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For some holidaymakers, an overpriced in-flight fizz or miniature bottle of sauvignon blanc is the only way to kickstart a break.
Of course, duty-free purchases must stay packaged up, drinks are served in moderation, and cabin crew can cut off passengers causing problems. Still, many travellers regard a drink after take off as an essential part of the holiday experience.
But, as some rowdy passengers are handed lifetime airline bans following alcohol-fuelled air rage incidents, are half pints in plastic cups worth it while flying?
Here, the travel desk debates the best approach to an in-flight tipple, from strict booze bans to necessary nightcaps.
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Not worth the pain
I love drinking on planes. Can’t get enough of it, in fact. A Wetherspoon pint or a glass of champagne before boarding perfectly hits the spot and usually induces a pleasant plane snooze. It’s the aftermath that I can’t handle. Invariably, I wake up from that snooze feeling extra dehydrated, groggy and with a stonking headache, even if I’ve only had a glass or two. And there’s nothing worse than landing bleary-eyed and fuzzy-headed, then trying to work out how to get a cab or find a bus in a destination that is completely unfamiliar to me. Granted, I slip up from time to time, but my general rule is no drinking on planes – it’s just not worth it. – Annabel Grossman, global travel editor
When the time is right
Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, phoned in from the pub to say: “Do I drink on long-haul flights? Yes, if it counts as an evening departure – leaving anywhere between 6pm and 10pm. I find a beer or a glass of red wine, or preferably both, helps to numb the discomfort and assists with sleeping.
“Should I drink on long-haul flights? No. I have just had a 13-hour flight from Santiago in Chile to Heathrow – more than twice the distance of New York to London – which took off at 2.30pm. According to my personal alcohol aperture of 6-10pm, I could have enjoyed a drink, but instead stuck to water. With a full day’s work ahead, I was glad when I stumbled off the plane at silly o’clock in the morning, not to have succumbed.
“Will I drink on long-haul flights in future? Undoubtedly. I have already booked a specific Jakarta to Abu Dhabi flight next month that takes off at 6pm, local time, and arrives at 11pm, local time. I will imbibe in-flight, but in moderation.”
When it's free
I seldom say no to a “free” drink – free being how I consider the tipples that come with my in-flight meal tray when travelling long haul. Missing over-counter melatonin in the UK, a white wine will have me well on the way to dreamland on lengthy overnight journeys in economy. This booze consumption does come with a caveat. Drinks that require my credit card on those Ryanair and easyJet short-haul flights prompt a pause for thought on my financial status, and I have, on the rare occasion, turned down a £7.50 Freixenet prosecco. – Natalie Wilson, senior travel writer
Never
For me, the happy hour starts once I’ve landed at my destination – and by this I mean the place I’m staying for the night, once my luggage is firmly deposited in my room. I’d rather save myself for an exciting new tipple served in a proper glass than the usually subpar in-flight options. And unless airport or airplane drinks are included in the price, they’re usually wildly overpriced. Plus, as I fly solo regularly, feeling groggy or disoriented upon arrival after a few is definitely not a vibe. Especially if you add jet lag into the mix. – Hayley Spencer, assistant travel editor
It’s five o’clock somewhere
I personally feel like you start your holiday as soon as you leave your house, and that means the first drink I have (depending on what time it is) is usually in the airport before I have even set foot on the plane. I keep it to one drink at the airport and one on the plane, however, as there's nothing worse than breaking the seal and having to constantly use the tiny claustrophobic toilet. I think timing is also key here. Maybe wash down your in-flight meal with a gin and tonic, or wait until the last trolley call for a cold beer as sunnier weather starts to appear out of the window. Either way, if you are taking well-earned time off, its never to early to celebrate the start of your holiday. Drink responsibly! – Amelia Neath, travel writer
Juice if I’m feeling wild
Flying for any length of time – whether it’s a short-haul hop or a longer voyage – makes me woefully dehydrated. My skin shrivels up; I’m almost immediately parched. So I never drink alcohol on board, even if it's free. It seems silly to forgo a glass of bubbly when it’s being offered, gratis, by a kindly member of the cabin crew, but it’s always just water for me (or a juice if I’m feeling wild). – Sophie Dickinson, deputy travel editor
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