Flight Delays = Free Booze

[kb9vzh]

For those of us that get to start there week off with a trip to the airport knows how FU?K@D up the airlines and air travel has become. No offence to pilots and flight attendants. They are there to do the job, and do it very well... I am a frequent flier of United Airlines and get to visit them two to three times a week, or more. Now you are probably wondering why I wrote this, well this is a BREW FORUM, so here is the part where the BOOZE comes in. If you are on a United Flight that has a delay over two hours at the gate and then you sit on the taxiway for an extended period of time, you will get free booze on most flights. There is nothing I hate more than flight delays, but when they offer a few free drinks on the flight, it’s all good!!! Not all airlines do this, but United has the right idea. Now if we can only get them to offer free beer, served from a mobile keg, while waiting in line for hours to rebook canceled flights, all would be perfect!!

 

[Flyin' Lion]

I responded if it's free (assuming only that I am a pasenger). I rarely fly, though and normally just sleep when I do fly. However, I would hardly turn down a free drink.

 

[wild]

When leaving AZ, I always get the Sky Harbor early to enjoy a Bloody Mary or three. They don't offer any good beer but those Marys are pretty darn good. Outside of AZ I've been lucky enough to patronize an airport or two that housed a tap house.

Wild

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

My only flights lately have been around 8 to 10 hours. I'm a sissy and I hate flying, so these long flights kill my nerves. I have to drink or eat a few xanax if I can get my hands on some. I have a prescription just for flights, but I don't live near that doctor anymore so kind of hard to get.

 

[Drunkensatyr]

Hate flying (ears get stopped up for about 3 weeks after a flight..and yes I HAVE tried EVERY trick in the book) but what I hate more is the 5.00 cash beer little bottle of liquor. That being said, my wife and I will usually bring a 20 just for vodka tonics.

 

[FlyingHorse]

I won't drink beer on a flight (free or not) because they rarely have anything I'd like to drink. I'll drink wine on longer flights, especially if it's in Business or First, where the stuff's usually a little better (and "free"). Don't usually drink on little hops in the US.

Can't say I recall a situation where the airline gave out freebies for a delay. Would probably take advantage if I ever had the chance.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I'm a frequent traveler (get on a plane at least once a week) and if it's after 5pm and I don't have any work to do, I almost always get my drink on (but then, I'm also almost always sitting in First Class due to the free upgrades my frequent flyer status gets me).

 

[magno]

Ive never been offered free booze just because the flight was delayed, but I have gotten it for offering my seat to a kid who wanted to sit by his grandmother. For some reason no one would part with their seat, I volunteered, and the flight attendant kept me in rum and cokes the entire flight. Also my parents fly Southwest often enough to get free drink tickets, which usually get passed along to me.

Call me cheap, but I wouldnt pay for it though.

 

[EdWort]

I belong the the airline club where booze is free. On the way home in the evenings, it's nice to have a couple of scotch on the rocks to make nap time more enjoyable.

 

[david_42]

I rarely fly any more & the trips I make tend to be short range, up & down the West Coast. I don't drink alcohol on flights. As people have pointed out, no good beer. Back when I drank mixed drinks (about 30 years ago) and had the miles, I would have a few free ones. I'd rather have a decent brew at the airport or wait until I get to the hotel or home.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

I've been "lucky?" enough to be on one of those United flights. I think that kid trying to make beer in Lybia could make better hootch than the stuff I was served for free. I think I'll pass next time.

 

[olllllo]

If you're fortunate enough to get into some of the FF clubs in certain cities (mostly intnl) you'll find complete pour-your-own wet bars.

 

[jdoiv]

I had a flight to Dallas that got redirected to Shreveport due to bad weather. They just parked the plane on the tarmac, opened the door for fresh air, and rolled the beverage cart out into the aisle and said "help yourself". Those 2 hours went by pretty quick.

 

[Focus]

I'm a skiddish flyer and I've found by many direct observations that I'm much, much more calm after a few drinks on or before a flight.

I generally live by the following mantra:
"Booze - don't leave the ground without it"

Focus

 

[Fingers]

I'm too cheap to pay bar prices for bad beer, but if they give it to me for free, then it's worth the price. Years ago I flew fairly regularily back and forth from the north and all the booze was free. When they quit handing it out, I quit drinking it.

 

[krispy d]

you can usually get Heinies at least on a plane. I must admit I don't remember the last time I flew with out a drink or two.

 

[Turkeyfoot Jr.]

I had a couple long layovers in Atlanta during my contractor days and while the drinks weren't free I had nothing better to do so I saddled up to one of the bars in the airport. Met some really interesting people killing those hours away.

 

[DeathBrewer]

i've never received free booze when my flight's been delayed

 

[Beerrific]

I had a couple long layovers in Atlanta during my contractor days and while the drinks weren't free I had nothing better to do so I saddled up to one of the bars in the airport. Met some really interesting people killing those hours away.

I had a two hour delay there a while back. They have those Sam Adams Tap Houses, I pulled up had a beer or two (at $6.50 each nonetheless) and watched the Braves game time passed very fast. Not much better to do in an airport.

 

[BierMuncher]

Nice to know I'm not the only cheapskate. Free anything....Sign me up.

 

[Fingers]

They landed a 707 on a gravel runway. It had to be equipped with skirts to keep the rocks from damaging the fuselage. When you came in to land, the runway was so close to the river that from the side window it looked like you were going in. I always resented not getting a free drink for dealing with that.

 

[z987k]

8 hours bottle to throttle. But I love going to the airport every day.

 

[knarfks]

I just went to singapore. United airlines screwed up, they canceled my flight and put me on a decent Asian airline with decent booze and decent service. No freebies from united though, just a pain in my rear with days stuck in hong kong, and having them cancel my itinerary twice for no reason...Sorry, off topic, I just have bitter memories of being screwed by united.

 

[kb9vzh]

I just went to singapore. United airlines screwed up, they canceled my flight and put me on a decent Asian airline with decent booze and decent service. No freebies from united though, just a pain in my rear with days stuck in hong kong, and having them cancel my itinerary twice for no reason...Sorry, off topic, I just have bitter memories of being screwed by united.

Getting screwed by any airline now days is typical. I just read in Chicago Tribune that if the Airlines don't start keeping schedules and keep up the cancelation and delay rate that the FAA is going to take over scheduling. This may be a good thing...

 

[dibby33]

Forget Club class / First Class / Buisness class.
I fly (or used to prior to having children) Jack Daniels class.
Three doubles with beer chasers prior to boarding sets you up nicely, then the wines and the beers and more whisky... zzz

 

[olllllo]

In the US Airways Lounge Philadelphia

 

[The Drizzle]

Free Sam Adams on the Delta Shuttle

Sometimes the delays get so bad, i wish i could drink.

 

[The Pol]

#1 The FAA will have one HELL of a time regulating airline schedules. The FAA will essentially be causing financial harm to airlines that operate hubs in NYC and Chicago, while foregoing the same cutbacks with airlines that operate in less congested hubs. There will be a fight and alot of lobbying against those regulations, and I don't see the government hurting big business, especially if it is unbalanced where there are winners and losers.

#2 Free drinks are not an airline policy. United, Delta, American... we have no rules in our manuals detailing when and if we should offer free drinks. That my friends is left to the sole discretion of me, your captain. I personally think that free booze is a good thing, if ATC screws you (the airline as most passengers see it) I think giving away some skunked beer is a great idea.

#3 Sorry about the delays, but you know, there is a pilot shortage and since the FAA and the government have only built ONE major airport in 20 years, you get what you get. Also, it doesnt help that the air traffic system is currently running on a Commodore 64... people, most airplanes that you fly on do not even have GPS capability! Everyting dates back to the technology that was available back in the 50's and 60's. The government does not want to pay for infrastructure, that is why your bridges are collapsing as well.

#4 If you want the cheapest tickets, expect the cheapest service.

Enjoy your flights

 

[olllllo]

#1 The FAA will have one HELL of a time regulating airline schedules. The FAA will essentially be causing financial harm to airlines that operate hubs in NYC and Chicago, while foregoing the same cutbacks with airlines that operate in less congested hubs. There will be a fight and alot of lobbying against those regulations, and I don't see the government hurting big business, especially if it is unbalanced where there are winners and losers.

#2 Free drinks are not an airline policy. United, Delta, American... we have no rules in our manuals detailing when and if we should offer free drinks. That my friends is left to the sole discretion of me, your captain. I personally think that free booze is a good thing, if ATC screws you (the airline as most passengers see it) I think giving away some skunked beer is a great idea.

#3 Sorry about the delays, but you know, there is a pilot shortage and since the FAA and the government have only built ONE major airport in 20 years, you get what you get. Also, it doesnt help that the air traffic system is currently running on a Commodore 64... people, most airplanes that you fly on do not even have GPS capability! Everyting dates back to the technology that was available back in the 50's and 60's. The government does not want to pay for infrastructure, that is why your bridges are collapsing as well.

#4 If you want the cheapest tickets, expect the cheapest service.

Enjoy your flights

Addendum to #4.
I will never fly x airline again! Uh... Yes you will as soon as x airline has the cheapest fare... That's why you were on x the first time.

 

[The Drizzle]

it doesnt help that the air traffic system is currently running on a Commodore 64...

i may have just pooped myself laughing. too true.