The Ultimate List of Airlines That Serve Free Alcohol

Erica Ho // Jul. 11, 2012 // 96 Comments

If you’re intent on boozing it up while you’re sky high, you might want to avoid U.S. airlines completely – with maybe the exception of American Airlines and Delta. Here’s a pretty good rundown on who does and (doesn’t) serve alcohol on flights these days.

It’s fair to say that with airlines charging for basic sustenance these days wouldn’t give alcoholic drinks away for free. Apparently, many airlines still do, especially for international flights and it’s just not limited to business or first class passengers. If you’re back in coach sitting with the rest of the folks (and me!), there’s no reason you can’t have a glass of wine with your dinner either.

Please drink responsibly; dehydration happens faster in a pressurized cabin than at a keg party. Trust me, you don’t want to be that guy or girl‌ – for five hours.

(If you’re also trying to bring your own alcohol onboard, realize that may not be allowed.)

UPDATED Feb. 21. 2013: Thanks everyone for the updates, we’ve been trying to make sure the list stays current. Also a note on United: though it seems like drinks on still being served on some international flights, reps have told me officially all alcohol must be purchased.

Airline	Domestic	International
Aegean Airlines	No	Yes
Aer Lingus	No	Yes
Aeroflot	No	No
Air Canada	No	Yes
Air China	Yes	Yes
Air France	Yes	Yes
Air India	No	Yes
Air New Zealand	Yes (4.30 p.m. -7 p.m. only)	Yes
AirAsia	No	No
Alaska Airlines		Yes, on Horizon Air/SkyWest flights.
American Airlines		Yes, only on flights between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, and certain countries in South America. Beer and wine only.
ANA All Nippon Airways		Yes
Asiana Airlines		Yes
Austrian Airlines	Yes	Yes
Avianca		Yes
Bangkok Airways	No	Yes
bmi British Midland		Yes
British Airways		Yes
Cathay Pacific Airways	n/a	Yes
China Airlines		Yes
Condor Airlines	No	No
Copa Airlines		Yes
Delta Air Lines		Yes, beer and wine on flights longer than six hours.
Dragonair		Yes
EgyptAir		No
Emirates		Yes, except to Saudi Arabia.
Etihad Airways		Yes
EVA Air		Yes
Finnair	No	Yes, depending on destination.
Garuda Indonesia	No	Yes
Hainan Airlines		Yes
Hong Kong Airlines	n/a	Yes
Iberia	Yes*	Yes* (*on flights longer than three hours)
Japan Airlines		Yes
Jet Airways		Yes
JetBlue Airways	No	No
KLM	Yes	Yes
Korean Air		Yes
LAN Airlines	Yes*	Yes* (*on all flights with meals)
LOT Polish Airlines		Yes
Lufthansa	Yes	Yes
Malaysia Airlines		Yes
Oman Air		Yes
Philippine Airlines		Yes
Porter Airlines	Yes	Yes
Qantas Airways	Yes	Yes
Qatar Airways		Yes
Royal Brunei Airlines	No	No
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)		Yes, on intercontinental flights only.
Silk Air		Yes
Singapore Airlines	n/a	Yes
South African Airways		Yes
Southwest Airlines	No	No
Spirit Airlines	No	No
Streamline Air	Yes	n/a
Swiss Int’l Air Lines		Yes
TACA Airlines		Yes
TAP Air Portugal		Yes
TAM Airlines	No	Yes
Thai Airways	No	Yes
Turkish Airlines	No	Yes
United Airlines	No	No
US Airways	No	No
Virgin Atlantic Airways	Yes	Yes
V Australia	Yes (M-F, 4-7 p.m.)	Yes

Jody Lan-Castle contributed to this article.

Peter H

Porter Airlines serves booze both domestic and international.
Melissa

You can add Porter Airlines (www.flyporter.com) to the list of those who serve free alcohol (Jackson Triggs wines and SteamWhistle beer).
- Erica Ho
  
  @Melissa, that’s shockingly specific. Will add that to the list!
Brad

At least as of last year, AK Airlines serves a free beer on afternoon Portland to Seattle flights. I don’t know if you want the level of detail, though!
- Erica Ho
  
  @Brad, hey why not. Porter Airlines serves Steam Whistle Beer!
Brad

P.S. Not Alaska Airlines, their sister carrier Horizon Air. According to Horizon’s wikipedia page, they serve beer and wine on their flights. Some comments online suggest that this is only for shorter trips.
- Erica Ho
  
  @Brad Sounds right. Alaska doesn’t actually serve any alcohol themselves.
Peter

You can add V Australia to that list.
- Erica Ho
  
  Thanks Peter!
lauren

On United International flights they DO serve free alcohol. I have had beer, wine and vodka on flights from Tokyo to the US and vice versa. You need to pay for alcohol on domestic flights within the US.
- Erica Ho
  
  @Lauren, United USED to serve free alcohol (and on routes to Asia). That’s changed since the merger with Continental this year, officially. In practice, it seems like its been hit and miss. Maybe if you’re really nice to the flight attendant?
Thom

Streamline Air serves free cocktails, beer and wine on their service between BED and TTN.
robert

From a German friend that specifically looks for flts with free beer: Thai does not serve Alcohol on Domestic flights as mentioned on that list. Austrian serves alcohol on Domestic as well. Egyptair is completely missing here (they don’t serve alcohol at all).
- Erica Ho
  
  @Robert Well, turns out Thai is pretty misleading about that. Some airlines are going to be missing; we tried to cover the major ones. Do you know how many airlines are out there?!
Sally Johnson

How did you overlook SAS? I don’t know about domestic, but they serve on trans-Atlantic flights. I’ve occasionally even gotten a cognac while sitting in economy.
Mike

Well multiple flights to Asian locations and so far mixed drinks and beer free on international flights on United so maybe is it just to and from the far east?
Cook

Skip the ‘free’ stuff and, if you must drink in flight, buy something that tastes good. The ‘free’ wine provided on most airlines has a lot in common with “Two Buck Chuck.” I think there is an FAA rule pertaining to part 121 carriers that prohibits alcohol consumption except as provided by and served by the air carrier. In other words, on US carriers one cannot nip from a personal stock. Ha! While the practice used to be quite common, since 9-11 you’d be hard-pressed to get that flask past security and onto the airplane.
- Erica Ho
  
  @Cook Yes, you’re not always allowed to bring your loot on the plane.
Pfly

On my flight from Los Angeles to Moscow on Aeroflot in April wine was served to coach passengers.
- Erica Ho
  
  @Pfly Thanks for the update!
Georgia

Horizon serves free local beer and wine on their puddle-jumper flights between cities on the west coast, at least between Portland/Seattle and Portland/LA. It’s Alaska-Horizon now, but only the Horizon-run flights have the booze. Those tiny airplanes are too terrifying when sober.
Lexbear

you can add Condor to this list
Ryan

United DOES serve free alcohol on o-UA crewed airplanes on it’s Pacific Routes. Not Sure about o-CO crewed planes for now though. So lax/sfo-syd/nrt/pvg/etc…
- Erica Ho
  
  OK, just to clear up the confusion: straight from United’s mouth, alcohol is “for purchase in economy” on flights to Asia from the U.S. I think the confusion is that they are NOT enforcing this policy consistently since the merger, depending whether you got an old Continental or United crew.
  
  Official answer: no.
  - http://twitter.com/ptahcha Peter (P-Tah) C.
    
    maybe the term alcohol is confusing. Beer and wine are free on UA across the Pacific. Other spirits are not. https://hub.united.com/en-us/News/products-services/Pages/united-aligns-beverage-policy.aspx
    - http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
      
      I think it’s important that people make that distinction,
      
      Look I’ve asked United many times about flights to Asia, and have even been on them and seen alcohol served. Repeated attempts for clarification have always resulted in, “official policy is that these are not free” (even beer and wine).
      
      I think for them, it’s a matter of them looking the other way. FWIW.
Rick

Jet airways served me free scotch on a flight from Europe to India.
Aunt_Pete

US Airways serves free beer and wine on its Shuttle flights. Best thing ever on my DC-Boston jaunts.
Matt

Wine and beer on all Alaska flights operated by Horizon or Skywest is free. Hard liquor can be purchased.
Dboza

I flew American Airlines to Paris 10/11 and we were not served free alcohol during flight. We had to pay. I did get free wine, because I was served dinner last, thus no selection on meals.
- Erica Ho
  
  Dboza, the American Airlines thing started February this year, so it would have been after you flew.
lorenzo

AVIANCA, the national airliner for Latin America also serves free alcohol. Not 100% sure about the domestic flights, but for sure on the overseas flights! You can choose from local beers, whisky and vodka!
Bo Abrahamsen

SAS do NOT serve free drinks in Economy class on international flights except intercontinental ones. Coffee is all (they used to charge for that too).
Ewa

Hi! You could add Polish airline LOT, as far as I remember I was served wine (or beer, but nothing stronger) on an international flight. Don’t know about domestic flights…
Ashu

Finnair – beer, and white and red wine are all served free of charge – other alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Ashu

According to Aeroflot website, you can choose from our choice of soft drinks and juices during the whole flight. You can also buy alcoholic drinks, such as wine, beer, cognac or champagne.
mitch

@Peter V Australia is now Virgin Australia
Peter

Hi,

- there are practicaly NO european airlines, allowing you to drink your own alcohol. I didn’t said, you can not….
- Aegean offers free beer and wine on board.
Martin Gomez

Philippine Airlines serves booze.
Veriy

Garuda Indonesia doesn’t serve alcohol for domestic flights.
Jay

This is a great list…thank you!
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  Thank YOU and everyone who put in their own experiences!
ROMI

Iberia serves free alcohol only international flights.. not on national ones.
Sam Boulis

Last time I traveled on United Airlines was June9/2009 to Frankfurt, took off from San Francisco and the flight attendant immediately announced that there would be a charge of $6.00 for alcoholic beverages, the whole crew was rude and nasty; I traveled since then on Air France and they were wonderful, no more United for me.
Joe

Awesome list. I look forward to seeing how the United-operated Lufthansa flight goes in a few weeks, IAH-LHR.
- Erica Ho
  
  Thanks Joe! Safe travels
- Sammyb
  
  Joe, my response maybe a little late, I went to Germany on Lufthansa flight operated by United and United rules applied in my case, did not serve free alcohol as you may have experienced already, they are nasty.
  - tarebear
    
    Very helpful, thanks, Sammyb! I think United’s customer service *may* be improving … with the exception of the alcohol business.
WILL

Correction. Free beer and wine on ALL Horizon flights including domestic (Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999)
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  This is already noted Will. Thanks.
Ner

So Delta provide alcohol throughout the whole flight between SYD-LAX in economy? I was told it was only during meal times?
- Erica Ho
  
  Not sure. But if it’s free during meal times, shouldn’t it be free during the whole time too. Of course I could be wrong…
  - Sammyb
    
    European airlines offer free booze to destination!
- Sam Boulis
  
  United Airline is my most hated airline, they charge for all booze a whopping $6.00, they are also the rudest of the whole in the whole industry, my latest bad experience was in May 2009, I would pay more for any European airline to get treated like i should, United Airline should send their flight attendants to a European airline school to learn how to behave like they should, and be kind to their passengers.
  - Erica Ho
    
    Too bad we don’t get too much choice in America!
    - Lion
      
      At least the customer service on ground is okay in the States though. Have you been to London or Paris?
Patrick

Flew on American Airlines (12 hours DFW to EZE) no free beverages of any kind except half cup of water.
Natasha

I flew Air India internationally from Hong Kong to South Korea and they served free whisky/beer/wine/liquor.
Ivette

Can anyone confirm Delta information? When I booked the flight it said they do serve alcohol during international long-haul flights. Now they have updated the website and it says it is only in business class.
Paul

Does Royal Jordanian serve free beer and wine? Getting mixed answers
Sharebear

What about Air Berlin?
John Smith

JetBlue serves free on international flights!
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  That’s news to me! We’ll double-check and update the list if that’s true.
Ron

If you fly international avoid US carriers at all cost. They rip off the taxpayers and their own customers. When will international carriers be allowed to fly domestic routes in the us?
- Erica Ho
  
  It’s not about being “allowed.” It’s about whether they want to or whether it’s profitable for them. Too bad the answer is generally not.
Catherine Oliver

We’re flying a KLM flight, operated by Delta, from Seattle to Amsterdam. Will we have Delta or KLM ‘rules’ regarding alcohol?
- Erica Ho
  
  Rule of thumb goes to the operating airline, so Delta.
Kevin

It’s only Economy Comfort class for Delta to have international free alcohol. May vary depending on equipment?
- Erica Ho
  
  Hey Kevin — economy comfort is Delta’s economy premium product. We’re talking about those who fly on the cheap here, not in the slightly nicer cabins!
Alper

Aeroflot does not offer free alcoholic drinks anymore. Flown Istanbul to Moscow which is a 3-hour flight and alcoholic drinks offered with a fee. A news article about them ceasing free alcoholic drinks in economy class is here http://news.rin.ru/eng/news///4274/
- Erica Ho
  
  Thanks Alper for the heads up!
Ian

Gulf Air (based in Bahrain) serve alcohol on flights.
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  Is that on domestic or international?
  - Sammyb
    
    i’m talking about international flights!
Josh

Erica I think you need to put an asterisk next to United Airlines because last time I flew with them from Sydney to San Francisco (September 2012) it was open bar. Given I’m the third person to confirm this, I think u should amend your entry. Just saying.
Shankar

Generally U.S. carriers are the worst when it comes to service. This includes liquor. Earn your miles locally and fly real service oriented airlines internationally.
Sammyb

My intent is not to booze it the whole way, I believe airlines are being to cheap to offer a free drinks, we pay a lot of money for the tickets!
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  At least you don’t have to pay for water. On most airlines.
http://twitter.com/DrHaveSaudi Dr_HaveSaudi

ill fly from paris to salt lake with delta, and i just get free beer and wine?
that cant be true -.-
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  I guess so.
Peter_Puck

What about Brussels Airlines?
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  Depends on the fare you buy, with a few exceptions apparently. Check this out: http://www.brusselsairlines.com/en_be/my-travel/practical-information/Default.aspx?item=20478#piTitle
david newton

perhaps an update ? When I flew, 3 weeks ago with Air France and was refused an alcoholic drink, I complained to their so-called “Customer services” and was told taht no alcohol is served on “short- and medium-haul flights within continental Europe” by Air France.
Another cost-cutting measure. Ho hum.
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  Yup, will look into that. Thanks David!
john

How about Qantas and Emirates latest statements about alcohol and pork ex Dubai to Europe?
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  No drinks on flight to/from Dubai or Jakarta thanks to the newest partnership.
  - 744boy
    
    That’s not correct.. i operate the flights. It’s only no alcohol used in the cooking of the meals. Qantas charges on some domestic flights but not cityflyer flights, and Qantas DON’T charge on ANY international flights.
Sungold7

I am flying business class this summer on United from Fort Myers to Shannon, Ireland, and they better not ask me to pay for a drink. I’m pretty sure their website said that alcoholic drinks would be complimentary, but that was in February when I booked.
I’d also be interested in knowing the alcohol-serving policy for Aer Lingus. Thanks!
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  You’re in business class so you should be okay. This list is mostly for economy.
http://twitter.com/VAAintheUSA Virgin Atlantic USA

Virgin Atlantic should be a ‘yes’ under domestic (it doesn’t depend on fare type). We feature a full bar service. Bottom’s up!
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  Thanks for the update.
DaveOh

Hi,
So I am flying economy to japan and thailand on China Airlines in June 2013, They serve complimentary alcoholic drinks in economy class? yes?
Alper

TAM (Brazilian) Airlines do not serve alcohol on domestic flights. I have flown 4 domestic flights late April and earlier in May, and only drinks they serve is Coke, Coke Zero and Water. On one of the (late night) flights, only available was Coke Zero Because no other soft drinks left. On the International flights however, as far as I learned from the flight attendant personally, free alcohol is available in all classes including economy.
- http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
  
  Gracias!
  - Alper
    
    I’m not Brazilian, and same Alper commented about Aeroflot drinks policy couple of months ago One small note to just to let yu know; Brazilian people speak Portuguese and in Portuguese “Thank You” is “Obrigado” not “Gracias” as the rest of the South Americans say. -:) (no offense)
    - http://maphappy.org/ Erica Ho
      
      I know Brazilians speak Portuguese! I just use a lot of Spanish in my day to day life.

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