CheapAir announces more altcoins acceptance including Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

CheapAir is an online travel agency that offers affordable and inexpensive airline tickets along with other facilities like travel advisors, economical travel tips, and an amazing customer service. The travel booking site made its appearance in the crypto space through the acceptance of the giant in the cryptocurrency list, Bitcoin [BTC] back in November 2013.  CheapAir continued to expanding its BTC payment service to also include hotel and railway bookings.

CEO of CheapAir, Jeff Klee, recently stated that the number of customers asking to pay in altcoins has increased in the last couple of months especially as the popularity of virtual currencies continue to heat up. According to Klee, Litecoin, Dash, and Bitcoin Cash were the most requested altcoins.

Despite the fact that paying in digital currencies has been convenient for CheapAir customers, Klee admitted that it was challenging especially because most of its partners including airlines and hotels don’t accept payments in cryptocurrencies.  When the price of Bitcoin fell, sales also dropped. However when the price of bitcoin rose sales also improved.

Recently another player in the airline sector, private jet firm TapJets, also started accepting altcoins as a means of payment when booking flights. This was after a poll was conducted on social media to determine which virtual coins customers wanted included. After the poll the chief executive officer of the firm, Eugene Kesselman, indicated that TapJets would be accepting Litecoin and Ripple (XRP). TapJets has announced that customers can begin paying using the two digital currencies at the beginning of next month.

Besides using cryptocurrencies as a means of payment, airlines across the globe are also showing an interest in blockchain technology. This includes the flag carrier of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, which has announced that it is exploring blockchain technology applications.

One of the ways the airline is applying blockchain technology is in the loyalty program where air miles will be recorded on one dispersed ledger in real time. Initially Cathay Pacific will offer a mobile app as well as a platform known as Unlock More Miles. Cathay Pacific is using Accenture as a technology partner. According to Cathay Pacific using blockchain technology in this process will reduce back-office administration.