Using Debit Card On A Flight

caroline78

Hiya,

I am due to fly next Monday from Belfast to Bulgaria and am hoping to get my cigarettes on the flight. However my money is not due to go into my bank until Tuesday. Does anyone know if I will be able to use my card or will it reject due to lack of funds.

I am assuming, maybe wrongly, that the chip and pin reader will not be able to connect to my bank for them to tell the airline that there are no funds. Therefore by the time the machine is connected to the bank my money will be there.

Hope this makes sense to someone...lol

Alisha2008

I used my debit card on a plane once and they did not have a chip reader, I had to sign the receipt, so you might be right. Some planes do have mobile signal and even WIFI with internet connection... so not sure!

mum2one

most flights are chip and pin, so it will be going through to the bank, so I doubt it will go through (sorry) x

benjus

mum2one wrote: »

most flights are chip and pin, so it will be going through to the bank, so I doubt it will go through (sorry) x

Using Chip & PIN doesn't necessarily mean that it connects to the bank at the time of the transaction.

Voyager2002

In any case, they will cost more on the 'plane than in your destination.

Be aware of other possible scenarios: perhaps the purchase will go through while you are in the air, but the machine will connect as soon as the 'plane lands. You would then incur an unauthorised overdraft and face some very hefty fees, making those cigarettes the most expensive in the known universe.

mgdavid

In the spirit of MSE, if you have absolutely no spare funds at the end of the month I'd try giving up smoking.

interstellaflyer

I've used chip n pin on aircraft, and it's taken a few days for the transaction to show on my bank account, however I don't think it's a very good idea to travel to a foreign country knowing it will be a few days before you have any money, even if the holiday is all inclusive, relying solely on that months wages for spending money doesn't sound good especially as, by your own admission, you don't have enough money in your account to buy 200 fags on the plane.

mcfisco

interstellaflyer wrote: »

I've used chip n pin on aircraft, and it's taken a few days for the transaction to show on my bank account, however I don't think it's a very good idea to travel to a foreign country knowing it will be a few days before you have any money, even if the holiday is all inclusive, relying solely on that months wages for spending money doesn't sound good especially as, by your own admission, you don't have enough money in your account to buy 200 fags on the plane.

READ THE OP
She's going Monday and her money will be available in her account probably midnight that night.

interstellaflyer

mcfisco wrote: »

READ THE OP
She's going Monday and her money will be available in her account probably midnight that night.

Fair enough, I missed the Monday bit, however I stand by the rest of my post.

caroline78

Thanks for all opinions. I do actually have my spending money all sorted, but would prefer to keep my cash for the holiday and use my card on the plane. It is a Nationwide card which I can not use abroad anyway so the money will just be sitting there for a fortnight...

interstellaflyer

caroline78 wrote: »

Thanks for all opinions. I do actually have my spending money all sorted, but would prefer to keep my cash for the holiday and use my card on the plane. It is a Nationwide card which I can not use abroad anyway so the money will just be sitting there for a fortnight...

Forgive me for misunderstanding your post, I guess you are on Cash Card + which is a pain, my other half had one, however they must be phasing them out as her replacement card was a normal visa debit. To be honest, from what I've heard, Bulgaria is cheap so if you are all inclusive I would just bite the bullet and buy some fags when you get there, they will be a lot cheaper. The last time my OH used her Cashcard + on a plane I think it was Thomas Cook and it took a week to for the transaction to show on her account, so if you are brave you could risk it if you can deal with the embarrassment should it be declined.