Originally Posted by
pinniped
Does the law really allow that distinction? I mean, the reality is that anyone in Biz or F is paying for the drinks one way or another.
I remember long ago going to tailgate parties in college - highly organized, professional ones - where it was a $10 or $20 cover and then "free" beer inside. The organizers had no liquor licenses...they were just sharing beer with friends.
The productions eventually got so big - hosted by radio stations and other businesses - that finally the local authorities said no, if you're charging a cover you're basically selling the liquor. The next year, a couple radio stations kept truly free beer tents going but they eventually faded away entirely.
Likewise, it seems that buying an F ticket is effectively paying for all of the amenities of F, including the liquor.
They may be able to sell liquor on the ground actually, not sure. I am surprised the way airlines are nickle and diming people to death they don't offer to sell PDB's in coach.
Something I am curious about as well is how a liquor license in the sky works. If WN is in an airspace over a state they don't have gates in, do they have pay for a state liquor license for that state since they are serving in their airspace. Or with alcohol service on a redeye. If the plane is over a state at 2:30 a.m. that has a cutoff time of 2 a.m., can they still serve in the air over that space? Or in Michigan they can't serve after either 6 or 8 p.m. on Christmas eve (and this includes the casinos), so if WN has a Christmas eve flight after that time, can they still serve liquor while in Michigan in the air.