Abstract: A method is provided for authorizing a mobile platform passenger to use his/her affinity program merit points to pay for access to services provided by a mobile platform communication system. The method includes communicating an authentication request message from the mobile platform communication system to an affinity program authentication Web service. An authentication status message is then communicated from the affinity program authentication Web service to the mobile platform communication system indicating whether the mobile platform passenger is an affinity program member. If the mobile platform passenger is verified to be an affinity program member, a debit authorization request message is communicated from the mobile platform communication system to an affinity program debit authorization Web service. The affinity program debit authorization Web service then communicates a debit authorization status message to the mobile platform communication system.