We have a trip planned in May, and I’m really hoping we can still go. What precautions are folks who are flying right now seeing?

I was traveling earlier this week. What I saw was probably what you would see at most grocery stores. Some passengers we doing nothing special, some were wearing masks and gloves. It looked like a few brought their own cleaning supplies and were cleaning their seats and tray tables. The one nice thing was all my flights had very light passenger loads, so there was no need to sit near anyone else.

Work has me grounded from travel til at least the middle of next month. I wish I could travel now to experience airports and flights with minimum clowns running around.

To the OP, I'd hop on a flight today and not give it a second thought. Just use common sense, touch as little as possible and wash your hands once you're off the flight.

The number of people traveling appears to be increasing at a slight trickle. I would expect that by the end of May, more flights will be available, and more passengers on each flight.

No difference in the process for flying. Check your bag, go to security, go to the gate and wait. That's about it.

Many flights are not providing anything for snacks or drinks. Carry your own. Most airport restaurants, stores, etc, are shuttered. You won't be able to bring drinks through security, and there may be just one or two places in the terminal to get a bottle or water or soda; plan your time accordingly.

There are still a lot of cancellations happening. Keep a close eye on the flight as you approach the date, right up to departure time.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:

Many flights are not providing anything for snacks or drinks. Carry your own. Most airport restaurants, stores, etc, are shuttered. You won't be able to bring drinks through security, and there may be just one or two places in the terminal to get a bottle or water or soda; plan your time accordingly.

You can though bring your little alcoholic nips through security which I highly recommend. 35,000 feet is no time for sobriety.

I always fly prepared.


And yes, there are still places to grab food and drinks at some airports. A friend of mine connecting through DFW yesterday sent me this pic:



Cocktails To Go. Like music to my ears.

3.4 oz or less in a quart-size bag, which is how my bag of 5 hour energy's makes it through.

Thanks for setting my mind at ease, guys.. I’ll watch the flights. I was under the understanding that we couldn’t twist our own caps on a flight, though? I used to bring a snap or two along, but I’d read something about that being a no no, so I’ve been ponying up the last few.

By federal regulation, you can't have alcohol on a flight unless it's served to you by the airline or charter operator.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/t....3.121_1575&rgn=div8

quote:

§121.575 Alcoholic beverages.
(a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him

(b) No certificate holder may serve any alcoholic beverage to any person aboard any of its aircraft who—

(1) Appears to be intoxicated;

(2) Is escorting a person or being escorted in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.221; or

(3) Has a deadly or dangerous weapon accessible to him while aboard the aircraft in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.219, 1544.221, or 1544.223.

(c) No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated.

(d) Each certificate holder shall, within five days after the incident, report to the Administrator the refusal of any person to comply with paragraph (a) of this section, or of any disturbance caused by a person who appears to be intoxicated aboard any of its aircraft.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
By federal regulation, you can't have alcohol on a flight unless it's served to you by the airline or charter operator.

Yeah, but that's a stupid regulation.

Anyway, nothing says you can't carry it onboard. And if they don't see you drink it, it's like it never happened, right?

Seriously, I do it every single time I fly. If you're cool and discreet, it's not a problem.

It's said that the federal aviation regulations are written in blood, because nothing ever gets changed with them, unless someone dies. It takes the publicity of a fatal crash, typically, to drive the change or creation of any of the regulations. None of the were simply introduced arbitrarily.

The rationale behind requiring the airline to serve alcohol is that the airline controls when the passenger has had enough, and the passenger can't serve to an unruly passenger, or for that matter, allow an intoxicated passenger to board. The reason behind it comes down to behavior of intoxicated passengers in the past, and the fact that the effects of intoxication are increased with a decrease in cabin pressure (increase in cabin altitude). They are magnified considerably in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. Someone misbehaving at their typical elevation will have pronounced effects, equating to the signs and symptoms of greater intoxication at a higher altitude. It's a safety issue for the airline, and for the passengers.

A passenger that brings, and drinks his own alcohol bypasses that safety regulation, and also breaks federal regulation. You're saying you intend to do it, and that you do it regularly. Should that come to the attention of the crew, they will be required to deny you boarding, just so you know.

Your actual allowance in carry-on luggage is governed by 49 CFR 175.10(a)(4):

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/t...9.2.175_110&rgn=div8

quote:

§175.10 Exceptions for passengers, crewmembers, and air operators.

(4) Alcoholic beverages containing:

(i) Not more than 24% alcohol by volume; or

(ii) More than 24% and not more than 70% alcohol by volume when in unopened retail packagings not exceeding 5 liters (1.3 gallons) carried in carry-on or checked baggage, with a total net quantity per person of 5 liters (1.3) gallons for such beverages.

You can carry up to 1.3 gallons, legally. You're allowed to consume it, legally, but the legal requirement is that you advise the airline, and that the airline serves it to you, and has the ability to cut you off at their discretion.

Again, that's the regulation. How you elect to violate it is your call.

You must be a blast at parties.

It'll probably horrify you to also know that I occasionally will pour my pint of beer from the airport bar into my hydro flask to enjoy at the gate or on the plane.

You nailed it balze. If you are discreet and don’t get tipsy nobody will notice. Especially since the planes are mostly empty and the stews aren’t serving so they aren’t getting up either. Of course they won’t give you mixers either.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:


It'll probably horrify you to also know that I occasionally will pour my pint of beer from the airport bar into my hydro flask to enjoy at the gate or on the plane.

It doesn't horrify me in the least. It's a violation of the regulation, for which you will be removed from the flight if caught, but it's your decision to violate the regulation. The regulation regarding carrying alcohol aboard, the one that allows you to do so, specifies that it's in an unopened commercial container, and it's an exemption to hazmat regulations. The regulation allowing you to consume the alcohol is not.

I didn't write the regulation.

Like everyone else who flies, I am responsible for abiding it, and like every other crew member, I'm responsible for upholding it.

As a passenger, you are, too.

sns3guppy you'd be shocked to know when I was a little kid my dad loaded up my parka with airplane bottles because they rip you off at Redskins games on drinks in the stadium.

Oh, and I've never snuck any drinks into a concert either.

Ha! I like your style Balze!

Only way to spend a long flight from way out there to the Delaware.