Question re: alcohol in carry-on

[annnewjerz]

Hi everyone, OP here.

Usually my posts don't make such waves, so I'm not exactly sure how to respond to the sudden influx of unsolicited opinions on how to deal with pre-flight jitters and commentary on what my DH might do in flight if he has had "one too many."

Well, I guess the saying about no pixie dust on the Transportation Board, is indeed true. I can't see how such a simple question could turn into such a debate.

To all of you who answered my original question---thank you. I was not aware that a FA had to do the "pour" for any alcoholic beverages, and this alone makes me reconsider my decision to bring small bottles in our carry-on.

For those who were wondering whether this is a budget question or a security question, please don't be mistaken---it was and has been a security question for the entire time. We can afford to buy DH two drinks at the bar or on the plane if we can't bring our own on "legally," I was simply asking because we have a small collection of nips from flights we have taken and Christmas stocking stuffers. Who actually drinks these at home? Not us. So rather than having them sit in our pantry, I thought I might bring them, if it wasn't against any rules or regulations.

More specific answers/responses can be found below. Thanks.

You can do a search on flyertalk.

You can put the little bottles in your 1 quart baggie. This isn't a TSA issue.

Any liquor you consume on-board must be served by the FA.

Medication from your doctor makes more sense. Purchasing a drink on board makes more sense then BYOB.

Thanks for the website. I was concerned with it being a TSA issue, as well as an individual airline's issue. I'm a very "by the book" kind of person when it comes to airline travel and wouldn't want to pose a problem to anyone else.

I have a huge issue with anyone taking anything to 'calm their jitters'. Yes, I realize that doctors prescribe meds all the time for this. But you have to be very careful. You just never know how someone is going to react in a special situation. I was on a plane with a gentleman who seemed pretty reasonable..having a few drinks. But, when we hit some turbulence, he got pretty verbally abusive to all around him. Real potty mouth. The FAs were not amused. Seems that the combination of a little alcohol and the stress of turbulence put him right over the top.
The other scenario would be in some type of emergency...you need your wits about you. If you are 'calmed down', you may not be able to efficiently follow instructions.

Thanks for the input, however I think your response is a little out of left field. I can assure you (and anyone else) that I literally meant one or two (at most) drinks. DH and I are responsible adults and if we had any indication of outrageous behavior, such as verbal abuse of other passengers on past flights, I would obviously not be suggesting that he have a drink to calm himself down. I don't drink at all, but I think that if my DH is trustworthy enough to give his entire adult life to the US Navy serving his country, he can be trusted enough to responsibly have a drink and take a nap on a 2 hour flight.

Ditto. I strongly advise against it, and before people get all upset and call me silly names I too have to mentally prepare myself before each and every flight I take, and I fly almost every week and well over 100,000 miles every year. One can absolutely overcome these fears and emotions, with some effort.

Alcohol can create a different reaction on board, and when combined with other emotions. I have seen passengers freak out on board, I have seen passengers denied boarding, and I have seen passengers deplaned on a fairly regular basis.

I also had a family friend die last year from taking medication prescribed by her doctor before a flight 'to calm her nerves'.

And there are countless stories of public urination and other embarassing behaviours from people taking Ambien or other medication on board an aircraft, who were negatively impacted.

There are hundreds of threads (and many websites) about overcoming fear of flying. Knowledge is power, and by educating oneself one can do a lot more than by relying on drugs or alcohol.

And no, you cannot serve yourself alcohol on board from a bottle you brought yourself, or even from duty free you purchased yourself.

I strongly advise directing your husband to a 'fear of flying' website or workship so that he can educate himself.

I don't name call, so no worries about that here. I completely understand that any substance can have adverse effects---even the McDonalds breakfast we allow ourselves to have before going on vacation. I don't claim to be 100% positive that the aforementioned things wouldn't happen to us, but we have been on many flights in the past where DH has safely consumed a drink or two to start our vacation and we have yet to be deplaned, denied boarding or suffer from a "freak out."

If you knew my DH, you'd know that he has a drink, puts on his headphones and goes to sleep. And well, we aren't considering any prescription meds, so I think it's safe to say that DH won't be urinating in the aisles of the plane.

Does the OP want to go BYOB to save money? Those little bottles aren't that cheap in most liquor stores. Is it worth the risk to save $4 or so per drink? Does the OP want to go BYOB so they don't have to worry about being "cut off". Not a good idea.

I see you found a thread sufficiently different to motivate a couple of posts.

Nope, don't want to save money (as mentioned above) and don't want to BYOB for fear of being cut off...where did you ever come up with that? I'm a non-drinker and DH is a kick back with a beer while watching football kind of guy. The implication is that we are poor lushes who can't afford to buy a drink from the cart and after how helpful your first post was, I'm a little disappointed to see this post turn so sour.

or spring for a drink or 2 aboard the plane

have you considered a benadryl or 2 before boarding, sans the booze of course!

Yeesh, benadryl! I've taken benadryl and that's the last thing I want DH to take before spending a whole day in Disney. The effects of a drink wear off rather quickly, in my experience the effects of benadryl---not so much.

No pun intended, I'm sure.

I don't think many people here are advocating a pre-flight drink to calm the nerves. Rather, we're answering the OP's question---namely, no you can't BYOB---and giving her alternatives. That's what we do here in Ye Olde Transportation Board.

That said, while I don't fly as much as some here, I don't think I've ever seen anyone deplaned for intoxication, though I have seen one or two people denied boarding, and more than a few cut off in flight. At the same time, I'm guessing a healthy chunk of all the passengers on all of those planes have had a drink (or three) in the bar before boarding, and/or a drink (or three) on the plane. A few were loud and behaved boorishly, but not much beyond that.

I rather think the odds of OP's husband becoming an uncontrollable loon on the flight after having a drink in the bar are low---even if he orders a double.

Amen! You are correct, all I wanted to know was if I could BYOB. We never have in the past and I just thought I'd check. AND, you are correct, the odds of my DH becoming more of an uncontrollable loon than normal are slim Give me a drink on the other hand, and we've got problems.

And as keishashadow points out, this really isn't so much a security question as a budget question, since the OP's husband could legally and relatively easily purchase alcohol on board.

Actually, this is so much of a security question and not at all a budget question. We're going to Disney---I would hate to think that anyone that could afford hundreds of dollars to go to WDW, couldn't afford a $5 drink.

 

[dudspizza]

I think I need a drink.... anyone want to have a Chuck Norris with me? We can have a cold Coors Light after that!

On another note, would it be out of the ordinary for me to book 1st class on my next trip the USBC Open and then drink the free booze, even though it is a 6:00am flight? If I am flying first, I want the free booze! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

Don't kill me bavaria, just having a little fun!

Happy day!

Duds

 

[annnewjerz]

On another note, would it be out of the ordinary for me to book 1st class on my next trip the USBC Open and then drink the free booze, even though it is a 6:00am flight? If I am flying first, I want the free booze! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

Ours is a 9:00am flight, not too much better. It's got to be 5:00pm somewhere in the world.

 

[bavaria]

Any thread isn't owned by an OP, and isn't directed by the OP. The moderator of this forum was the first to divert I believe on this thread into a discussion about taking substances to deal with a fear of flying.

There are alternatives, yet the most common suggestion on this website is drugs or alcohol. I don't really care if the OP cares to listen to my suggestion or not, but I am frankly a little saddened by how many people here brush off suggestions and recommendations to take control of their fears and to actually do something other than just rely on drugs or alcohol.

Maybe the other discussion didn't help the OP, but it may have helped someone else.

If the only answers permitted were 'yes', or 'no', then this would not be a discussion board and it would be very boring indeed. I for one am tired of all the rules and restrictions that posters now seem to have in place for how and what one can say in response to a question. This is a discussion board, not a 'just answer the question' board.

If you don't like my diversion, then please include the moderator and at least one other poster who also took the discussion into a different direction, but one which was still relevant to the topic.

Again, there are many useful and effective fear of flying websites, as well as books, which can help the OP's husband (and anyone else who is 'freaked out' by flying) for the long term.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In addition to bavaria's last paragraph, directly above (I hope), there is hypnosis. Yes, really. A family friend developed a paralyzing fear of flying suddenly while aboard a plane - on which, fortunately, the door had not yet been closed. Friend refused to fly for close to ten years, to the extent of taking a train across country. Spouse would fly to destination the same day friend arrived, and they would vacation. EVERY year. Late last year, this person chose to see a Boston hypnotherapist nicknamed "Mad Russian" (no pun intended)... and flew for the first time this millennium.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are alternatives, yet the most common suggestion on this website is drugs or alcohol.

Again, as the husband of a psychiatrist, I'm pretty comfortable with the idea that, under the care of a competent physician, someone who is anxious to the point of incapacitation can be helped in a real and material way by the appropriate medication.

Is it the only way? No. Can it be effective, and generally safe? I believe so. In light of that, I don't see the harm.

Now, not to pick on a prior poster, but someone who is self-medicating with random leftover prescription medications originally meant for some other purpose? Not so much. Indeed, my limited understanding is that such behavior is technically against the law in the US.

Likewise, as someone who enjoys the occasional tipple more than occasionally, I don't think that having a drink before getting on the plane is doing anyone any harm, and if the tippler believes it helps them with their nerves, who am I to argue. Of course, all things in moderation. If one needs to get to one's fourth double-highball to get on the plane, then perhaps one's problem is alcoholism rather than anxiety.

 

[crashbb]

Again, as the husband of a psychiatrist, I'm pretty comfortable with the idea that, under the care of a competent physician, someone who is anxious to the point of incapacitation can be helped in a real and material way by the appropriate medication.

Is it the only way? No. Can it be effective, and generally safe? I believe so. In light of that, I don't see the harm.

Now, not to pick on a prior poster, but someone who is self-medicating with random leftover prescription medications originally meant for some other purpose? Not so much. Indeed, my limited understanding is that such behavior is technically against the law in the US.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are suggesting the SELF-medicating (as opposed to DOCTOR medicated) route. Either using leftover drugs or someone else's medication. That is scary.

 

[Carriemel]

To the OP...opening and drinking liquor not served by a flight attendant is a violation of one of the FAR (federal air regulations)...possibly punishable by fines and or jail time. I don't think it'd be worth bringing your own as opposed to buying one of the airline-sold drinks.

I'm looking at USAIrways FAQ as an example, and this is what is said:


Beer, wine and liquor are complimentary for First Class and Envoy customers. For customers on US Airways Shuttle flights, beer and wine are complimentary. In accordance with federal regulations, only liquor provided and served by flight attendants may be consumed onboard. Alcohol will not be served to passengers younger than 21.

 

[annnewjerz]

To the OP...opening and drinking liquor not served by a flight attendant is a violation of one of the FAR (federal air regulations)...possibly punishable by fines and or jail time. I don't think it'd be worth bringing your own as opposed to buying one of the airline-sold drinks.

I'm looking at USAIrways FAQ as an example, and this is what is said:


Beer, wine and liquor are complimentary for First Class and Envoy customers. For customers on US Airways Shuttle flights, beer and wine are complimentary. In accordance with federal regulations, only liquor provided and served by flight attendants may be consumed onboard. Alcohol will not be served to passengers younger than 21.

Thank you for the clear & concise answer. This is exactly the information I was looking for. Now that I know it's against regulations, I would not even dream of doing it. I need to get to Disney, after all.

 

[MariDisney]

Passengers deplaned at a stop (direct flight) or passengers not allowed to board a connecting flight as a result of BYOB behavior aren't entitled to a refund or accommodations on a later flight.

I figured they just opened the door and flung you out. Perhaps they could consider that for children too loud on the flight as well.

 

[disneygal55]

We were flying SW last June when a 60ish woman came onboard holding a plastic cup with a light brown liquid inside. The flight attendant asked her to identify the drink...she said "applejuice". The flight attendant left for a few seconds and came back saying, "Ma'm I smell beer..you can't drink any alcoholic drink unless you get it on the plane. The woman handed it over...it was beer.

 

[NotUrsula]

OP, please don't be offended over Bavaria's observations. She's right -- sometimes SOME people lose perspective when they are nervous and consume more than they should, not counting on the intensifying effect of adrenaline. It's just a general observation from a VERY frequent flyer; not a judgment on anyone in particular and not on you personally. We speak a lot in generalities around here, because threads are often read by people other than their OP's -- people who want to know but are afraid to ask.

I'm not completely against a bit of "medicating" when flying if it makes you feel more comfortable, but IMO it is crucially important to make sure that what you do on a plane in those circumstances is no more than you would do for say, meeting a new SO's parents. You want to make sure that you don't cross the line into impairment. Key to that is NEVER trying anything new for the first time while flying. Different people react in different ways to the same substances, and beyond that, your body may react differently to it on an aircraft than it does on the ground, so it's always best to be conservative with the amount.

Apparently the OP's husband gets mellow and drowsy when he drinks. Some people get belligerant, some people get grandiose, some people get teary, some lose their libidinal inhibitions. Those of us who fly frequently have seen reactions that run the gamut, and *some* of them are rather unpleasant to witness in close quarters. (Personally, I find that "grandiose" is one of the most common reactions and one of the most consistently irritating.)

I think that if you find a fear of flying (or claustrophobia) to be a hindrance to your lifestyle or ambitions, then it is definitely a good idea to try to find a long-term solution that does not involve chemicals. In the short-term, however, I think that mild meds or a very judicious amount of alcohol can be helpful for the occasional flyer; whether the problem is anxiety, or over-sensitive ears.

I'll unequivocably agree with Bavaria on one point: when it comes to Ambien, just say no. That stuff is very unpredictable, and the amnesia that it often causes means that you never really know HOW it affects you unless you consistently travel with the same stone-sober companion.

One thing I would ask of those who medicate in any way -- stay out of the exit row. You've got no business relying on chemicals if you have agreed to help in the event of an emergency.

 

[Brian Noble]

Key to that is NEVER trying anything new for the first time while flying.

Okay, am I the only one who's thinking of the infamous Woodstock announcement?

If you feel like experimenting, only take half a tab, okay?

 

[BCV23]

OP, as you've learned it is against regulations to pour your own drink on the plane.

But you are allowed to take those little bottles through security in your 311 bag. My DH does it all the time. He actually refills his little bottles at home. Yes, he does this to save money. Leaves more for those WDW trips. That way, he can enjoy a glass of bourbon in his hotel room after a long day.

He learned this trip from a TSA agent on Maui shortly after the 311 requirement went into effect.

If a drink will help your DH tolerate the flight better, he could always enjoy it while waiting to board.

Happy travels filled with pixie dust.