How the Air Travel Card Changed Airline Ticket Payments

The Air Travel Card, introduced in 1934 by American Airlines and the Air Transport Association, made it easier for passengers to purchase tickets on credit. It used a numbering system to identify the card issuer and the customer account. Travellers could buy tickets immediately, pay later and receive a 15% discount on participating airlines. By the 1940s, major United States airlines accepted the card across 17 carriers, while instalment plans encouraged more people to fly. In 1948, the Air Travel Card became the first charge card accepted internationally by members of the International Air Transport Association.

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