I was reading an article involving a man who was intoxicated on an international flight, had to be restrained and the aircraft diverted to another airport.

 

In this day and age with increased security, this is the one thing that keeps poping up. The poll in that article asked - Do you think alcohol should be banned on flights?

 

37.63% said yes

52.26% said no

10.11% don't care

 

I know my POV on this one.....

 

Next time I book a flight from Auckland to Los Angeles, if there is an airline not serving alcohol, then that is the one I would choose.

 

Last time I flew from CYVR to NZAA on a 14 hour flight, their were to guys sitting behind me, drinking before they got on, served a few more by the airline, when they were cut off they got into their duty free and pushed a cork into a bottle of wine to continue on....Rest of this story doesn't get any better.

 

I don't drink on flights so I would welcome a 'Dry Route'. Used to be that you could smoke and now you can't. I wouldn't have a problem if Alcohol disappeared as well.

 

Just curious as to what others think about this one.

Keep in mind, on board alcohol sales provide a large part of a carriers revenues. Without the on-board sale of alcohol, you could expect to see a ticket price increase. Smoking caused a fire risk and was detrimental to everyone on boards health due to the enclosed space. That being said, I would love if people would be more responsible with their drink so situations like this dont have to arise, one or two drinks is fine, getting intoxicated is not, just makes for an unpleasant and hassle filled journey for their fellow passengers, CC and Pilots... :Rolling Eyes:

 

Regards,

Ró.

Sensible selling is the key, limit the amount any one person can buy, besides selling alcohol to drunk passengers should be banned as its not the most responsible thing to do.

 

People who already board the flight drunk should only be allowed super strong coffee to help sober them up.

Next time I book a flight from Auckland to Los Angeles, if there is an airline not serving alcohol, then that is the one I would choose.

 

I agree.

I have had countless bad experiences with passengers being drunk!

People who already board the flight drunk should only be allowed super strong coffee to help sober them up.

People who board drunk are to be denied boarding, it's the law.

 

Regards,

Ró.

Keep in mind, on board alcohol sales provide a large part of a carriers revenues. Without the on-board sale of alcohol, you could expect to see a ticket price increase.

 

I had that in mind as well. I was curious to know what the alcohol sales are today compared to over the past few decades (relative to passenger volume). I wonder if people in general drink more on flights or less in a post 911 world?

 

Also, if flying stresses some people out, then I would think that drinking would just enhance that stress then help more then anything.

I'd happily ban it, but then I don't drink.

 

As Ró says though, you'd have to consider all the factors such as an increased ticket price due to lost revenue.

My Girlfriend (the accountant) has just explained to me how alcohol sales in the airlines are not really profitable.

 

She says....

 

Airlines purchase alcohol from the ticket sales to passengers, they have the expense of storing it, refrigerating it (when necessary), and distributing it. the final sale is about cost plus a very small percentage.

 

Truth is airlines are very competitive that this is more of an operational cost then an overall revenue booster.

 

If they got rid of it then they would no longer have to purchase it from the revenue of ticket sales, and would gain in the costs associated in handling the product.

To the best of my kinowledge, on board sales and ancilary revenues account for something like 30% of our profits, so any move to reduce those wouldn't be taken lightly by either management, or the workforce. I think the way to go is tighter controls placed over the sale of alcohol, instead of banning it outright. As I say, everything in moderation, including moderation itself...

 

Regards,

Ró.

To the best of my kinowledge, on board sales and ancilary revenues account for something like 30% of our profits, so any move to reduce those wouldn't be taken lightly by either management, or the workforce. I think the way to go is tighter controls placed over the sale of alcohol, instead of banning it outright. As I say, everything in moderation, including moderation itself...

 

Regards,

Ró.

 

That might just be because you are in Ireland......(I shouldn't have said it) LOL

but New Zealand is no different then Ireland anyways.

 

She also did mention that profitability will vary from region to region.

I think the ways of moderation can be greatly improved when there is a general 'no' on flights, same as for the electronic devices usage or the smoking rule from some years back.

 

It's just easier to explain the general rule as to wait for the next passenger not understanding why he is not allowed to buy some more while the guy two seats away orders his beer.

 

I also think that Irish, Russian and German crews will never let go of their.. wait, we are talking about the passengers only, right?

Sensible selling is the key, limit the amount any one person can buy, besides selling alcohol to drunk passengers should be banned as its not the most responsible thing to do.

 

People who already board the flight drunk should only be allowed super strong coffee to help sober them up.

 

In the Netherlands selling alcohol to someone who is intoxicated is already against the law, regardless of whether they are in an airplane or in a pub, I'm guessing many countries have similar laws. It may be a bit trickier if they first buy alcohol off the airline and then pull a bottle of vodka out of their carry-on luggage.

That might just be because you are in Ireland......(I shouldn't have said it) LOL

Oh you went there... :wink: :ireland-flag:

Our CC get paid extra for everything they sell on board, so I can't see them agreeing to it, and if the CC don't agree then the pilots won't. If we make a profit, all the staff get profit sharing, the more profit we make, the more money everyone gets, so I can't see any staff wanting to reduce any source of income. And management like money, so that's them ruled out all together. It's not like people have an option to fly with a carrier that doesn't serve alcohol, so we're not losing customers that way, and if we did stop it, we may well lose some of our current customer base. I think you'd be very hard pushed to get something like that to take-off in an airline, if you'll pardon he pun... ^_^

 

Regards,

Ró.

They should offer special drinking flights. Slogan. 'Learn coordinated turns when coordination itself got a bit tricky.' :biggrin: Perhaps add a special livery. 'This plane is drunk, except for two folks in the front.' Well, we hope! Special ATC callsign added. ShamROCK!!! :lol:

 

But more seriously. Really, Rónán? Income rules out what may be a good idea? It's not that I saw those statements for the first time, it's just that it seems so 'nicely' accepted.

 

Well, I guess there is a bit of control in place though. The passenger being not so happy on a flight where the CC sold alcohol to even 'slightly' drunk persons may pick another airline on the next flight.

But more seriously. Really, Rónán? Income rules out what may be a good idea?

Well, I got €2,800 from profit sharing this year, so I'm not going to surrender 33%, or close to €1,000 just so I don't have to deal with a drunken passenger twice a year, even which, they're almost always drunk before they arrive, not during. About 15% of the CCs take home pay is their commission, so no way the'd take a 15% pay cut, and lose the 33% of what they got from profit sharing. Some employees own company shares, which a drop in profits would result in a drop in share value. Some of our pension scheme owns shares, and no one wants their pension to drop in value. So really, I don't see how anyone who works in the airline would agree to removing alcohol from sale on boards. The mark up on the alcohol sold is astronomical too, so that's where most the money in on board sales is made.

 

From an external view point, I certainly understand where you're coming from, but no one likes a pay cut if they can help it.

 

Regards,

Ró.