Hot Pocket

Because literally **every** business decision is about money. Sit in on any corporate boardroom in America for the glaring truth.

smmrfld

Is WN not a publicly-held company that is ultimately responsible to its shareholders?

Eastbay1K

Not mentioned here (unless I missed it) are that supply chains and catering facilities are an issue. Some airports have little to no operational catering facility at this time.

ursine1

Again, it's to limit exposure between FAs and passengers. Yes, management would like to sell drinks again as soon as possible. It's a balancing act.

Eastbay1K

Given that there's over $5 of profit in every minibooze sale, you bet.

cbn42

If it were about money, they would be pushing drink sales as hard as possible. They are selling a beer for $6 that probably cost them less than $1 to buy wholesale, and the FAs are already on the clock so there is no added labor cost. They could definitely use the additional profit right now, given the state the industry is in.

It's not about money, it's about maintaining social distancing and keeping their employees safe.

NoStressHere

Thank you stating what should be obvious.

(not everything is conspiracy theory worth - lol)

Eastbay1K

If the corporate boardroom minutes didn't reflect this, the number of D&O litigation claims would skyrocket, a lot worse than they already are.

Limiting exposure between FAs and passengers is, ultimately, about money, due to health insurance claims, labor conditions claims, death benefit claims, and what not. A healthy workforce with good morale (ultimately producing less turnover, better efficiencies and customer satisfaction) is part of the calculation.

We've progressed somewhat from "If we do nothing with the Ford Pinto, we'll make $X in profit, and Y people will die or be maimed, resulting in X minus Z in claims. Since X is more than Z, we win." But we haven't progressed as far as some might hope (and probably regressed, in certain instances).

I expect that I will also not be drinking alcohol on my WN flights later this month.

TEBraniff

As to bringing your own hooch! Many decades ago I was going to be stuck on a Kuwait Air flight to Cairo heading to Paris. Knowing alcohol prohibition in Middle East, sorta like Oklahoma, I got 3 JD minis from my stash to take on board. I was surprised the aroma that was disbursed when I opened the first mini. The person sitting next to me asked if I would share lol. Making conversation I asked him what he did. He opened the briefcase on his lap and it was chock full of Kuwait Dinars lol. I didn't feel so guilty afterall.

Beachchaser

I am a shareholder and prefer inflight booze so your statement is accurate.

worldwidedreamer

For what it is worth before 9/11 my parents would often bring a full bottle of champagne on a plane, which the flight attendants would chill and serve with grace.

Also, I believe that Delta sells wine "to go" from SkyClubs. Not sure if they allow flight attendants to pour, however I know that JetBlue formally allows flight attendants to serve passengers their own alcohol.

NoStressHere

They are not serving because they are trying to social distance. So, what happened in the past has no bearing on today.

Beltway2A

Not under the current system. They exist to wring every penny out of the customers and shareholders, while pumping every possible penny to their executives. Any shortfall is made up by the taxpayer.