Southwest Airlines withholding return of alcohol service after passenger knocks out two teeth of a flight attendant

Back in a totally different era some if not all airlines would serve anyone who was wearing a military uniform. I experienced this on a flight down to boot camp on Western Airlines in the mid 70’s. The Seven and Seven I had took the jitters away some as I headed into the unknown.

I was of legal age but I know some who weren’t and they got the same service.
 
As several members have already mentioned, for a lot of people, it’s become sort of “the thing to do”, to head to the airport bar prior to flying, and get partially, if not completely, hammered, before getting on the plane.

And, just to reiterate what others have already said, behavioral problems on flights and at ticket counters and gates are almost exclusively caused by drinking, and or drug use.

But this is just a microcosm of society, right?

Just think how many societal and family problems are the result of drug and alcohol abuse. I’d say it accounts for the majority.
 
spasm3 said:
I'm amazed how some people become pleasant with a few drinks, and others become downright mean and nasty, aggessive. I wonder if the alcohol removes inhibitions and the real person starts to show. I don't know, but its odd.
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Well, there’s no question that it attenuates or downright removes inhibitions.

And that’s one of the major problems with alcohol, coupled with the deleterious effect it has on balance, coordination, motor control, and judgment.
 
You can legally bring in airline minis on your carry-on past TSA, provided they are factory-sealed and in a quart Ziploc meeting the 3-1-1 rule.

and you can get sloshed at the airport too. I’ve come close on delayed flights.
 
nthach said:
You can legally bring in airline minis on your carry-on past TSA, provided they are factory-sealed and in a quart Ziploc meeting the 3-1-1 rule.

and you can get sloshed at the airport too. I’ve come close on delayed flights.
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You can get sloshed at the airport.

Just like you can drive 150 on the highway.

Both equally smart, both have consequences. Getting away with it once doesn't change how dumb it truly is.

Federal law prohibit boarding intoxicated passengers. So, getting sloshed at an airport is a really dumb idea - because the airline can refuse you travel, and they owe you nothing. No compensation.

Federal law also prohibits passengers from consuming their own alcohol on flights.

So, bring your minis, sneak a few on the flight, piss off the flight attendants, get met by the cops, get banned for life on that airline. It's happened before, and following your advice, it will happen again.

Federal stipulates both of those things for safety. Inebriated passengers cannot evacuate an airplane in an emergency. 90 seconds to evacuate the entire airplane is the certification standard for every passenger aircraft. Can't do that with impaired individuals. So, the airlines have a responsibility, backed by federal law, to prevent inebriation in their passengers. It's unsafe.

I just went through this with a young couple flying from EWR to HNL last week. They were probably already a bit under the influence when they boarded. They brought their own booze. Tried to consume it on the airplane. Got belligerent and profane with my crew (a huge mistake) when they were caught. As they sobered up, they apologized and calmed down.

Which worked out better for them. I had already begun the process of coordinating a landing in SFO, and having them taken off by law enforcement. I'm quite serious.

Their big, special trip to Hawaii was about to be canceled by their own stupidity.

If your need for a drink is so strong that you cannot get through a day without getting sloshed, do everyone a favor and stay home.

Getting sloshed at an airport, or on an airplane, is a terrible idea.
 
Astro14 said:
You can get sloshed at the airport.

Just like you can drive 150 on the highway.

Both equally smart, both have consequences. Getting away with it once doesn't change how dumb it truly is.

Federal law prohibit boarding intoxicated passengers. So, getting sloshed at an airport is a really dumb idea - because the airline can refuse you travel, and they owe you nothing. No compensation.

Federal law also prohibits passengers from consuming their own alcohol on flights.

So, bring your minis, sneak a few on the flight, piss off the flight attendants, get met by the cops, get banned for life on that airline. It's happened before, and following your advice, it will happen again.

Federal stipulates both of those things for safety. Inebriated passengers cannot evacuate an airplane in an emergency. 90 seconds to evacuate the entire airplane is the certification standard for every passenger aircraft. Can't do that with impaired individuals. So, the airlines have a responsibility, backed by federal law, to prevent inebriation in their passengers. It's unsafe.

I just went through this with a young couple flying from EWR to HNL last week. They were probably already a bit under the influence when they boarded. They brought their own booze. Tried to consume it on the airplane. Got belligerent and profane with my crew (a huge mistake) when they were caught. As they sobered up, they apologized and calmed down.

Which worked out better for them. I had already begun the process of coordinating a landing in SFO, and having them taken off by law enforcement. I'm quite serious.

Their big, special trip to Hawaii was about to be canceled by their own stupidity.

If your need for a drink is so strong that you cannot get through a day without getting sloshed, do everyone a favor and stay home.

Getting sloshed at an airport, or on an airplane, is a terrible idea.
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I'm pretty sure that public intoxication laws apply to most airports. Also - servers are supposed to have the authority (and even the obligation) to cut off customers who are sloshed.

I believe it's not specifically illegal to consume alcohol brought onto an aircraft by a passenger. But legally it has to be "served" by an airline employee. I get that not all airlines allow their employees to serve alcohol handed over by a passenger. Most don't.

The rules stipulate that an airline must serve the alcohol. Like having a waiter uncork and pour the bottle of wine you brought to a BYOB restaurant, you can bring your own liquor aboard — provided you have a flight attendant serve it to you. This allows flight attendants to keep an eye on consumption and avoid any messy, potentially dangerous problems.​
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The catch is that airlines are under no obligation to serve a passenger their own alcohol, even if they won't sell you a drink, either.​
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"Airlines are not obligated to allow passengers to consume their own alcohol, and may enact policies that prohibits this activity," an FAA spokesperson said.​
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Most airlines do not have a clear policy, leaving it to the flight attendant's discretion. (JetBlue said in 2017 that it would allow BYOB; American Airlines doesn't.)​
 
nthach said:
You can legally bring in airline minis on your carry-on past TSA, provided they are factory-sealed and in a quart Ziploc meeting the 3-1-1 rule.

and you can get sloshed at the airport too. I’ve come close on delayed flights.
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Bringing it is one thing, but drinking it would be another. It's probably not going to be legal to drink your own alcohol at an airport.

Also - I don't see any specific requirement that the bottles be factory sealed. They would just need to be in 100 ml or smaller containers just like any other liquid.
 
I have been flying the globe for decades. On the long haul flights (business class) many passengers like wine with dinner … watch a movie … get a nap. Coffee before landing.
But, seems every time I see stupid on a flight … it’s the domestic leg getting me to the long haul flight …
 
Astro14 said:
I stand corrected on the law - I knew it had to be served by FA's.

Still, we agree on the wisdom of over-indulging while at airports or airplanes.
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I've heard that it's still considered a gray area. However, I don't believe any airline has ever gotten in trouble for merely opening someone else's bottle and pouring it into a cup.

Looked up the regulation, and it doesn't quite say whether or not BYOB is allowed if handed over to a flight attendant. A lot of people seem to interpret it like corkage at a restaurant. Also - nobody serving alcohol to anyone with a weapon, which I suppose includes law enforcement with authority to carry a weapon on commercial aircraft. Also not allowed for anyone transporting a prisoner §121.575(b)(2).

§ 121.575 Alcoholic beverages.​
(a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.​
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(b) No certificate holder may serve any alcoholic beverage to any person aboard any of its aircraft who -​
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(1) Appears to be intoxicated;​
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(2) Is escorting a person or being escorted in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.221; or​
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(3) Has a deadly or dangerous weapon accessible to him while aboard the aircraft in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.219, 1544.221, or 1544.223.​
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(c) No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated.​
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(d) Each certificate holder shall, within five days after the incident, report to the Administrator the refusal of any person to comply with paragraph (a) of this section, or of any disturbance caused by a person who appears to be intoxicated aboard any of its aircraft.​
 
rooflessVW said:
You must not travel across oceans very often.
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From what I’ve read, especially in higher-tier cabins the Asian/Middle Eastern carriers are a little more liberal with alcohol. But within reason.

And thanks Astro14 for the real-world example of getting hammered on a plane. Personally, I only have one drink at the airport or the plane - but I’ve seen people get sloshed before boarding. I’ve had bartenders at the airport try to pour me another drink, I tell them no.
 
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Astro14 said:
Nearly every incident involves alcohol or medication.

In every case, consumption happened prior to boarding. Getting liquored up, or medicated, before flying is simply an atrocious idea. No good comes of it.

Federal regulations require denial of boarding to anyone under the influence of anything. So, hitting the bar before boarding could get you denied boarding, and because it's your fault, the airline owes you nothing.

I can't think of a single one of these recent incidents that involved alcohol served on the airplane. F/As are trained to monitor passengers who are served, and to limit their consumption while on board.

Please don't make the big mistake of getting drunk before boarding. It's just plain stupid.
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F/As are trained to monitor passengers who are served, and to limit their consumption while on board.

Gotta disagree with you here. Pre-Covid I have seen F/A after F/A serve 3-4 (or more) drinks on ORD-DEN or LAX-DEN to someone in first knowing **** well that most of them have to drive home afterwards. I've more than once spoke up about it ... to the F/A's, to the Pilots, to United, and nothing is ever done. Now a days, serving alcohol up front while denying people in back just boggles my mind as airlines talk about "responsibility"
 
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