Airlines Around The World That Serve Free Alcohol

by Jessica Festa on

Do you enjoy drinking booze on your flight, but don’t want to pay for it? Despite many airlines charging extra for window seats, food, luggage and in-flight entertainment, there are still some that serve free alcoholic drinks – and, not just for first and business class passengers.

If you’re flying domestic, you may want to consider Thai Airways, Qantas Airways, KLM, Air China or Air France. Additionally, Air New Zealand serves free drinks during their 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. happy hour, while LAN Airlines does on all flights that serve food.

International fliers have a larger carrier selection. Some big-name airlines that serve free booze in-flight include all the above-mentioned companies, as well as Air Canada, British Airways, China Airlines, Copa Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa. Furthermore, Delta serves free beer and wine on flights longer than six hours, while American Airlines does on flights between the U.S. and Europe, Asia and certain countries in South America.

There seems to be a bit of a trend with U.S. airlines not serving free booze, or having stipulations.

For a full list of domestic and international airlines that serve free booze, click here.

Photo Of The Day: Flying To Iceland

by Meg Nesterov on


Today’s Photo of the Day may seem a bit pedestrian: it’s a cup of (likely) mediocre airplane coffee. But the napkin comes with a fun fact about Icelandic settler Ingólfur Arnarson, whose trip from Norway took four days, and there were no napkins. Too bad he couldn’t fly Iceland Air, like Flickr user shapes of dreams, who snapped this on her way to Reykjavik. Bonus points for her stylish nail color, which she dubs Blue Lagoon. It’s a fun way to learn a little about your destination while enjoying one of air travel‘s last freebies.

Know any other clever airlines? Share your favorite travel photos with us in the Gadling Flickr pool for a future Photo of the Day.

Airlines On Course For Better Passenger Experience

by Chris Owen on

Airlines continue to chip away at costs while making efforts to increase sales, all to make for a rosy picture on the bottom line. Passengers often see the down side to it all through baggage fees, tight seats and not much legroom. But behind the scenes, the airline industry is making changes and introducing new products that will make them more profitable and lead to a better passenger experience.

Airbus is the world’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturer producing the most modern and efficient airliners. The Airbus A320 family of aircrafts, with over 8000 produced, is recognized worldwide as one of the best single-aisle jetliners available.

The latest version, A320neo, has a focus on fuel efficiency that should bring a 15 per cent reduction in fuel consumption, two tons of additional payload, up to 500 nautical miles of more range, lower operating costs, along with reductions in engine noise and emissions.

That’s great news for airline profits, but what about that passenger experience?Airbus thinks they have that covered too, with their Future by Airbus program that considers the needs of airlines and passengers through 2050.

“Since we launched the Future by Airbus, we have engaged with people in 192 countries in a dialogue about the future of air travel,” says Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President of Engineering, in a release. “This resulted in our revolutionary Airbus Concept Plane and Cabin, which offer a glimpse into some of the innovations that could meet evolving passenger trends and environmental considerations.”

The passenger experience of the future could mean flying aircraft carriers, set to bring multiple aircraft on common routes. The next generation of cruise ships might be in the sky, not the sea, complete with swimming pools, spas and even golf courses.



Don’t want to wait until the future? The Airbus Concept Cabin iPhone app illustrates what the future of flight might look like from the passengers’ perspective. Aircraft cabins of the future may be customized to the needs of individual passengers.

[Photo: Airbus]

New Airline Watchdog Pledges To Name Airlines That Don’t Respond To Customer Complaints

by Jessica Festa on

Did you have a bad experience with your airline? Was your on-board meal atrocious? Did a dispute go unresolved? Now you have a place to complain and have your voice heard, as the new Airline Customer Advocate website has just launched on July 1.

The website focuses on Australian carriers, and pledges to call out any airlines that have treated passengers unfairly. When you go on the website, you’ll be able to lodge a complaint that you were not able to resolve on your own. The customer will be asked to first lodge two complaints with the airline directly before using the service, as this gives carriers two chances to solve the problem. Interestingly, the service is funded by the country’s major airlines.

Said advocate Julia Lines, “I see the airline customer advocate as an ally for consumers when things go wrong. It’s another option for travellers. They should raise their complaints with the airline at first instance and if they are dissatisfied with that process they need to let the airline know that.”

Do you think there is a need for a similar service focusing on U.S. airlines?

[Image via Big Stock]

Foods To Avoid Before Getting On A Flight

by Jessica Festa on

One serious problem for travelers flying on airplanes is Jet Bloating. No, I did not make that term up. It’s used to refer to the burping and bloating caused by gases that expand the stomach at high altitude.

The main culprit of the ailment is certain foods that lead to water retention and indigestion. Some obvious foods and drinks to avoid include broccoli, beans, salty snacks and carbonated drinks. However, there are some less apparent fare that fliers shouldn’t be eating as well, such as bread, fois gras, peaches and fried cuisine.

Jet Bloating is no laughing matter. Along with making you the least liked person on the plane, it can also disturb the flight itself. In 2006, a US domestic airline was forced to land early after passengers complained of a weird odor in the bathroom. It turned out the smell was from a spent match, which a passenger had lit to disguise an unpleasant stomach issue.

So, what should you eat before and while flying? Green tea, bananas, berries, pineapple, onions, garlic, turmeric and potatoes all help to aid digestion. Additionally, celery can calm your nerves, while whole cereal grains and leafy greens reduce stress. Ginger is also excellent, although make sure to order a flat soda if you go the ginger ale route.

[image via spencer341b]