Food and drink are now just one tap away for MasterCard users on US Airways

US Airways began deploying fleet-wide the ability for passengers to pay -- and flight attendants to collect -- for drinks and meals with a just a tap through MasterCard PayPass, an airline spokesperson says.

With an assist from technology partner GuestLogix, US Airways became the first airline in the world to implement the PayPass system, MasterCard states.

Travelers with MasterCard PayPass-enabled credit, debit and pre-paid cards can merely tap a PayPass reader when the flight attendant comes around, and pay for their Pringles ($3), chef salads ($8), Budweisers ($7) and other menu items.

At least that's how it's designed to work. And the system comes with encryption technology for secure transactions, MasterCard says.

PayPass is geared to speed things up both for passengers and flight attendants.

Cash is becoming an outmoded means of in-flight commerce these days as more airlines require credit cards and automated systems.

In addition to US Airways using MasterCard PayPass, Allegiant Air this month began a pilot program where some 50 flight attendants begin taking food and drink orders using their specially outfitted iPads.