A LOT of passengers think they’re being sneaky by bringing their own booze onto flights as a handy money-saving method for having a holiday drink.
But it could get them into a bit of trouble, even though there’s technically no real rules against doing it, in the UK at least.
This week I’m letting you know the rules around drinking your own booze on flights
It’s not the same for all airlines, so it’s worth checking with whoever you’re flying with, as some might have their own rules.
Carriers who sell drinks on board are more likely to be against it, rather than those who have drinks included in their ticket prices, for example.
However, as far as I’m aware, there’s nothing technically stopping you from getting some miniatures from the duty free shops and mixing them into a soft drink once you’re in the sky.
The problem is that it’s hugely discouraged by all airlines and it is something that flight attendants are on the lookout for.
We monitor our passengers’ alcohol intake and keep an eye on how much each person has had, especially if they keep ordering drinks as the flight goes on.
That’s why some airlines are happy enough for passengers to drink their own booze, but only if the cabin crew are the ones to pour the drinks.
If passengers become unruly once they’ve had a few, we’re well within our rights to restrain them – and this is much more likely to happen if you’ve been helping yourself to your own minibar.
The lower air pressure on a plane basically means you can get drunk a lot quicker in the sky than on the ground as well, so stronger spirits are likely to affect you much more than they ordinarily might.
We see people all the time who think they can handle their booze, only to turn into a slobbering, staggering mess in the sky.
It happens in every class of the plane too, be it people in economy on their way to a holiday, or people in business class drinking champagne on a fancy work trip.
All of this is a recipe for disaster, so you can understand why we’d rather you didn’t enjoy your own supply once we’re in the air.
Restraining passengers can then lead to legal intervention, no-fly lists et cetera, so moderation is certainly important once your flight has taken off, no matter how excited about your trip you are.
Also, before you get hammered on your plane journey, you need to think about your onward journey.
If you can’t stand up at baggage claim, how do you expect to get yourself and all your luggage home, or to your hotel in a country you don’t know or where you can’t speak the language?
Also, it may seem glib, but not everywhere has the same attitude to alcohol as we do in the UK and you being drunk might be more of a problem than it is at home.
It could even be illegal, as it is in some countries, where they impose strict fines and even jail time for those who are noticeably drunk in the street.
I’d urge all passengers to think about how it could affect them in the long run, before they pour themselves a cheeky drink on board.
It could stop them getting on planes again in the future if they’re not careful.
Meanwhile, this flight attendant revealed how to get extra free drinks while on a flight.
And another explained how to get drinks that aren’t on the menu.
AlamySome airlines will let you do it openly, if the cabin crew pour the drinks for you[/caption]