Why do flight attendants ask to see your ID when paying by card on the airplane?

Why do flight attendants ask to see your ID when paying by card on the airplane? - Person Holding Debit Card

When paying by card flight attendants usually ask to see your ID, to verify that the card in fact belongs to you. However it seems weird to me that pretty much no other merchants ever ask to see your ID, even when conducting purchases for thousands of euros (e.g. at IKEA).

So why do airlines insist on verifying your ID when paying by card? I understand that there's (usually) no Internet to verify the card balance on the plane (as suggested by TonyK), but how would one's ID help them out in case the card is empty?






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Why do flight attendants ask to see your ID when paying by card on the airplane? - Black Payment Terminal
Why do flight attendants ask to see your ID when paying by card on the airplane? - Close-up Photography Two Brown Cards
Why do flight attendants ask to see your ID when paying by card on the airplane? - White visiting card with empty space for data placed on light pink background



Do flight attendants have access to passenger info?

The Passenger Information List (PIL) and Passenger+ systems began as a way for cabin crew to identify passengers with a tight connection and help them rebook while still mid-flight. Today, cabin crew are able to see a wealth of data points on each passenger in the cabin.

Do air hostess sleep with passengers?

Flight attendants get breaks on long-haul flights to recharge and stay energized. They have their own bedrooms in which to take power naps. These bedrooms are hidden from passengers. They can be tucked behind a secret stairway or even accessed through a hatch that looks like a typical overhead bin.

What flight attendants dont tell you?

20 Shocking Secrets Your Flight Attendants Won't Tell You
  • They hate it when you treat them like waiters. ...
  • They're not rolling in dough. ...
  • They pay attention to your clothes. ...
  • They can confirm how unhealthy airplane food is. ...
  • They don't like it when you ring the call bell too much. ...
  • They know how gross the plane really is.


Do flight attendants know your birthday?

Most attendants are not only aware that it's your birthday but also what age you're turning, too. For instance, The Sun says that JetBlue attendants are equipped with a tablet showing the layout of the plane and details of each passenger.



10 Flight Attendant Secrets You Don’t Know About




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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