The Miami Herald reported January 17, 2018, that American Airlines has stopped accepting cash to pay for checked or overweight bags at Miami International Airport and more than 50 other locations, including New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
Travellers who don’t have credit cards are directed to nearby, ATM-like ReadyStations, which convert cash to debit cards for a $5 fee. The machines will dispense debit cards with up to $1,000 in value.
“Moving away from cash allows American to assist customers more efficiently. It also reduces the complexity of work for our agents who will no longer have to worry about handling cash, find exact change or close out a cash drawer at the end of the day,” airline spokeswoman Alexis Aran Coello said in a statement. “In general, our ticket counter agents support the transition to a cashless environment.”
United Airlines went cashless at Miami International Airport about three years ago, and also refers passengers with cash to ReadyStation kiosks. Many are international travellers who carry cash to avoid steep transaction fees charged to their credit cards when they are in the US.