Beverage Cart Tips and Tricks From a Flight Attendant

As some major airlines continue to ruffle feathers by removing long-standing perks and privileges, one on-board amenity has thankfully remained a constant: a complimentary beverage. 

Though refreshments are often no-frills and usually limited to soda, tea, juice, or coffee, it’s still something to look forward to, especially on longer flights when cabin-induced dryness can have passengers feeling as if they’re traveling by camel through a never-ending desert. 

That said, many frequent fliers have found ways to give their beverage a boost and even score free booze in economy seats. Interested in learning how? We chatted with a Southwest Airlines flight attendant who shared his top three tips for maximizing one’s beverage experience in the sky.

You’re more likely to get a free alcoholic drink on shorter flights. 

If you’re not flying in first, business, or economy comfort classes, keep in mind that the likelihood of receiving a free alcoholic drink increases on shorter routes.

Since time in the air is of the essence, it’s important to note that if you are purchasing a drink that requires an additional fee, many carriers will either charge you as soon as you receive your drink or charge the card you have linked to your frequent flier account. Your best bet is to read the fine print in advance or ask about in-flight purchase protocols from a customer service representative. 

“We’ve only got a limited amount of safe flying time to get up out of our seats to serve you,” the flight attendant, who asked to remain anonymous, told Travel + Leisure. “We’re going to try our best to serve everyone as fast as we can, but if there is turbulence or we feel like we can’t serve everyone on board, we’re not going to get back up to come and charge your card.” 

Secret menus exist, but don’t expect every flight attendant to know them. 

Thanks to social media, many TikTokers and Instagrammers have popularized ways to hack their free drinks and make them more interesting. This includes adding creamer to soda (also known as a “dirty soda”) and mixing juices with sparkling water or tonic to create a mocktail. 

While this may elicit eye rolls from some career flight attendants, the crew member we spoke to welcomes the ingenuity. He even claims that some colleagues are going so far as to develop their own fun concoctions and create secret menus. 

“We pour the same drinks over and over and over again,” he said. “Every now and then, it’s nice for us to serve something a little different, even if it may take just a little more time to pour than a Diet Coke over ice.”  

The problem, however, is that passengers aren’t always aware of the ingredients that flight attendants have at their disposal, which can hold up the process. A good place to start, he suggests, is the drink menu in your seatback pocket. 

“If you want to have fun, ask us to make you something special or different,” he advised. The flight attendant also noted that these requests are better accommodated during the second round of drinks. “Remember that our number one goal is to get drinks and snacks out to everyone as soon as we can. You don’t want to hold us up and make our jobs more difficult.” 

It’s also not wise to assume that every flight attendant has hopped on the personalized drink bandwagon. 

“There are only so many cans and bottles that can fit on a standard drink cart, and we don’t want to feel like a customer is abusing the system and taking too much product,” he emphasized. 

A tip always goes a long way. 

Tips are not expected among flight attendants, but they’re always welcome. 

“You’d tip your bartender or server when you order a beer or a cocktail at a bar or restaurant,” he said. “Flight attendants are doing the exact same thing, but at 30,000 feet in the air.”

“A dollar or two will make our day,” the flight attendant said, and added that a small gesture can go a long way. “Most of us are only paid while the doors are closed and the aircraft is in motion. This money can be used to offset a quick snack or even gas money while we get to and from work.” 

But no matter your drink preference or on-board expectations, kindness and consideration will always reign supreme. 

“Days can be long, and customers can be demanding,” he confirmed. “A simple smile or ‘thank you’ can make the biggest difference and even reward you with the freebies and creative cocktails that content creators keep talking about.”