It may be five o’clock somewhere, but not on your next flight, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. On most flights, alcohol is now gone.
With face masks mandatory on all flights, limiting alcohol helps minimize the time these coverings are taken off.
Research reveals that COVID-19 can spread on surfaces, and as a result, airlines have reduced as many touchpoints as possible. They are also trying to limit interactions with flight attendants.
Here is a list of how U.S.-based airlines are handling your cocktails.
Delta has removed all beverages from its flights for now except for single-serve bottles of water. No alcohol, plastic cups, or ice are available at this time.
American Airlines is offering water, canned drinks and juice by request only. No snacks, alcohol, or food is available in the main cabin.
JetBlue has temporarily replaced its snack baskets and beverage service with a pre-sealed snack and beverage bag.
Southwest Airlines has also suspended its alcohol service and will only be offering unopened cans of water with straws and sealed packages of snack mix.
Cheers to United, an airline that is still serving alcohol, but only in sealed containers. It is no longer serving ice, coffee, tea, or poured alcohol. Individual water bottles will be available.
This ban on alcohol isn’t just being implemented by U.S. airlines. Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Easyjet and KLM have also stopped serving alcohol due to the pandemic.
Are today’s new travel protocols enough to entice travelers? Click here for a deep dive into this important topic.
Don’t miss what ASTA board members have to say about “Travel Post-COVID-19?” and “U.S. Airlines Increase Face Mask Enforcement.”
For more updates on new protocols, visit Recommend’s Safe Travels page. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.
