Know_It_All

So now with Covid - 19 many airlines are not serving drinks. I believe per TSA I can carry on travel size minis in a quart size zip lock. But I cant drink them? Or can I hand them to the flight attendant and have them "serve" it to me?

CA1900

Not on the plane, no. That's federal law for airlines in the US.

Quote:

Or can I hand them to the flight attendant and have them "serve" it to me?

Technically, I suppose you could, but since the whole point of not doing normal service is to minimize passenger/flight attendant contact, I can't see the crew being too receptive to that.

synergistic

I should not admit this, but I used to do this frequently. I didn't flaunt it, nor did I tell the staff. Sometimes I'd just buy a 20oz ginger ale just before boarding and pour it in before boarding, sometimes I'd ask for a full can of soda onboard and pour it in that, sometimes both. Never an issue, but I was careful not to advertise what I was doing.

Edit: also, liquor stores are amused when I bring in a quart size bag and tetris in as many of the tiny bottles as I can.

miamiflyer8

Did I once sit next to you on an American Eagle flight?

storewanderer

Just put the vodka in the water bottle before you board and it's all good?

s0ssos

What is the justification for not serving alcohol nowadays?

synergistic

Haha, doubtful, I usually got upgraded on the short flights with AA and didn't bother with all that when there was Woodford being offered up. CLT-SLC, though? Totally possible...

NoStressHere

Social distancing.

They are not serving soda either.

nachosdelux

they are handing out whole cans of water

It would be just as safe to hand out whole cans of soft drink/mixer and whole minis of alcohol.

I have a lot of unused/expired drink coupons. Hope they let us use them in the future. First round on that flight is on me (well at least the first 30 or so)

kennycrudup

Nah, cost-cutting, WN is bleeding money like all the others.

rsteinmetz70112

Going on Vacation once my wife and I took all of the makings for Pina Coladas, except for the rum. The FAs were puzzled when we ordered rum and ice only. They got excited when we pulled out the mix pineapple and cherries.

MSPeconomist

When airlines sell alcohol on board, they should be making money from it since this doesn't require more FAs. The prices don't appear to be subsidized.

kennycrudup

I was thinking more like ordering inventory, stocking and logistics in the face of low loads (which likely explains no drinks but water). Thankfully, people are flying again (most of the segments I've been on in the last few weeks have had at least ~75% available loads) so a return to (maybe non-mixed) drinks and booze may be forthcoming before 7/1.

expert7700

Not nearly as safe as an FA serving the same item (water can).

Asking passengers for an order creates a second, slower interaction, while crew slowly goes row to row. FA would have to talk past the aisle seat passenger to the window (and eventually middle seat passenger) to determine drink preference.

Menus and Southwest magazines have been removed. The length of interaction in close proximity amplifies if FA has to RE read all the drink options to a clueless passenger.

To retrieve the drink the FA would have touch/contact points with more drawers, handles, etc. Likely move many cans or bottles to the side in order to get the right product, and put back the unused items for the next FA or crew.
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​​​​​​There are upto 4 WN FAs but only two galleys. By the end of the service they would have opened and closed way more items and cross contaminated sections with the other FA.

To sell alcohol FA will additionally have to handle a passengers drink coupon or credit card, plus unzip/sort the bag of mini liquor. Then there are additional duties (counting and inventory) involved

NoStressHere

It is not about money. Why so many negative conspiracy theorists?