frequently paying for items electronically with credit cards and debit cards. With this test, we are seeking feedback from passengers and from our flight attendants to determine if this consumer behavior also works with the purchase of onboard items.”

“We chose San Francisco because our departures from there cover an excellent cross-section of distances. From there, we operate service to Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu and New York, among other destinations,” Curtis said.

American began accepting credit and debit cards for onboard purchases last year. Initial customer feedback indicates that plastic payment options are a great way to conserve cash while being able to purchase items available on American Airlines flights.