The Mandatory Guide to Drinking Alcohol on Planes

There’s little more stressful than flying on a plane. Not only do you have to cram your carry-on into a tiny overhead bin, but you also have to squeeze yourself into an uncomfortable seat surrounded by strangers who (for all you know) might be varying degrees of unhinged. Then you have to make peace with the fact that you’re hurtling through space in a tin can with little more than a floatation device to save you if you crash.

So it’s no wonder you need a drink. It would be weird if you could survive a flight without one. But if you were one of the brave souls who had to fly during the pandemic, you surely noticed that alcohol service ceased (and if you’re like us, you promptly had a panic attack). Well, rest easy, weary traveler. Because booze is back on planes.

American Airlines, the last teetotalling holdout in the airline industry, will resume sales of alcoholic beverages on domestic and short-haul international flights next month. That means that if you’re flying on one of the big-name carriers in the U.S., you can probably get that mixed drink you’ve been jonesing for mid-flight.

In honor of the triumphant return of alcohol to airlines, we hand-crafted this guide on drinking in planes. By all means, indulge your inner alcohol-lover, but try to behave yourself.