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Another Airline Asks Passengers to Stop “BYOB” Attitudes

United Airlines will become the second major American carrier to ask flyers to not bring their alcohol aboard aircraft. In a memo sent to flight attendants, crews are reminded that passengers are not allowed to consume their own alcohol “under any circumstances.”

Another airline is experiencing problems with flyers bringing their own alcohol aboard aircraft, and is asking flight attendants to put a stop to consumption. Industry blog Paddle Your Own Kanoo reports United Airlines is the latest carrier to declare total prohibition on flights.

Flyers Cannot Consume Personal Stash of Alcohol “Under Any Circumstances”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached a head in March 2020, United has scaled back their in-flight services. The Chicago-based carrier now offers sealed beverages upon request, with coffee and tea on domestic flights leaving before 9:45 A.M. Alcoholic beverages are only complimentary in premium cabins, while wine and beer are complimentary in economy on long-haul flights.

But as the airline has clawed back on services passengers took for granted, some are taking the issue into their own hands. In an internal memo from the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA viewed by the blog, the union notes that more flyers are bringing alcohol aboard flights, and that they are not allowed to consume them “under any circumstances.”

“These health precautions have curtailed several service options on many of our flights, including the offering of a variety of choices in alcoholic beverage options,” the memo reads, according to Kanoo. “With this reduction in service some passengers have developed a misunderstanding that, in place of what is offered for sale onboard, they can simply bring their own supply onboard.”

When flyers are caught trying to pour their own drinks, the union asks them to confront the situation. Once again, it is not clear if the flyers will be reported to law enforcement upon landing, or if they will be banned from flying with the carrier.

Consuming self-supplied alcohol aboard aircraft is against federal law. The law states: “No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.” Moreover, the law states that airlines must report to the Federal Aviation Administration “the refusal of any person” who is asked not to consume their own alcohol.

“BYOB” Becoming A Bigger Problem Among Airlines

As airlines pull back offering beverage services because of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines say they are seeing more incidents where flyers are bringing their own alcohol. Southwest Airlines is now reminding passengers during the safety briefing not to consume alcohol they brought on board, while American Airlines say they have seen “an uptick” in incidents on aircraft.

It is unknown if any flyers have been arrested, prosecuted, or banned from flying due to breaking alcohol laws aboard commercial aircraft.

27 Comments
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sfoeuroflyer August 18, 2020

On a list of 1000 things an airline needs to worry about, pax bringing their own booze sits at number 999. With nasty cutbacks what's the harm? And don't say the virus, since this has nothing to do with the virus.

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red75231 August 17, 2020

Whatever happened to 'Palcohol'? Sure could use it now...

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Simon Schus August 16, 2020

I asked an AA Flight Attendant recently on a flight (in Y) if it was okay for me to drink a couple of the small gin miniature that I had brought on with me... and if it was, could they provide me with some tonic? They gladly obliged!

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zombietooth August 13, 2020

I had a friend who used to do just that. He'd bring generic soda or hot drink cups and lids with him in his carry-on and a sack full of pips. Then, he'e ask for a cup of ice when he got onboard with his desired mixer.

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rylan August 11, 2020

So whats to stop pax from pouring that mini in a non-descript container/soda bottle/styrofoam etc prior to boarding?