For some people, enjoying a drink at 35,000 feet in the air is non-negotiable. Every major US-based airline knows this and for a passing fee, you can enjoy cocktails while cruising the friendly skies. Most carriers offer a wine, beer and spirit selection, and some go as far to offer specialty and seasonal cocktails as well. A majority of airlines (excluding budget providers like Frontier and Spirit) also offer complimentary drinks in premium and first class cabins. Others like Southwest are known for their drink coupons. So, if having a drink while flying is an important part of your travel experience, you’ll definitely want to have a look at what’s on the menu. Here, we’ve put together a handy guide to the best ways to hoist a cold one while headed out on a business or vacation trip.
| Name | Description |
| Alaska Airlines | This popular Seattle-based airline serves up the typical trifecta of wine, beer and spirits. Passengers in the main cabin pay between $7.50 and $8.50, while premium and first class passengers can drink on the house. Staying true to its west coast roots, a number of the libations hail from breweries, vineyards, and distilleries located throughout Washington, California, Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon. There are only three wines available — a red and a white from a Canoe Ridge vineyard in Walla Walla Washington and a Prosecco from La Marca. As for the brews, Alaska offers beers that range from bitter to light. The airline even gives each beer an IBU rating, or International Bitterness Units. The spirits also get some west coast love with Oregon-based Crater Lake hazelnut espresso vodka. |
| American Airlines | American Airlines keeps things classic as far as the alcohol served onboard is concerned. Prices range from $7-$9 in the main cabin. But for passengers seated in Main Cabin Extra, drinks (and snacks) are complimentary. Additionally, on international flights (and Hawaii), beer and wine are free. Spirits are free on flights to Japan, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland. Wines all hail from either France or Spain; you can choose from a white, red, rosé and a sparkling wine. Beers include common selections — Budweiser, Bud Light, Dos Equis and Samuel Adams — bar the Voodoo Ranger IPA from New Belgium. The same goes for the spirits – you’ll find little out of the ordinary here to pick from, although with nine selections on offer to choose between, you won’t go thirsty. |
| Delta Air Lines | Delta offers a bevy of drink options onboard. The carrier even offers a monthly signature cocktail (Cranapple Vodka cocktail for August 2018). But its wine list is nothing short of amazing. Earlier this summer, Delta revamped its wine menu and expanded it so that there are now more wines in the main cabin than ever before. Curated by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, each wine on the list was taste-tested 35,000 feet in the air to make sure they tasted as good in the sky as on the ground. In the main cabin, there are six reds and six whites, both represented by wines from around the world. Certain flights include champagne and dessert wines/port too. As for spirits in the sky, Delta has just about every option available from cognac to tequila, with multiple whiskey and vodka options. Customers in the main cabin, however, must pay for beer, wine and cocktails, while those seated in the first class and premium cabins receive complimentary access to wine and spirits. |
| Frontier Airlines | Frontier Airlines is known for its afforable airfare. It isn’t known for its in-flight dining. Nonalcoholic drinks — Coke, water — start at $2. The same goes for snacks. But for what service lacks in complimentary food and drink, it makes up for in originality. On offer here, you’ll find bundled snack and drink options like “the happy hour” — two alcohols, one soda, one snack — or the “make it double” — two alcohols. (You can take your own stab at what you think comes with the “double happy hour.”) There are three wine options — red, white and cider (?) — available here, all of which come in a can. You can also pick from four beers and you can mix and match any three as part of the “beer flight” bundled snack option. The seven spirits cover the basics from vodka to gin and rum. And Breckenridge Vodka, Breckenridge Bourbon and Breckenridge Gin. |
| JetBlue | Alcoholic beverages are available on all JetBlue flights for purchase. Prices range between $7 and $9 for beer, spirits and wine. Beer can be purchased for $7 and choices range from cider to pale ale and the ubiquitous Bud Light. Spirits are also $7, but the options are less diverse with only rum, gin, whiskey and vodka available. Wine ranges in price — between $7 and $9 — for a personal bottle. You can even pair your wine with a PickMeUp box — an assortment of cheeses, crackers and other snacks — and save 15%. Wine options include a white, red, sparkling wine and rosé. But the limited range of options on JetBlue is redeemed by the (little-known) fact that JetBlue actually allows passengers to BYOB! According to the FAA, you can carry your own alcohol onboard, but to be able to drink it on a JetBlue flight, it must be opened and poured by a flight attendant. |
| Southwest Airlines | Southwest has you covered when you’re looking to cure your travel woes with a wide range of drinking options. Beer, wine and spirits range between $6 and $7 with five beers to choose from, three wines (red, white, sparkling), and nine high-end spirits. Of course, if you have any of the airline’s drink coupons, you can redeem those for a drink or three. Southwest even suggests some delicious cocktails like a Bloody Mary or Jack and Coke. They also offer some seasonal cocktail and beer selections. For example, this summer, the featured cocktails were Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka and Seagram’s Seltzer Water, while the featured beer was Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy. |
| Spirit Airlines | Like Frontier, Spirit is not big on providing complimentary food and drinks on their flights. But what the provider lacks in freebies, it more than makes up for with its ready-to-drink cocktails and regular spirit selections. And, like Frontier, it also offers the “perfect pairings” of snacks and drinks like the “Buzz Plus.” The ready-to-drink cocktails, products of BuzzBallz, are $8, and include a Ginger Mule, Mile High Lemonade, and Tequila ‘Rita. Beer and wine are $7 with limited options. As beer options go, you can pick from Bud Light, Heineken and Tecate. In terms of wine, there’s a Merlot and a Pinot Grigio. Liquor goes for $7 and the basics are offered: Rum, bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin. If you want to make that a cocktail, well, that’s going to cost you $3 more. Spirit has accounted for every last drop of soda. |
| United Airlines | United’s alcoholic options range in price from $7.99 to $9.99 and include a little bit of everything to help you quench your thirst. The four beer selections are diverse with a Tangerine IPA and Easy Ale on the menu. The wine choices, both $7.99, are minimalistic, yet premium, and include just red and one white, although you’ll be served a half-bottle as opposed to the usual one-glass-pour. On select routes, you can also find at least one specialty cocktail on offer. Try Trader Vic’s Mai Tai ($9.99) if traveling to Hawaii, otherwise the On The Rock Cocktails The Old Fashioned ($9.99) is available on most routes. Spirits — vodka, rum, whiskey — will set you back $7.99 while premium spirits and liqueurs go for $8.99. All drinks are complimentary in premium cabins as well as in Economy Plus on premium transcontinental flights. On most international flights, there’s complimentary house beer and wine to be found in the main cabin, while spirits are also available for purchase. |
CHEAT SHEET
For more on the best drinks served on US-based flights, also take a look at the articles below.
Jeffrey is an NYC-based writer who recently completed his MFA program in Creative Writing at The New School. He has written for many publications, focusing mostly on lifestyle, travel, and food.
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