This morning I heard a rumour that shocked the living daylights out of me .

The rumour was that several international airlines are discussing the possibility of restricting the service of alcohol on flights, especially long flights.

Alcohol will only be served during a meal and passengers will not be allowed to bring their own booze onto a plane.

Apparently these discussions have been bought about due to the increased number or air rage cases and an increase in the number of complaints about passengers behaviour from fellow flyers.

I am wondering if this is fact or fiction. Has anyone else heard about this plan or who the airlines involved may be? Would people fly on an airline that restricted it's service of alcohol? Do you think they have a right or do you think it's going to far?

If it has to do with air rage, then it must be BA

[This message has been edited by JJeffrey (edited 06-17-2001).]

have posted this on another thread. but in coach on 4 int'l flights on aa recently , have asked for a double & was told i could have one & another later. has to do w/ people getting druk & disorderly. can't remember what thread this was discussed on.

Don't know if it's fact or fiction, but it wouldn't surprise me if some sort of change is in the works.

Although I like to have a drink when I fly, the airlines certainly have the right to stop serving booze whenever they feel like it. We're talking about transportation companies here - not the neigborhood pub.

I doubt it would affect my travel plans either way. Alcohol availability - although something I'd like to have - would be about 15th on my airline selection criteria.

For years, the official airline position has been that they support serving booze on board because if they don't, people will bring their own on board. By serving it on board, at least they have some control over it. And most FA's I've talked to agree with this position.

First of all, although I'm sure that alcohol exacerbates air rage situations, I don't believe it generally causes them. Airlines have been serving liquor on board since the 1930's, yet the air rage phenomenon has been relatively recent.

I think there's a very strong correlation between the rise of air rage and the serious decline in the quality of the airline flight experience.

And, even if the airlines stop serving liquor, what about the passengers who board already well-oiled? Most GA's are loathe to deny boarding to an intoxicated pax because they know they'll get an argument, and the plane may not pull away from the jetway on time, thus harming the airline's on-time record.

Of course, the FA's have the authority to "86" any passenger who's had too much to drink. Yet, having spent lots of time at both ends of the plane, I've noticed that FA's don't want to give doubles in international coach where the drinks are free, yet have no problem serving doubles on domestic coach where the pax are paying $4-5 per, or in FC where the FA's don't want to offend their high paying pax. So, it would seem that alcohol service has more to do with economic considerations than air rage fears.

The GA's have the authority to deny boarding to intoxicated pax, and the FA's have the authority to cut off pax who drink excessively on board. So, why punish the majority of flyers who drink responsibly, for a very small minority who abuse the privilege?


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In Economy...no one can hear you scream!

When I fly coach, I am always given doubles even when I don't ask for it.

This is news to me, and I would think would be a great cometitive disadvantage. There are already airlines which are "dry" for ethnic reasons, and they do have a problem. PIA will allow you to take your own, and they will serve it - discretely. BA will serve you drinks free, but will keep an eye on how much you are drinking, and although it is subjective judgement, decline to serve you if they think that you have too much. Duy Free sales are such a money spinner that the carriers would have great difficulty in stopping people bringing alchohol aboard. Sad to say, but I suspect that any reticence in serving doubles on International is more to do with dollars and cents than flight safety.

I can't imagine why anyone would drink more than 2 or 3 alcoholic drinks on a flight -- it is not a bar or a nightclub. The alcohol dries you out. Much better to stick with water, especially for those long flights.

If someone needs to drink more, I think they might have a bit of a problem.

You are right. Veryoftne the problem is fear. Fear of flying. It is incredible how many people still suffer that. I am not condoning the drinking, merely trying to understand why.

Thanks for the responses. I guess it may have jsut been a rumour but I will certainly keep my ears opne and let you know more if I hear it

Phoebe

Tango,

International Economy? Which airline is that? I may change airlines!

PAUL PALMER,

Exactly what I said!!!

opus17,

"A flight"? Exactly how do you define "a flight"? LAX to LAS or LAX to SYD? Big difference between a 30 minutes LAS flight vs. a 15 hour SYD flight!

I agree that alcohol dries you out, and it's much better to drink water onboard. But who set you up as arbiter as to what others drink?

Many drink onboard due to sheer boredom. I know sometimes I drink in order to get a bit of sleep in a not too comfortable seat. I almost never drink Bloody Mary's, but I drink them regularly on board.

If a passenger gets rude and obnoxious due to alcohol, I think you've got a very legitimate beef!!!

But if he/she sits quietly knocking off more drinks than you personally approve of, what is your problem??? He/she isn't hurting you or disturbing you! So why are you concerned about how many drinks he/she is putting down? And if he/she does in fact have "a bit of a problem," how does that affect you?

I know it's cliche, but I still love the expression, "Live and let live!"

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In Economy...no one can hear you scream!

Semi-Elite -- I never said anything about approving or disapproving. I was merely making the observation that I can't imagine why someone would want to drink that much on a plane. What does flying have to do with drinking booze?

There are many other activities that one does during the course of the day that does not involve drinking alcohol -- taking a bus, going to the movies, going to work...

Maybe you're right and it is considered part of the in-flight entertainment, or a sedative to tolerate tight seating...

I've never seen anyone drink alcohol at 7 in the morning, except on a plane (maybe also in my college years, but that was because we never went to sleep...). I just find it a bit strange, but I'm not proposing anything be outlawed or banned.

This better be just a rumor. There are a ton of airlines out there and a few alliances. I would just have to switch if my carrier decided to follow suit.

B.Y.O.B.!

(and no corkage fee ...)

On AA coach I always automatically get a double every time!