United to start offering beer & wine on overseas flights

[GilliC]

I guess saying "start" isn't quite as accurate as "resume!" I remember back when this was a normal thing for US carriers, and then it slowly disappeared. It's now one of the strangest differences in service between the European and US airlines, and a lot of people are surprised to find out that beer/wine aren't even included with meal service. I definitely prefer flying a European airline trans-Atlantic, since I like having the option of a glass of wine to relax during the flight. Since United flies one of the few direct routes to the US from here, this is exciting news!

www.jaunted.com/story/2015/4/22/61211/6578/travel/United+Says+%27Drinks+On+Us%27+For+Those+Traveling+Overseas

[v]

Well, that makes me feel a tiny bit better about United. I sure do like my free wine on the way home from Europe.

I wonder if they'll continue to serve not even a packet of peanuts on the 10 hour route between Newark and Honolulu.

[rupertpenny]

I think the no booze policy only lasted a little more than a year.

We have actually avoided United for exactly that reason. If I'm flying transpacific with a toddler I really need a drink or two to get me through it. We will probably continue to avoid United though because they suck.

[Cicero]

Did Delta ever stop doing this?

[origami]

May 2, 2015 21:17:15 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Did Delta ever stop doing this?

I don't know but I've been getting alcohol on delta for at least a year. Maybe longer but I don't remember before that.

[wise_rita]

May 2, 2015 16:28:41 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I guess I'm one of the ones who didn't know this had stopped.

Me, too.

How utterly unacceptable!

Well, at least they've fixed it now.

[neonpink]

May 2, 2015 21:17:15 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Did Delta ever stop doing this?

I don't think so. They are who I always fly international.

[cheezer]

I just flew United transatlantic this week and I didn't even realize this was their policy as I spent most of my flight passed out with an Ambien. But how annoying. Glad they're changing.

[Wanderista]

I'm actually someone who doesn't really drink alcohol on flights. I have on occasion but it's not a big thing for me. I guess that I find it dehydrating so I'm more likely to stick to water and fruit juice. I also tend to have the window seat so I try to avoid needing to pee too much. I enjoy drinking socially in general but I just don't tend to do it while flying. 

That said, I think it should be available for anyone who wants it in moderation. It's not like I'm anti-drinking on flights. Anti-stupid behavior? Yes. Drinking? No. I'm fine with it as long as the plane doesn't turn into a stag night or frat party. That might be my idea of hell.

[iammalcolmx]

Why would anyone stop alcohol on flights overseas? I bet the FA's were pissed.

[Susie]

May 2, 2015 16:48:01 GMT -5 v said:

I wonder if they'll continue to serve not even a packet of peanuts on the 10 hour route between Newark and Honolulu.

That route is fuckingmiserable.  We did it in January.  I thought I remembered it being even longer than 10, but my mind might just be exaggerating.  Paying for checked bags and BYO snacks on a flight that's double digit hours is some bullshit.

[EmilieMadison]

I've flown Delta to Ireland, England and France in the last couple years and there was complimentary wine and beer served whenever they served drinks.

[frlcb]

I think Delta has always served it

[pittpurple]

I also don't drink on flights, it just makes me feel gross and thirsy but DH will genuinely be super excited about this. He always prefers a drink with his meal on overnight flights and begrudged the $7 they charged him for the priviledge! We fly United almost every time we go back to the states as their Edinburgh-Newark flight is just so, so easy for us (I hate going through London more than I hate United!)

[definitelyO]

Whew! Just in time for my 12hr flight to Japan this week!

[Cicero]

May 5, 2015 8:16:05 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I think Delta has always served it

Thats what I thought but it's also been a long time since I've flown coach internationally on Deta so I wasn't sure. Cutting out booze is a stupid policy.

[iammalcolmx]

May 6, 2015 11:42:15 GMT -5 Cicero said:

May 5, 2015 8:16:05 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I think Delta has always served it

Thats what I thought but it's also been a long time since I've flown coach internationally on Deta so I wasn't sure. Cutting out booze is a stupid policy.

Guess what!!! I am going to fly International Economy Comfort for one leg of my trip to Africa this summer, I think I can do it. I am so proud of me.

[lg28]

May 6, 2015 13:01:49 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

May 6, 2015 11:42:15 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Thats what I thought but it's also been a long time since I've flown coach internationally on Deta so I wasn't sure. Cutting out booze is a stupid policy.

Guess what!!! I am going to fly International Economy Comfort for one leg of my trip to Africa this summer, I think I can do it. I am so proud of me.

I will be thinking of you.

[iammalcolmx]

May 6, 2015 13:43:03 GMT -5 lg28 said:

May 6, 2015 13:01:49 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Guess what!!! I am going to fly International Economy Comfort for one leg of my trip to Africa this summer, I think I can do it. I am so proud of me.

I will be thinking of you.

It's for my Amsterdam to Atlanta leg. Delta doesn't have reward availability and its only 1200 a ticket as opposed to 2600 a ticket and I just just can do something else with that money. I don't sleep anyway on flights back to Europe, and all over 4 legs of this trip will be in Business so I will live. Well I think I will, LOL!!

[wise_rita]

May 4, 2015 9:26:10 GMT -5 Wanderista said:

I'm actually someone who doesn't really drink alcohol on flights. I have on occasion but it's not a big thing for me. I guess that I find it dehydrating so I'm more likely to stick to water and fruit juice. I also tend to have the window seat so I try to avoid needing to pee too much. I enjoy drinking socially in general but I just don't tend to do it while flying. 

That said, I think it should be available for anyone who wants it in moderation. It's not like I'm anti-drinking on flights. Anti-stupid behavior? Yes. Drinking? No. I'm fine with it as long as the plane doesn't turn into a stag night or frat party. That might be my idea of hell.

Oh, totally!  I am a big drinker IRL but on flights I have 1 max, to go with my sleeping pill, to ensure I am sufficiently knocked out for most of the flight.  I had 2 drinks one time and that was a mistake.

But damn it I want the option!

[GilliC]

May 10, 2015 19:51:01 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

May 4, 2015 9:26:10 GMT -5 Wanderista said:

I'm actually someone who doesn't really drink alcohol on flights. I have on occasion but it's not a big thing for me. I guess that I find it dehydrating so I'm more likely to stick to water and fruit juice. I also tend to have the window seat so I try to avoid needing to pee too much. I enjoy drinking socially in general but I just don't tend to do it while flying. 

That said, I think it should be available for anyone who wants it in moderation. It's not like I'm anti-drinking on flights. Anti-stupid behavior? Yes. Drinking? No. I'm fine with it as long as the plane doesn't turn into a stag night or frat party. That might be my idea of hell.

Oh, totally!  I am a big drinker IRL but on flights I have 1 max, to go with my sleeping pill, to ensure I am sufficiently knocked out for most of the flight.  I had 2 drinks one time and that was a mistake.

But damn it I want the option!

It's now kind of a moot point for us. They're stopping our Newark flight in the fall and turning into a seasonal summer-only route. So annoying. They cite competition from Norwegian, but since Norwegian has no codeshares, it does not help any of us flying to the midwest! I have anger and disappointment.

[wise_rita]

May 11, 2015 6:27:28 GMT -5 GilliC said:

May 10, 2015 19:51:01 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Oh, totally!  I am a big drinker IRL but on flights I have 1 max, to go with my sleeping pill, to ensure I am sufficiently knocked out for most of the flight.  I had 2 drinks one time and that was a mistake.

But damn it I want the option!

It's now kind of a moot point for us. They're stopping our Newark flight in the fall and turning into a seasonal summer-only route. So annoying. They cite competition from Norwegian, but since Norwegian has no codeshares, it does not help any of us flying to the midwest! I have anger and disappointment.

Might I recommend KLM.  A short stop in Amsterdam and the Midwest is your oyster.

[osumelissa]

I flew United to and from Europe this spring - I totally sucked it up and bought booze on the flight to Prague. I needed some wine to knock me out. I felt like absolute crap flying home, so booze was the last thing I wanted.

I think for flights over a certain amount of hours, free booze should be automatic.