Free alcohol on flights: when?

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As airlines continue to cut their budgets, fewer services are offered. Free drinks of any kind may soon be in jeopardy. Most US airlines serve free alcoholic beverages to passengers in first class and sometimes business class cabin. Those on economy have to pay for their miniatures.
First class and business class tickets can cost two to three times (or more) than economy class tickets. Most US airlines believe this gives these passengers a few extra perks, including free drinks. First and business class seating is roomier, and while those in the cattle car in the rear pay $3 or $4 US Dollars (USD) for a box containing chips, a piece of beef jerky, and a packet of biscuits, first class and business class passengers are receiving free gourmet lunches and free alcohol.

These passengers also get their free drinks straight from the bottle. In economy, miniature bottles of alcohol sell for about $4 USD each, and the airline only stocks a certain amount of bottles of each variety. In first class, drinks also include the flight attendant mixing cocktails. In economy, when a passenger asks for a Bloody Mary, for example, he gets a cup of Bloody Mary mix and a miniature vodka.

Some of these rules change on international flights. Economy passengers may be able to order free drinks on long flights, and international airlines can offer them to all passengers at any time.

Occasionally, free drinks may be offered as a result of a special occasion. This author was on a flight to Reno, along with a wedding party. The group drank all the miniatures of vodka on board and the flight crew even gave the happy couple a bottle of champagne normally reserved for first class. It was a nice gesture.

However, getting free booze on a flight in the US is rare and is likely to become even less common as budget cuts further impact onboard amenities.

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