Flight attendants for United Airlines are allowed to drink while on duty in certain circumstances. So are flight attendants for Air Canada.
- They are ‘deadheading’ – flying during their duty day from one city to another, but not working as crew. For instance, they might fly from their base to another city where they will pick up a flight to work, or fly back to base after working.
- And they aren’t expected to work anymore that day.
There are times when deadheading isn’t all that exciting… you fly as a passenger for a couple of hours and then immediately pick up another flight and work it as a flight attendant. In this type of situation, there would definitely be no excuse to drink.
But what if flight attendants are deadheading as the last duty of their day, especially on a long-haul flight? …[I]t turns out that out of the major US airlines, only flight attendants at United Airlines are allowed to drink when they are deadheading and not expected to work the same day.
There are, of course, some rules. For example, flight attendants can’t be uniform, and the door to the plane must be shut with everything ready to go before they take their first sip… just in case something crops up and they are suddenly expected to work on the flight.
One reason not to permit this is brand: there’s a long history of not wanting airline employees to be seen drinking. It’s obvious for pilots, and even photos of pilots mixing a drink in an inflight magazine caused a row, but it’s also true for flight attendants also. And alcohol wasn’t something airlines wanted reflecting on their brand.
Another is that with extensive route networks, and since they’re paying the flight attendant still anyway, why allow anything that would disqualify further work on the off chance it were needed?
Of course, airline crew are people. I’ve seen a flight attendant furtively drink an alcohol mini in the galley prior to boarding with an FAA inspector on board. I’ve seen a pilot take a bottle of wine with him from the galley after a flight. There are plenty of stories like this online. In the former case it’s a potential safety issue, in the latter it wasn’t but still a violation of policy.
Large airlines with tens or even over a hundred thousand employees have some alcoholics amongst their ranks, and some at times will also have lapses in judgment. That’s why airlines have safety programs that allow crew to seek help usually without jeopardizing their careers. But those programs aren’t always robust enough to keep crew from hiding substance use.
I’m making an assumption that you can’t drink while in uniform.
The instances you mentioned about a FA drinking a mini and a pilot taking a bottle of wine off the airplane are both foolish moves that can get you fired.
BTW, UA pilots have similar drinking rules while deadheading. And no, you are not supposed to be in uniform.
@Rion
I believe that’s right. A former coworker of mine joined Delta as a flight attendant and he talked about this incident. Apparently after all the long training and there was some kind of a ceremony where they got their “wings”.
One of the women who graduated with him met get parents during the celebration and took one sip of her mom’s wine while in uniform and Delta fired her.
Here come the Kirby bux rolling in!
Suppose you are fortunate enough to be a deadheading flight attendant with United Airlines who is not scheduled to work on the same day. In that case, you may wish to take advantage of your complimentary alcoholic beverage entitlement upon request. Before consuming any drinks, please remove your uniform to blend in with typical passengers. For a more enjoyable experience, consider indulging in Buffalo Trace® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Glenfarclas® Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, or Jack Daniel’s® Whiskey. Please drink and use the air sickness bags responsibly.
This is Bullshit!!!!! First of all you are not allowed to drink less than 8 hrs. Before working a flight. Dead heading and drinking, you better be careful because since your name is on the NS WTH working crew , you can be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. This guy who wrote this article, is an idiot. We can drink while out of uniform, while pass riding and not in jump seat.
Aren’t you allowed to have a drink when you finish a tuff day. Most FA don’t bother. Who wants to take off their uniform in a nasty Airport bathroom and pay $10.00 for a drink.
Interesting. I think no big deal but now I suspect that Kirby will gleefully have something else to cut.
Drinking before flying an airplane is a problem and since the flight attendants are there for safety. they are not supposed to do it either. A pilot having a hangover, even if that pilot has no alcohol in their system, could also be a problem. When I was young, hangovers weren’t severe. As I got older, they became more severe. Between that and diabetes, I pretty much gave up drinking 15 years ago, probably averaging less than one drink a year.
Why do you need to air every fkn thing about our jobs ?? What do you get out of it ?
Why does this count as being “on duty” for the flight attendants?
1. They’re not working that particular flight.
2. They’re not scheduled to work any other flights that day.
3. They’re not in uniform.
In what sense is the flight attendant actually on duty in that situation?
This is a stupid, clickbait article.
When deadheading AND the designated rest requirement is within standards? I see no problem.
I am a (Retired) 32+ year pilot here.
As long as the FAA Rules aren’t violated?
Dealing with the general public in a flying tube will make you want a drink at some point. Even if it’s before boarding.
nobody cares —nobody cares
but Gary Leff!
Meanwhile brain surgeons can be on a whole cocktail of self prescribed drugs and no one bats an eye or drug tests them. People are annoyingly stupid.
Not only is it clickbait… he’s once again incorrect. “You are only allowed to drink AFTER the plane has taken off.” Not aircraft door closed.
I know you’re a blogger and not a journalist, but do you homework. It’s lazy and you’re only looking for clicks.
And yes, it’s contractual.
Please reference two incidents where this has been a potential problem.
And since the American carriers are all ‘monkey see, monkey do’ for ‘competitive reasons’ & ‘customer preference’, the fact that UA is the only outlier says it all regarding this policy …
Gary with his usual aircrew hate again.
How’s that Kibry stipend treating you?
@Ken A — With your phrase “For a more enjoyable experience, consider…” I coulda swore you were going to do a @Matt and add ‘consider Delta’–alas, I do respect your choices of spirits, though, personally, I’m more a fan of Woodford Reserve, offered on Delta and American. Eh, it’s the little things. Some wouldn’t notice much of a difference–to others, it means the world.
@Miss Priss — Spicy! Calling out ‘b.s.’ with 5 exclamation points–well then, whatever you say must be ‘fact’. Friends don’t let friends drink in uniform, supposedly. However, go easy on the name-calling–the author is likely partially artificial intelligence, so be nice to that software! Bah, who am kidding, let it have it–it can take it! Dumb language model! That’ll show it!
@Travelgirl @Kirby W — What isn’t clickbait these days? It must have worked because you and others sure did look at it, comment on, perhaps earn this site some ad revenue. Cha-ching!
@kevin rivera — Sounds like someone hates free speech… but also… likes privacy. Nice. Based.
@bigbirdwithsilverwings — I’ll take the opposite position. I care a lot. About this post. So good.
WOW it must be a really slow airline news week. Your bullshit clickbait headline brought some much craved attention to your blog. Good for you!
This is BS. The article is wrong. United FA can’t drink on duty unless deadhead on the last leg. Get your facts straight before you spread rumors and gossip!
@Noe Le – you clearly did not read the article because I wrote exactly this
Aren’t flight attendants only paid for the time between doors closing on a flight they work on (as air crew) until the doors open?