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Galley Gossip: How to get free beer in flight
ews.com.au about a passenger who stole a few cans of beer from a beverage cart and then tried to flush the evidence - the empty cans, not the liquid - on an Air Canada Jazz flight. The pilot diverted the plane and the nameless thief, 23, was arrested for causing a disturbance on an aircraft. Like most airlines, Air Canada Jazz has zero tolerance for unruly behavior.
It did not come as a surprise to read about the passenger who had been caught stealing liquor, because I've come across quite a few sticky fingers myself over the years squatting in front of an unmanned cart or walking out of the galley with minis hanging out of their pockets. Yes, I made them put it back! What shocked me about the whole thing was the fact that the passenger actually tried to flush those aluminum cans down the toilet! Seriously, that's crazy!
Once, years ago, on a Sun Jet International flight, a passenger decided an hour before landing that a fire extinguisher would make a wonderful souvenir. Somehow, I don't know how, she managed to stuff the large red bottle inside a duffel bag and hide it under the seat in front of her, and she did it without anyone seeing her do so. The extinguisher only found its way back into the metal brackets behind the last row of coach after we, the crew, made several PA's threatening to search every bag on board the airplane, which happened after we made a few other PA's about not allowing anyone deplane until the fire extinguisher was returned - no questions asked. Not too long ago a passenger lo and behold "found" an egg McMuffin just sitting on my jump seat and figured it was for the taking. If the guilty one had not already bitten into my breakfast sandwich I would have snatched it back. I can't even tell you the number of times my magazines and books have disappeared right out of my tote bag. People do crazy things on airplanes.
Now back to the beer-drinking-aluminum-can flushing idiot who didn't have to steal the liquor which resulted in an arrest and probably a fine that was much higher than the price of an adult beverage. Really, there are ways to get free alcohol without causing an in flight disturbance, ya know. Oh sure it depends on the crew and the airline and what's going on that day, but here are a few ways to increase your chances...
HOW TO GET FREE BEER ON A FLIGHT
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Switch seats. When the family with small children scattered all over the airplane asks if you mind switching your aisle seat for a middle seat, do it! Just make sure the flight attendants are watching.
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Assist. It's seconds before departure and you see a flight attendant struggling to get those last bins shut, give her a hand. She'll remember who you are.
- Speak up. The jerk in the last row is going on and on about his miserable day and now he's taking it out on the crew. They can't say anything, but you can, and they'll be glad you did.
- Lie. Tell the flight attendants they're doing a wonderful job and this is the best flight you've ever been on. Thank them for making your day.
- Brag. Let it be known just how many miles you've flown on the airline and then tell the crew why, exactly, you've flown so many miles and why, exactly, you'll continue to fly those miles.
- Be Polite. Saying please and thank you and making eye contact actually goes a long way
- Don't ask! Even if you think you deserve it.
Stories of booze gone bad in the skies
Filed under: Canada, Airlines, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Paul Oct 16th 2009 11:03AM
Don't ask? That one lost me. How can they know you want a beer unless you tell them you do? Drool when you see the liquor cart?
SB Oct 16th 2009 11:11AM
"Don't ask" for a freebie.
Master Shake Oct 16th 2009 2:33PM
Easier solution - avoid American and Canadian airline flights. You can have all the beer and wine you want on the airlines of most other countries. I went through seven drinks on a 3 hour flight last time. They couldn't care less.
Frank Oct 18th 2009 11:13AM
:::groan:::
Some posters are missing the point. INSTEAD of stealing it or expecting it for whatever reason, possibly assisting in our everyday customer service issues, a COLD ONE will probably come your way.
I assisted with a wheelchair passenger other day, he took the wrong seat. He looked at his second flight of the day boarding pass. That said, 8C. He should of been in 20C. The man who was rightfully booked in 8C said he would move to 20C. And, for that, I offered him a BEER. Why? He could of demanded his seat assignment for whatever reason and have the elderly man struggle down the aisle, but HE DIDNT. I caught that compassion in him. He saw he had a cane, etc and helped out the situation. The inconvenience was lessened by him being compassionate.
Don't ask! Even if you think you deserve it:
We've heard every excuse in the book. I'm NOT saying there are no valid excuses, but there's plenty of them that dont muster up to the "let's see what I can get free" mentality of passengers. Ever see someone try to explain their way into an empty first class seat?
Be Polite. Saying please and thank you and making eye contact actually goes a long way
Can you imagine? A beer for actually being nice. After saying hello to many passengers boarding and receiving little to no acknowledgement, I "remember" that individual who had the decency to return my welcome. Not sure when manners became obsolete, but I always comment to parents who teach their children to say thank you and please. And, I thank the kids too. Seriously, when did GIMME.............gimme a coke, gimme a pillow become proper etiquette?
this article reflects the way, we as flight attendants may reward you for your kindness. It's a small way to give thanks. It's gratitude. And gratitude comes from the heart.
ted9255 Oct 16th 2009 11:03AM
"Don't ask'? So we have to beg or pass some kind of 'test' to deserve another drink? Sounds like these people are like governement workers - give them a little authority and they abuse it! Another reason to hate flying especially US AIrlines!
Carrie Oct 16th 2009 11:57AM
I think she means to not ask for a FREE drink, but then, I just might be misunderstanding her.
F.B. Oct 16th 2009 11:47AM
You do not have to ask, I have been on many trips, done a few of the above tips, and have gotten more then my fair share of Comp drinks for me and my wife.
Rule number one, be a nice person to the flight crew, help them out, and chat them up, it goes along way. But do not be afraid to pay for your drink. Not going to be free all the time.
Take care, and safe flight!
Tonia Oct 21st 2009 5:15PM
I agree!! I am a people person, so my playful-chatty personality is greatly appreciated by crew. I don't have to ask, infact the FA for first class and for coach both offered me freebies on my last flight to St Thomas. SeriousIy, I was just being myself joking with them, and I ended up with 3 cocktails...and I'm not a drinker! If you only do things with "whats in it for me" metality, you will always be disappointed thinking someone owes you.
Carrie Oct 16th 2009 11:50AM
At the risk of sounding like a Puritan (and as someone who, admittedly, enjoys a beer on her long-haul flights) I really think that in flight, especially in coach, there should be a two- or three-drink limit. I've seen someone get dehydrated AND drunk from imbibing too much alcohol on a plane, as well as the usual instances of someone being a drunken fool. In the air there's no way for me to walk away like I can in the ballpark, at a concert, etc., and while I don't think alcohol should be removed from flights (even though it would make life so much easier on everyone involved in many cases), I do believe that it should be limited however, and that the limits should be enforced. Conservatively, half of the problems I have seen on the flights I've been on were directly caused by one passenger's alcohol overconsumption and subsequent inability to act like a (civilised) human being.
DENGuy Oct 16th 2009 11:52AM
Frontier used to be good about this. The other major legacy carrier in DEN could care less.
RicHard Oct 16th 2009 12:44PM
DON'T ASK FOR A BEER....DEMAND FOR A BEER!!
cheryl Oct 16th 2009 12:58PM
I got "bumped" to first class when I helped out an elderly lady in a walker. Gave her my bulkhead isle seat. Helped pick-up mags she had dropped and best of all, rebuttoned her blouse that had come open with only a male attendant present. I ended up in the middle of a row in the back of the plane for a couple of minutes, then settled into first class with a drink in my hand! No one else made any effort to help and all I could think of was my grandmother!
Bill Oct 16th 2009 2:22PM
I always get free beer or anything else - never a problem. Just fly first class. The food's better too.
Devin Oct 16th 2009 2:09PM
Funny, I've tried several of these before and they haven't worked. I even tried the, "oh my new bride and I are on our honeymoon and can you tell me, will we be bording soon?" They say if you say that, chances are they'll bump you to 1st class. Lol. I've tried that bit 8 times and not once was I ever bumped up. The last time, the checker says to me, "yea, so." In regards to us just getting married. I was like, talk about attitude. I was very friendly too.
Steevo Oct 16th 2009 3:05PM
8. Go to medical school. Fly on a plane where the purser asks "is there a doctor on board?" Help out. Free alcohol!
linmarco Oct 16th 2009 3:10PM
Just pay the going rate for a beer. Why go through all of this, lying included, to get
something that's relatively cheap? Barring that buy some beer when you deplane.
This article doesn't cut it.
Netsurfer Oct 16th 2009 3:12PM
It makes me sad to think someone doing such an important job as flight attendant would be starved for simple, common courtesy which costs the giver nothing. On my last flight (5 1/2 hours) I made a little joke to the FA that I enjoyed the delicious cake (included with the in-flight meal) he baked for us. He laughed and for the rest of the flight he was eager to accommodate my requests for extra soda, another wine, etc. It never hurts to thank the crew upon disembarking, and always compliment the captain on his landing, although I once said after a loud bang of a landing "interesting landing" which made the captain laugh. These people do an awesome job that's too often taken for granted.
Matthew Oct 16th 2009 3:49PM
Hi all,
Even though I do enjoy a beer or two, I try to stay away from them when flying. I see others enjoy them, but with the dry air and such, I try to stick with juice or water. As far as being polite, I do as my parents taught me...be nice to people who do a service for you. It might be "their job" but just be nice, it's just common courtesy. As far as getting a benefit by being nice, I've never gotten one because of it. If anything, I've seen the rude person get better treatment because they're seen as more outgoing, confident. Seems more and more, nice people are seen as "pushovers". Still, I will still use my manners...
mario Oct 16th 2009 3:57PM
Courtesy will get you a good deal more than a free beer...I know...nudge, nudge, nod, nod, wink, wink...eh? eh? eh?
Aaron Oct 16th 2009 4:04PM
So... let me get this straight. If we lie and do your job for you we get a beer? Awesome.