Self-Serving on a Long Haul
 

Is it possible to conveniently bring aboard and use one's own booze for a long flight?

If you buy a duty-free bottle, can you crack it open mid-flight? I've heard FTers say that the airline must serve all alcoholic beverages but they are usually divided as to wether you can give it to the service crew and they will serve it to you.

Anyone have any insight?

Check with your airline.

None, far as I know, will allow you to serve yourself. Some will hold your bottle and pour you drinks from it as long as they deem you sober.

Yes, it would clearly be against airline regs to buy a small bottle of booze after going through security, put it in your carry-on bag, get club soda/other mixer during beverage service, and pour booze in out of view of FA and other pax during flight.

I agree. And it would also be against airline regs to snaffle away a few bottles of beer from the lounge fridge and open it in full view of the FA during the flight. If Paddington was on the flight he might even give you a very frosty stare. :) Let that be a lesson to us all.

FWIW, serving yourself isn't just against airline regulations. If the carrier is registered in the USA then it is also a federal crime. Not saying that you'll be caught or prosecuted, but that is the actual rule.

In the past, some FAs have reportedly agreed to pour liquor brought aboard by pax, but I don't recall seeing any recent instances posted here.

Fwiw, I believe it was fairly uncommon, even in the past. Now that many airlines are charging for alcoholic beverages, my guess is that it will virtually cease to occur.

I have read threads where first or biz class pax have had an FA serve them their own wine, but never one where someone in coach got that kind of service.

It could be that's all I have read as well; my memory is not what it used to be.

Here's the earliest reference I can find to pouring one's own (the thread is about international coach service), but it's not entirely clear if the OP is discussing alcohol he's brought on board.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/387558-post4.html

When I went on my Euro Trip with 5 more friends from college we downed a bottle of Absolut in coach (IAD - GVA). Alcohol was purchased in the duty free and I did my best to hide it. We didn't get caught and everyone was happier later.

I should have said that I don't *recall* reading about it in Y, I also can't claim to remember all the details of every thread I've seen here over the last 8 years. I did some searching and have grabbed the links for a few relevant threads, although some are older. I have skimmed most of these, and only found references to BYOB working in J or F.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...wn-wine-2.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-airlines.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ve-poured.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...nfiscated.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/omni/...-airlines.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/conti...ium-cabin.html

I have made a habit of buying mini bottles in the real world, taking them through security (< 3 oz. = never been a problem), and being discreet about consumption on the plane. In about 10-15 instances, I've never heard as much as a peep. If you're not an obvious bozo about it, dunno why it would be an issue.

I call it civil disobedience... you can call it whatever you like :)

I'm going to get a lot of flak for saying this but I think it's whether or not you get caught serving yourself that is the most important question.

Canadian regulations as well.