Warning to plastic bottled water drinkers at SFO, no longer offered for sale 20Aug'19
 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-wi...xt-11566158511

" Starting Tuesday, the sale of plastic water bottles will be banned at San Francisco International Airport, one of the few places they actually make sense. California has many dumb laws and statutes and bans, but this one is especially brainless—spurred by futile self-righteousness. "

We travel with foldable, roll-up water bottles.

This is a great move and long overdue. Every airport should follow suit.

I can't tell if the "article" is tongue-in-cheek, or if the author actually believes what he's written.

For those that want to discuss what led to this ban (a city ordinance against plastic water bottles sales on city-own property), please see
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/san-francisco/1981309-sfo-bans-sale-single-use-plastic-water-bottles.html

Let's not get OMNI here either

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

What I don't understand is this is water bottles only. So anything else including flavored water is allowed to be sold. Seems like consumers may just buy different options which may be unhealthy. I'm hoping the vendors sell some type of water in another bottle. I don't like to rely on the FAs to keep me hydrated. I also don't want to travel with a container for water.

There are companies selling water in paper cartons similar to milk cartons (though still single-use), and in glass.

This is still the best option. Paying $3 or more for something that it given away for free is a good definition of insanity.

I agree airport pricing is crazy. I like the idea of water fountains. However, this requires the airports to keep them clean and properly serviced. I don't really trust airport authorities to do so. Just seems odd I can still buy a diet coke or hint water. You'd think they just ban all plastic.

UA related: what about lounges? Will UA no longer stock water bottles at its SFO facilities?

I have no problem refilling a reusable bottle, but airports need to make sure there are plenty of refill stations available and that the water is actually palatable. I tried this in PHX recently and nearly puked when I took a drink of the water. It was so nasty, I gladly purchased an expensive water.

There a number of user-supplied bottle refill stations at SFO. Such as by the food court area of concourse F and in concourse E Gate 68
https://www.flysfo.com/content/hydra...ons-terminal-3
with Hetch Hetchy / Sierra water

Enter Hydration Stations on https://www.flysfo.com/maps
or
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3e83e1f14b.png

Do they sell sparkling water in glass bottles (e.g., San Pellegrino)?

Thanks.

GC

Yes, only plastic water bottles are not allowed.

Good point.
I hadn't thought about that.

Let me rephrase: Do they sell sparkling water (in plastic, apparently, if at all?)?
They do sell other beverages, such as Diet Coke, in plastic? Or is it going to only cans (which, er, spill very easily, vs. bottles with caps)?

Gc

No, sparkling water in a plastic bottle is not allowed to be sold.

Per ordinance:

On the subject of sparking water/club soda/seltzer, FAs of multiple carriers, including UA, protect them like they are non-rev upgrades. Every time I ask for the remaining portion of the can on board, it's like I am asking for a glass of cognac. Also, no ice =/= add ice into my drink.

Very supportive of this. Was on a delayed flight tonight (the last day before this becomes effective) and UAL staff offered snacks and bottled water. The United agent begged me to take as many as possible as she said they cannot offer water starting tomorrow and have many in stock. (I don't drink bottled water so didn't take them). I guess this ban extends to airline provided water in the terminal as well.

I hope SFO expands the filling stations for water bottles beyond the few stations now. I think it is very ineffective when something beneficial like this happens and the majority of the impact is to take something away rather than expanding the offering of a positive alternative.

They are selling aluminum reusable bottles of water now in place of plastic. Which I would guess 90% of them will end up in the trash.

Actually a prime business opportunity for someone; sell aluminum bottles with SFO and the Golden Gate Bridge on it, mark it up even more, and sell it as a souvenir.


I also saw cans of LaCroix and glass bottles of mineral water.

Just get a few of .

How is this UA related???

it is not! Unless UA stops supplying water bottles on p.s. flights out of SFO ... then it becomes relevant

Vapur travel bottles fold up to even smaller sizes, plus they have a built-in carabiner clip.

Refilling a bottle in flight isn't particularly easy. (But, yeah, one big reusable >> 4 tossable)

Plus, in the EcoSkies of United, I've gotten rude looks from FAs when I ask them to pour water from their big jug into my reusable bottle rather than yet another blue plastic cup. Must rub them the wrong way like asking for the rest of the can of soda.

Just ask UA for an empty plastic bottle in flight. then when you land at SFO fill it at a station.

Guess we'll see a lot of "flavorless" juices being sold :p [your ordiancec quote disappeared, but it said juices are exempt]

I take the their point as hydrating in flight using the 3-4 bottles which refilling a single reusable bottle 3 times mid-flight isn't most practical, unless you're a fan of non-potable bathroom sink water?

Its not like there weren't beverages served in glass prior to this- beer, Snapple, water at the restaurants, etc.

Haven't been since the new rules. So I can buy a plastic bottle of Black Cherry Soda but I can't buy a plastic bottle Black Cherry flavored carbonated water?

Why? It is an easy way to help the environment and not hard to do. I travel everywhere local and abroad with my own water bottle. Saves money and the environment

Is this going to affect the free bottles at the Polaris?

I always carry a bottle to fill when I travel, and that is just a practical solution. I have no issue with this. Plastic doesn't get recycled as much as it should, even when placed in the proper bin, while glass and aluminum have much higher rates of reuse (especially aluminum - it is nearly 100% recycled).

Hey, you can always give us our money back.

The problem is that soda bottling has moved so heavily to PET that it would be unreliable to deliver a replacement. Water can be replaced with hydration stations and glass bottles much more easily.

As for keeping water fountains clean and properly serviced, the standards for tap water are much more stringent than bottled and airports are going to be very vigilant about that.

You mean like the glass bottles they've been selling since before PET bottles existed?

Why does it make sense to use single use? Why not travel with one bigger bottle instead of buying 2-4 smaller bottles?

Don't let reality get in the way of a narrative.

Water bottles that are 1L or larger are allowed anyway.