Advisory Council Unhappy With Cashless Flyaway at Van Nuys

The new practice of accepting only debit and credit cards to ride the Flyaway bus service between Van Nuys Airport and Los Angeles International Airport is not flying with the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council. The council passed by an 11-0 vote Aug. 4 a resolution expressing its “disappointment” and “dissatisfaction” that the proposal to go with a cashless system and raise the Flyaway fee by $1 was not presented to the members before the Airport Board of Commissioners gave its approval. The new cashless system started Aug. 1 and is expected to bring an annual savings of $220,000 to Los Angeles World Airports. Dissatisfaction with the cashless system was raised by member James Wildman who described it as a “monumental fiasco” and passed around a promissory note that is given to passengers who cannot pay with a debit or credit card. Not being able to use cash was a “slap in the face” to potential riders that the airport is trying to get to use the Flyaway, Wildman said. Airport General Manager Selena Birk and spokesperson Diana Sanchez were prepared to give an explanation for why LAWA made the switch away from cash but council Chairman Rick Flam preferred to take the matter up again at the September meeting and have a LAWA representative directly involved with the decision making explain the switch.