Flying doesn’t mean you have to settle for boring airplane drinks! With a little creativity, you can turn the standard airplane bar cart into a source of surprisingly delicious cocktails. Here are some easy-to-order options and tips for upgrading your in-flight beverage experience.
Alcohol on an airplane
If you’re flying soon, you might be wondering about ordering a drink on board. What spirits are available? Can you get a cocktail? Can you bring your own alcohol? You’re in the right place — we’ll get into all of this and more!
Bringing your own alcohol
Can you bring alcohol on a plane? The answer is, “it depends.” With luggage fees and packing rules, air travel is hard enough to navigate without trying to pack in a bottle of wine from your latest adventure!
The short answer is yes, you can bring alcohol on an airplane. But — there’s always a “but” with air travel! — the alcohol content and volume of the bottle matter, and so does whether you pack it in your checked luggage or your carry-on.
Like any other item you pack, you should always check with the TSA or similar air travel governing body in the country where you are traveling. Some airlines have different rules for bringing alcohol on board — and some simply don’t allow it at all — so it’s wise to check with them, too. If you’re traveling internationally, be sure to follow local customs regulations and duty-free laws.
- In your carry-on: With many airlines, you can bring alcohol on a plane in your carry-on bag. According to the TSA, it must be in a bottle less than or equal to 3.4 fluid ounces, and must fit into one clear, quart-sized bag, along with any other liquids you’re traveling with. FAA regulations forbid passengers from consuming alcohol on board except when served by a flight attendant.
- In your checked luggage: If you want to bring home a special bottle of wine or whiskey as a souvenir, the larger size means it should go in your checked baggage. Per the TSA, you can bring up to 5 liters or 1.3 gallons of alcohol in checked bags, as long as it’s between 24% and 70% alcohol and still in unopened retail packaging. And if it’s less than 24% alcohol, like most wines, there’s no limit to how much you can pack.
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In-flight drink menus
What are the in-flight beverage options on your next flight? Offerings depend on a few things: the airline, what travel class you are flying and the length of the flight.
Airline: Almost all airlines offer alcohol on their drink menus. Some exceptions include airlines from countries where alcohol is illegal. Usually, wine, beer and spirits are available.
Class: In First Class and Business Class on domestic and international flights, alcohol is usually free. In Coach, alcohol is usually available for purchase on a domestic flight, but is often free on international flights. Also, First Class might have more or better options than Coach!
Length of flight: Sometimes the menu is different on a domestic flight than an international flight.
Don’t wait to decide until the cart is at your row! Check with your airline before you fly so you know the options when the beverage cart comes around. (There’s usually a menu in the seat-back pocket though!)
Here are the in-flight menus from some of the top airlines:
International airline menus
Cocktails to order on a plane
Once you know what alcohol is available to order on your next flight, you can be thinking about what you want to order. You have a few options
- Two-ingredient cocktails: These are drinks in which you order a spirit and a mixer, then you will usually combine them in your glass yourself or the flight attendant will do it for you. For example, most airlines serve canned Bloody Mary mix, which you can mix with vodka, or you can do a simple cocktail like a gin & tonic.
- More creative cocktails: Take it up a notch and mix your own drinks with ingredients you can get on board. Order a coffee with a sugar packet and a mini bottle of Irish whiskey (or Irish cream liqueur) to make your own boozy Irish coffee.
- Something more complicated: Stash an airplane cocktail kit in your carry-on to up the ante throughout your trip from the tray table of the plane to the hotel minibar. These can include things like bitters, dehydrated citrus or sugar cubes. You can even pack a mini cocktail shaker in your carry-on if you like!
Mixing drinks on board
Your limitations don’t stop there — the airport is your oyster! Though you are not able to bring liquids through security, you can get some after security.
You can buy bottled sodas, mixers and juices at the airport that aren’t available on board the plane, like orange soda or root beer, or even local brands. You may bring these beverages on the plane if you purchase them in the airport, as long as they fit in your carry-on luggage.
You can also bring dried ingredients on board, like hot chocolate mix, dehydrated oranges (delicious in an old-fashioned) or crystalized lime powder (perfect for on-board margaritas or adding flavor to a drink.
If your favorite cocktail calls for bitters, you can add some to a small dropper bottle to bring on board with your other liquids.
Best airplane cocktails
Here are some drink ideas to consider for your next flight. You might consider trying to make them at home before your trip — that way you aren’t stuck in a tiny seat with a drink you don’t like!
Of course, airplanes are notorious for running out of things, so have a back-up in mind just in case!
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