Ryanair flight - Barclaycard

PCulbert1

We were on a Ryanair flight from Copenhagen to Dublin, and wanted to buy some food from the trolley. We both had Barclaycard credit cards, but both were rejected by their machine. Thankfully I had a Halifax card, and this went through first time.

Anyone else had such a problem when paying on board? The Barclaycard worked fine everywhere else except on the flight (I specifically used the Barclaycard as it doesnt charge fees when used abroad).

eskbanker

Is your Barclaycard definitely usable offline, i.e. when unable to connect to the bank for authorisation?  Some cards aren't....

Westin

Easyjet has the same issue with Barclaycard.

Apparently something to do with the banks higher security protocols when transactions are off-line, which of course they are whilst up in the air.

Best to always travel with back up cards or at least a variety of payment methods.

soolin

Not the same issue , but I always struggles with a Metro bank debit card on Easyjet , all my other cards worked fine. 

Shimrod

PCulbert1 said:

We were on a Ryanair flight from Copenhagen to Dublin, and wanted to buy some food from the trolley. We both had Barclaycard credit cards, but both were rejected by their machine. Thankfully I had a Halifax card, and this went through first time.

Anyone else had such a problem when paying on board? The Barclaycard worked fine everywhere else except on the flight (I specifically used the Barclaycard as it doesnt charge fees when used abroad).

Had the same problem on a Ryanair flight to Tenerife earlier this year. The cabin crew said they often have problems with Barclaycard payments. I used a Nationwide card I have for back up 

DullGreyGuy

Westin said:

Apparently something to do with the banks higher security protocols when transactions are off-line, which of course they are whilst up in the air.

Why "of course they are whilst up in the air"? 

Most planes, if not all, have internet connections whilst in flight. For long haul they normally open it up to passengers, for free in first/business or for a high fee in PE or Econ. Accept its less often open to passengers on shorter flights. There's no reason why the device couldn't connect to the planes internet if they wanted. 

bagand96

DullGreyGuy said:

Westin said:

Apparently something to do with the banks higher security protocols when transactions are off-line, which of course they are whilst up in the air.

Why "of course they are whilst up in the air"? 

Most planes, if not all, have internet connections whilst in flight. For long haul they normally open it up to passengers, for free in first/business or for a high fee in PE or Econ. Accept its less often open to passengers on shorter flights. There's no reason why the device couldn't connect to the planes internet if they wanted. 

Not all planes have Internet on board, probably not even most. It's true all commercial aircraft have methods of contacting the ground, but it's not by the protocols we know as the Internet or WiFi. 

Wifi and Internet connections are a specific  system that has to be fitted, not just a case of flick a switch and turn it on. Ryanair aircraft don't have it.

Even where aircraft do have it, it's not reliable enough to base the inflight sales system on. 

DullGreyGuy

bagand96 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Westin said:

Apparently something to do with the banks higher security protocols when transactions are off-line, which of course they are whilst up in the air.

Why "of course they are whilst up in the air"? 

Most planes, if not all, have internet connections whilst in flight. For long haul they normally open it up to passengers, for free in first/business or for a high fee in PE or Econ. Accept its less often open to passengers on shorter flights. There's no reason why the device couldn't connect to the planes internet if they wanted. 

Not all planes have Internet on board, probably not even most. It's true all commercial aircraft have methods of contacting the ground, but it's not by the protocols we know as the Internet or WiFi. 

Wifi and Internet connections are a specific  system that has to be fitted, not just a case of flick a switch and turn it on. Ryanair aircraft don't have it.

Even where aircraft do have it, it's not reliable enough to base the inflight sales system on. 

My understanding was that the majority did these days, though if they open it up to customers is a totally different matter and therefore if they publicise that it's there but not available to customers is probably low. According to eDreams RyanAir is currently trialing customer WIFI on certain business focused routes; you'd have expected them to trial it without customer connections before moving to opening it up to customers.  

Ironically have have used it to make an inflight sale to ourselves and it went through fine (got to love Zettle). No doubt there are times when it's less reliable, though never had material problems with things like email that have more demand than payment processing, but offline can be used when in dead spots. 

bagand96

DullGreyGuy said:

My understanding was that the majority did these days, though if they open it up to customers is a totally different matter and therefore if they publicise that it's there but not available to customers is probably low. According to eDreams RyanAir is currently trialing customer WIFI on certain business focused routes; you'd have expected them to trial it without customer connections before moving to opening it up to customers.  

Ironically have have used it to make an inflight sale to ourselves and it went through fine (got to love Zettle). No doubt there are times when it's less reliable, though never had material problems with things like email that have more demand than payment processing, but offline can be used when in dead spots. 

A lot of aircraft do have it but it's not "standard factory fit" per se.  It requires it's own equipment to be fitted, external receivers for the satellite signal as well as the internal WiFI antennae and the system to manage the network.  It all has a cost, Airbus and Boeing offer it as an option, it's also very common for airlines to have it fitted by third parties after aircraft delivery.

If Ryanair believe they can get a return on the cost of upgrading the fleet, then they'll do it, but only then.  Biggest sign of WiFI installation is a hump or dome on top of the aircraft fuselage, seen on the Turkish 737 MAX below, but not the Ryanair. (this houses the satellite receivers, there is a second technology that works from ground based mobile networks but it's less common/reliable)

Westin

EasyJet UK certainly don't have customer WiFi although I understand a trial is taking place this summer on some EasyJet Swiss aircraft again.

The airline did have very limited WiFi systems for customers back in 2023 (to view the inflight menu, map on the EZY App) and some games but this was removed off EZY aircraft following disappointing service levels.  No plans that I am aware of for anything enhanced - and not for any reliance of use of certain banking cards.

bagand96

Westin said:

EasyJet UK certainly don't have customer WiFi although I understand a trial is taking place this summer on some EasyJet Swiss aircraft again.

The airline did have very limited WiFi systems for customers back in 2023 (to view the inflight menu, map on the EZY App) and some games but this was removed off EZY aircraft following disappointing service levels.  No plans that I am aware of for anything enhanced - and not for any reliance of use of certain banking cards.

Ryanair also have some onboard connectivity for ordering in-flight purchases via their app although I think the Ryanair system is Bluetooth based.  They also started using bluetooth connectivity with their new bag drop machines as have Jet2.