Originally Posted by
Agent69
So I can understand that during daytime flights you need to show consideration for fasting passengers, but if it is a night time flight (where to all intents and purposes everything is normal) why should eating and drinking (in the lounge or on the plane) be any different from normal?
That rationale throws up something of a minefield. In principle, travellers are (or can be) exempt from the fasting obligation: there are some intricate caveats (such as distance travelled, duration, whether the travel starts before or after fajr/dawn) but a believer intent on achieving exemption could reasonably claim it.
Similarly the night-time definition of fasting times is contentious, particularly with daylight changes across time zones.
But the wider point is that for believers the fast is not an imposition to be avoided: it's a very important affirmation of their faith. Most travellers will try to follow a reasonable fasting regime, and while they might normally be resigned to someone next them drinking alcohol, that same situation could be difficult during Ramadan, and therefore awkward for QR to promote..