So Are We All Going To Get Punished For A Few Eejits?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36920665
Why don't they just ban them from flying for 5 years, then 10 then forever?

[jambutty]

Amazes me too at times !!

[david small]

Ummmm, I have several times. Once on a trip to Las Vegas with Virgin Atlantic there was a group of eight or nine, quite plastered. Good humoured for the most part, but leaning over everybody and shouting at each other. Intimidated a few passengers.

[Prudie]

I've never witnessed drunken behaviour on a flight although that might be the routes I take, I've never been drunk either but I couldn't face a flight without some drink.

[EDDIE51]

There already is a rule that anyone obviously intoxicated is not allowed on a flight, but the airlines seem scared to use it. Anyone obviously *** should be escorted off the airport and their flights cancelled without compensation. It is in the safety rules as in an emergency drunks can be a danger to themselves and to other passengers. The airlines just need to have the balls to use the rule!

[ummmm]

Eddie...my OH was refused a flight because he looked ***. This was years back and it was a simple, sorry, you ain't boarding and he was escorted back.

He wouldn't have caused a problem but they don't know that.

I'm a nervous flyer so like a drink before a flight. Any drinks I have on board are usually out of boredom.

[retrocop]

In the UK I would never dream of having alcohol before the sun is over the yardarm(about 1330). If I am airside at LGW at 0600 I will have a couple of beers in Wetherspoons before boarding. I tell myself it is stupid but joke to the wife it will be probably be the last decent beer I have for two/three weeks. It just means,to me,the start of my holiday and I can handle it.
I used to enjoy a bloody mary in flight as well (double) but they don't sell Tomato juice anymore. :-(. It is just a question of self control of the individual and the robust approach of airline ground/air staff who should ensure they do not be the cause of possible in-flight grief as well. I have seen flight attendants doing a shuttle run with the drinks trolley to certain rows and then it goes **** up.

[EDDIE51]

Ummmm there is a difference between having a couple of drinks to calm your nerves and being so drunk you are a danger in an emergency. What you do is fine and helps. We have all seen the loud aggressive drunk causing problems. This question is I am sure, about those who buy duty free spirits at the airport and then drink them in the departure lounge. There is an answer to that which I have seen in action. You order the Spirits , (Brandy Whiskey or what ever) but you only get a receipt. When you get off the aircraft at the other end the crew hand over your booze in return for the receipt. It works so why do they not do it?

[ummmm]

Imagine if when you landed your booze wasn't there!

[naomi24]

If you'd ever been a passenger on a plane when a drunk 'kicked off' - and I have - you would know that it isn't a 'Muslim' issue. That's a ridiculous suggestion. The fact is drunks on planes cause a problem and airlines need to address that problem. That is what they're trying to do. I listened to a suggestion on the radio today. The idea was that each boarding pass be 'impregnated' with a code that allows each passenger to purchase two drinks - and two drinks only - in the departure lounge - the boarding pass to be presented when buying drinks. Since safety is paramount, good thinking I'd say.

[ummmm]

Naomi - what about the drinks before departures?

[Jackdaw33]

I have never experienced this but I can imagine how unsettling it must be. Mind it's ten years now since I've flown.

[naomi24]

ummmm, no one can control that - obviously - but I think it's quite often the drinks in departures that cause the problems. I doubt a drunk would get past security.

[ummmm]

I'm surprised anyone can get drunk in departures the bar staff are so slow.

[gulliver1]

Agree with you Ummmm,I'm surprised people pay the inflated price at the airport to get drunk!

[sandyRoe]

Then there's the people who take some type of tablet to calm them for the flight and then drink on top of that.

[meglet]

I don't actually think it's the airport bars that are the problem, it's the people who bring their own alcohol on board. So my suggestion would be to ban the sale of alcohol at duty free, then the boarding staff can assess passengers as they embark and cabin crew can decide who they sell alcohol to on board. Seems but to me to allow people to take their own alcohol on board in any case.

[meglet]

*seems nuts to me

[andy-hughes]

When you think about it, the notion of selling alcohol in an airport is bizarre. Why would you encourage people to drink before they board a plane, and the effect of alcohol is increased in a pressurised cabin?

Simple - the bars are owned by the airports, it's the airline staff who receive the consequences.

So, as an airport owner, you have a built-in customer base ready and waiting - passengers have to check in two or three hours before they fly, they have hours to hang around, they get bored - they will drink to pass the time - result!

Then the get on planes, the alcohol kicks in, they can buy more, but for those predisposed to bad behaviour, constriction of movement and space, more boredom, and alcohol levels increasing as the air thins, is a recipe for bad behaviour.

As more people travel, more drunken people travel, it's not rocket science.

The answers? Let the airlines prosecute the airport for endangering their flights, give breathalysers to check in staff, advertise all over the bar areas that anyone who APPEARS intoxicated will be refused boarding, bags off, no compo, and let the airlines insist that all airport bars are closed, which will take a little time, but can be done.

There is absolutely no earthly reason why traveling by air and drinking alcohol are connected, except the motive of profit, at the expense of the comfort and safety of the majority. If you seriously need alcohol in order to fly, then don't fly - again, it's not a right.

Stop the nonsensical and unsocial notion that you are 'starting your holiday' - make people behave like the adults they are supposed to be, and everyone can fly safely and with no air-rages.