Abstract: A system for controlling currency exchange and merchandise sales on commercial airline flights includes a point-of-sale (POS) computer for receiving currency and merchandise inventory information preflight and for recording transactions in-flight. Data is exchanged between the POS computer and a cash/currency processing computer (CPC) for reconciling preflight and post-flight inventories and for generating reports for use by the airlines, merchandise vendors and currency exchange service providers. A control method includes the steps of determining currency and merchandise inventories preflight, recording transactions in-flight and reconciling and reporting transactions post-flight.

Abstract: A currency exchange and merchandise sales system includes a point-of-sale (POS) computer for inventorying currency and merchandise and for recording transactions involving same. A cash/currency processing computer (CPC) is located remote from the POS computer and receives data therefrom and transfers data thereto. The system is adapted for conducting currency exchange and merchandise sales transactions among passengers on a vehicle, such as an airliner, particularly on international flights. A security drawer is removably mounted in an airliner service cart packed with merchandise. The security drawer receives currency used for foreign currency exchange (FX) and for merchandise sales transactions. A currency exchange and merchandise sales method includes the steps of inventorying the currency and merchandise and loading same in the security drawer and the service cart preflight. Currency exchange and merchandise sales transactions are conducted by the aircrew in-flight and recorded on the POS computer.