JenniferW

We flew Continental to Italy recently and we were charged for alcohol...and what's worse is that they refuse to give you water by the bottle.

Instead they just give you those tiny little cups of water (which you can drink in a second)....it was a pain because I was dying of thirst and they took forever to bring you the water to begin with.

So on the way back I brought my own huge bottle of water on the plane.

Laoghaire

Hello...No charge for any liquor on United Chicago to London a month ago...Helen

carrolldf

Good list dutyfree.

I would add wet wipes to the list.

ThinGorjus

Sorry, darlings, but something smells rotten in Denmark. Some say that all the US carriers are now charging for booze, but only offer up AA and Continental as examples. United, Northwest, Delta still don't charge for booze on overseas flights. But, what I really want to know is: why would you fly an airline that charged you for booze??? Why don't you fly other airlines?? FF miles?? Just wondering.

LVSue, I'm behind the times??? I think not. I just don't fly crappy airlines like you do. I really think some of you don't really travel abroad, you just pretend. I'm calling AA and Continental right now and asking them if they charge for alcohol on overseas flights.

Marilyn

I'm not one of those compulsive water-guzzlers, but I have taken to carrying a small bottle on the plane with me. My experience is that sometimes you get a bottle of water and sometimes you get a cup poured out for you. And sometimes the cup that is poured is from a bottle of Evian or whatever, but sometimes it is just tap water, which may or may not taste very good, depending on where the flight is originating.

Plus it never fails that when you are desperate to take a pill (headache, sleeping, decongestant) the seat belt sign is on and there is not a flight attendant in sight.

I just flew United into London and out of Paris, no charge for alcohol. Flying Delta into Rome next week, so we'll see. Maybe I'll finally have a use for that cool silver flask someone gave me a few years ago.

Grasshopper

John, You're not going to tell me that you ever fly coach are you? Egads! Alcohol is always "free" in business and first.

So what did the airlines tell you? We are waiting with baited breath! LVSue was referring to your use of the term "airline hostess". They are called "flight attendants" now.

LVSue

Actually, Grasshopper, I was referring to ThinGorjus's outdated information on alcohol service (someone else mentioned the "air hostess" term). But I did think I was writing in fairly plain English when I informed her that Delta does indeed charge for alcoholic beverages.

CarolLA

Flew Delta to Paris in May. Had to use my free booze coupon in coach for wine.
Due to the "rude" man in my seat, I was upgraded to Business coming back. Free booze.

Nutella

I agree with Carol above about the wipes. I carry the anti-bacterial wipe packets, and the first thing I do when I find my seat is wipe down the belt buckle, seat arms and seat back tray. I heard some snickers from passengers in my vicinity, but who knows what's crawlin' around, better safe than sorry : )

GreenDragon

As per the water -- I've been on several flights (in coach) where there was a small bottle or cup of water offered perhaps twice during a 9 hour flight -- I bring my own to be able to drink when and how much I want to! And yes, the operative info on charging for booze seems to be 'coach' vs 'business or first' class. I believe most if not all US airlines are charging for booze in coach, and probably none are doing so in first/bus.

I'll second the ear plugs and the alarm, as well. Some B&Bs don't provide alarm clocks either, and a little cheap one I bought in Ireland 8 years ago has been a godsend!

Clifton

I can't speak to all US carriers but AA is charging for the booze in coach. Of course, they're charging for it in first class as well, it's just in the price of your ticket. I'm not a big drinker on flights anyway, just as soon be left alone.

But, I do like to have some water handy. If they start doing that "pay as you go", just so they can show the ticket a few cents cheaper, I'd be less than amused.

Good list, duty free. My list consists of anything that keeps me occupied or unconcience.

Ryn2691

According to a friend of mine who is an FA on AA, the FA's have been lobbying to eliminate "free" alcohol in coach for years. Free liquor contributes mightily to the "rowdy drunken passenger" phenomenon, something most FA's would be thrilled to see the end of. Most people are going to drink more sensibly if they have to pay for the drinks.

I'm sure that the airlines now see it as a win-win situation; they recoup costs, and the FA's are happier.

BTW: having a bottle of water to drink from on takeoff and landing helps to eliminate ear pain. As FA's are not available to serve drinks at those times, it makes sense to bring your own.

Bitter

Haven't traveled abroad this year, but in past years, despite there being "free" liquor/wine, it sure didn't flow freely. My trips are exclusively on NWA. Drinks were offered once before meals and then with the meal. You would have to be pretty assertive to get much more booze and, even then, you would be on the FA's schedule, which could cause additional delays.

traveling_nan

Continental and AA do charge for booze (started July 1, 2002 for Continental). However, they do offer personal entertainment systems and powerports for notebooks in coach, unlike NW/KLM, so I would much rather have the movie system than the cheap wine.

emjoy

I flew United to London in January, and BA to London a few weeks ago (coach for both) and yes drinks were free. I always carry a large bottle of water because I took a flight on BA several years ago where the cabin went dark so everyone could sleep and the flight attendants were harder to find. When I did manage to find someone to request water I got a dixie cup. I feel dehydrated very easily on long flights for some reason so I always take water.
I also use Earplanes, the earplugs that equalize the pressure in your ear because I had a bad experience with ear pain on another flight and I've found that I just leave them in the whole time because the flights are too loud otherwise.
And I bring a small flashlight (it makes me feel more secure) and it's easier to look for things without tunring on your light and disturbing people around you.