How to Keep Your Spirits Up For Free When You Fly
Some airlines offer free alcoholic beverages, and some don’t. Some are stingy with service, and others are generous. Here are some tips for how to stay properly lubricated and enjoy your flight.
Having a cocktail on your flight can help you settle into your trip, take the edge off anxiety, and prepare you for your inflight entertainment binge, or a good sleep.
If you’re a frequent flier, you’ll know how soft drinks and alcohol can help you make the most of being sky-high. You also know they can be expensive or free, depending on the airline and the route. Many airlines, such as American Airlines, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, TAP Portugal, British Airways, SAS, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas, offer complimentary beer, wine, and spirits on long-haul international flights. Some, like American, offer complimentary spirits only between certain routes, such as LAX and SYD. And some airlines don’t have alcohol onboard at all, such as Egypt Air, Kuwait Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Pakistan International Airways.
What you may not know is that there are hacks you can use to get free drinks and refills while in the cabin, even when you’re flying coach. One expert is sharing how.
“There are various ways to get free drinks on flights that many people don’t know,” says drinks expert Daniel Ufland, of The Whisky Masters. “They aren’t underhand, or in any way inappropriate. They’re just smart hacks that can help you get a bit more for your money and take care of your thirst while on a commercial airline flight.”
“Happy hours on planes tend to be limited because airlines don’t want to have to deal with drunk passengers. But you may well get free soft drinks during the flight’s happy hour, and that will at least quench your thirst. Hydration is vital on flights!
“To make the most of your flight, do your research before you book so you can make complimentary drinks and other perks as likely as possible. When you’re in the air, use the tips I list below to make getting free drinks likelier.”
How to Get Complimentary Drinks While Flying
- Hidden menus: You may find a secondary menu in the airline’s flight magazine in the seatback pocket, or a digital version of it on the entertainment system. It’s worth taking a look. You might find soft or alcoholic options on it that aren’t offered on the main beverage cart menu that you are given.
- Join the Frequent Flyer Program: If you are a frequent flyer, or otherwise have the status to be part of the airline’s loyalty program, join it. That way, you will likely receive complimentary drinks as a perk.
- Be nice: Sometimes, just asking the flight attendant for a complimentary drink politely can yield positive results. Good manners can work wonders.“Being polite is much appreciated by flight attendants who have a difficult and rather tiring job to do. Tip: Dress well, too. Appearance can have a subliminal effect on others that makes them subconsciously see you in a positive way,” says Daniel.
- Special occasions: If you’re celebrating a birthday, a new child, an anniversary, or your wedding, let the flight crew know. They might just offer you a free goodwill drink.
- Be observant: If a flight attendant offers complimentary drinks or other perks to another passenger near you, ask for a freebie too. Just ask nicely. “The inference is that if they don’t favor you, too, you are being slightly disadvantaged as a guest of the airline. No airline wants that, so if you ask in the right (polite) way, you might just get lucky.”
- Use Credit Card Benefits: Some credit cards offer extras like free drinks or upgrades on flights. Does yours? If not, and you are a frequent flyer, you might want to think about swapping to a credit card that offers these perks.
- Be happy: Some airlines have happy hour promotions, when drinks are on the house. Does your airline have such offers? Check out the small print.
- Gratitude is the attitude: “Please try to see the situation from the flight crew’s point of view and treat them with as much respect as you can. Not only will that help them have a better day, but it will also make getting your freebies more likely,” Daniel continues.
That last point, though: We were flying Economy to Sydney on Qantas, and the flight was full. We helped our flight attendant put bags in the overhead bins, and we calmed a fussy baby who was screaming. A couple hours into our flight, our attendant came down the aisle with two glasses of Taittinger he’d taken from First Class. He set them down on our tray tables and winked. “Don’t tell anyone,” he said.
About The Whisky Masters
The Whisky Masters is a premier online whisky retailer offering a curated selection of fine and rare whiskies. Catering to both seasoned connoisseurs and newcomers, the company provides an extensive range of products from renowned distilleries worldwide. Their collection includes limited editions, rare collectibles, and exclusive releases, all aimed at enhancing the whisky tasting experience. The Whisky Masters prides itself on exceptional customer service and reliable nationwide delivery across the UK.
