The Drinking Flyer’s Danger Zone
Sarah Steegar November 17, 2015
Your flight’s been delayed and you have nothing better to do. Maybe you’re a nervous flyer. Maybe you’re just a passenger who likes to start vacation as soon as you reach the airport (bar). Whatever the reason, before your flight, you passed more time at the pub than intended. It happens.
Just in case you happen to be a flyer who has inexplicably missed one of the oft-repeated FAA rules out there: we may not accept intoxicated flyers to board an aircraft. At all. The question is, what now? Have you had too much? What are the flight attendants looking for?
Ideally, passengers “of concern” will get stopped in the gate area, but inappropriate passengers do slip by. No wonder, since there’s often just one agent working a flight. In addition, now that flyers do most of their business with a kiosk, there’s little need to interact directly – beyond a feverish swipe of every boarding card before the clock strikes with job-threatening, to-the-minute deadlines. Remember this incredible guy? No way should he have made it off the ground! It falls to all of us, and there’s a lot going on in that 20-40 minutes of boarding!
Whichever airline employees are giving you a hard look, they have to rely on personal judgment. We get a fine if caught allowing someone the FAA wouldn’t approve, and it’s not like there’s a blood-alcohol limit to define what “drunk” means for the purpose of flying. In short – much like the question of getting kicked off in general – I need to be comfortable that you are in absolute control of yourself.
Will I accept passengers with obvious alcohol on their breath? Yes, if that’s the only symptom. Being loud and raucous? It depends on degree – and your reaction when I warn you. You’ll definitely be watched. If you’re slurring? No way. What about passengers who just seem desperate for another drink? I’ll automatically work to slow you down and, again, watch you carefully. Demand drinks before you’ve even found your seat? Even if you’re sober, it’s a great way to get on our radar.
If drinking on board is a part of travel you really enjoy, I have one essential tip: if we question you about alcohol intake or suggest cutting you off never, ever argue. Red flag! I’m wary of a person who is emotionally attached to his or her drinking or takes our concern personally. Even if you think I’m wrong about you, say, “No problem, I understand.” Graceful shows of compliance are the way to get me to reconsider.
That doesn’t mean you can’t then inquire (calmly) about what aspect of your behavior is concerning the crew. I appreciate that, actually. Then we can work together for everyone to get what they want – I’m not out to be a buzzkill. (OK, technically I am, but not in my heart!) Try something like, “If I take a break and have some water, as you suggest, can we revisit the topic in half an hour?” I’m totally open to that.
I’m sure you can understand, we want you to enjoy yourself, but we want to avoid this more. Any behavior from you that moves toward finding a solution together instead of conflict, flight attendants will embrace. Of course, that doesn’t just go for drinking.
[Photo: Getty]
What a seizure of grandeur! So the power trip now translates into the megalomania that they "need to feel comfortable" with passengers, all while bragging in another article that they hate to kick said passengers off? Add to this that the reality couldn't be further from the truth. I have been harassed, thrice even threatened, and twice punched by outright drunks aboard planes (ok only once aboard UA). That never bothered the crews to feed them. I don't really blame them, it is hard to judge the character of a drinking person. But don't brag about your greater-than-life skills and responsibilities. That's just tasteless.
Agree with the other two, it seems to be a bit of a cultural thing with US airlines (similar to the idiotic way that US airline pilots operate the 'Fasten seatbelt' signs which in effect, simply creates a cry about the wolf kind of scenario where everyone simply IGNORES them but I digress): Often, staff on US carriers are way too frigid about this topic. And I certainly don't endorse idiots who senselessly drink themselves into danger and had some very nasty experiences with these types of fellow passengers myself. But I noticed that some US passengers use this 'weapon' purposefully to get rid off or at least majorly piss off some unwanted 'foreigners' next to them while they are perfectly within the limits of reasonable drinking. Another special issue US airline crew seems to have is with trialing a couple of drinks with different courses of your meal. In my experience, this seems to be far more suspicious to them than someone who drowns 5 G&Ts followed by free flow of red!
I agree with travelinmanS... while I don't want some loud, possibly violent drunk on board, nonetheless: slurring speech, really? that's overreach. The easy fix is byob. they have these nifty flat, flexible pouches you can slip into your liquids ziplock..fantastic! there are many other ways to byob which i won't go into here as they are, shall we say, less obvious and require discretion. also, if you are slurring, just avoid talking to them..print out your bp ahead of time and slip through the check in w/o any blathering. someone always wants to take the fun out of it.
Or you can fly non-USA airlines whenever possible and avoid this attitude altogether, whilst enjoying a few drinks in the air!