allow ’s be honorable : for many of us , the key to flight is consume a duo of strong beverage and zoning out until you ’ve landed safely at your destination . It ’s a tense experience , and we all know that alcohol is the greatest stress backup man . Especially when you ’re in the stratosphere .

Even the harshest upheaval , longest delays , and shrill infants can be counteracted with the correct cocktail , beer , or vino . But when it comes to tank - alike rolled bar carts , not all special K are adequate . We appear into the eight most popular US - based airline and grade them by their onboard alcoholic drink option because a flight is only as smooth as the drinks being served .

8.American

Members of the frequent - flier club and premium - just the ticket holders – the the great unwashed who always get thank by the pilot or else of you – can get one innocent drunkenness and snack . But the option here , free or not , is moderately meh . Dos Equis and Sam Adams are the highbrowed beers from the list , and likely a safer wager than the sparkling vino , an item with the unhelpful menu verbal description of … " sparkling wine . " In a word : meh .

7.United

The conventional beer list is nothing unexpected and is best relish on external flight when it ’s destitute , because free beer always taste better . The signature cocktail is the Moscow mule , but at $ 13 a papa , you ’re skilful off going for the cheaper neat spirit and creating your own " cocktail " with a can of ginger ale . On the plus side , the straight - spirits menu includes some premium options for an extra dollar , include a couple of good whisky like Glenfarclas single - malted milk Scotch and Buffalo Trace bourbon . There ’s even Courvoisier for anycognaclovers / Busta Rhymeses .

6.Frontier

What Frontier miss in selection , it pee up for in creativity , offering combo ring that let in two unlike alcohols , for the discerning in - flight barman / fantabulous fanny neighbor who wants to make a friend the old - fashioned way . contrive in some unexpected selections like a dry - hopped pear tree cider , New Belgium ’s Fat Tire gold , and artisan vodka and whiskey from Breckenridge Distillery and you ’ve got a jolly nice party at 20,000 ft .

5.JetBlue

This passenger favorite is known for hold to schedules , which is a deplorable thing to get frantic about … and can greatly reduce the desire to drink . That might explain the relatively circumscribe option – but those limited options are on point . The beer and wine selection is solid ( Segura Viudas cava and Brooklyn Brewery are the surprise on the leaning ) and should please a broad grasp of flyers , including minor drinkable snob ( it does a lot of JFK - SFO , after all ) . The only lieu love is lost ? No tequila . But it ’s a lot of dearest to lose .

4.Virgin America

A decent list of spirit , wine , and beer is mostly standard , with a few craft brands like Tito ’s and Anchor Steam . While the sugary cocktail mixers sound like a pass to Hangover City , it ’s still nice to have the option to indulge in Funkin margarita , because there ’s no judgment above 35,000 foot . The real point here come from being able to say your drinks from the screen in front of your seat , with the option to send drinks and snack to other passengers … there ’s nothing like breaking the ice on a continental flight with a surprisal glass of prosecco . This is where an plane meets a single bar … right down to the mood lighting andcatchy euphony .

3.Delta

Delta recently up its wine and beer game by working with a high - visibility Master of Wine to look up on the selections , which is great for beer fan . Cocktail fans , well … hey , it has a few , one of which was the winner of a flight accompaniment / barkeeper contention and includes Irish pick and dear whisky … so , um , maybe go with beer . Or straight liquor , which include a weirdly well - stocked whisky roll . Be aware , there ’s no booze on flights less than 250 miles , but that ’s like half an hour , so … yeah , we do n’t get it either .

2.Alaska

The two forte cocktails – Moscow mule and Ginger Sunrise – are design to please any aweary passenger . The straight - liquor list is bare bone , but covers all the major category . It ’s refreshing to see stuff and nonsense like   hazelnut espresso vodka that actually combine well with the complimentary Starbucks . The Washington State wine list is very hipster , and the beer selection ( free on quality flight of steps , which helps if you ’re on a puddle jump shot lead across the Pacific Northwest ) features Alaskan beer , plus survival of the fittest from the country of your name and address . Alaska : the young frontier of airline booze .

1.Southwest

These guys interpret that people want easy toss - back option . The wide raiment of no - brainer cocktails – bourbon & ginger , classic screwdriver , Baileys & coffee berry , vodka cran - orchard apple tree , and more – is a nod to your favorite college dive in the best possible style . Oh , and more importantly , all drink are $ 5 , include the beer and wine-colored . That is n’t incisively break any new ground , but hey , $ 5 for a Fat Tire or a Jack & ginger is sleazy than most barsoutsidethe airdrome and about half the cost of a drink in the terminal . Southwest is basically a mile - gamey glad time of day , but with considerably more discomfort and longer bathroom lines . Just mind your dance step when you ’re de - boarding . Alcohol and vertigo can be a terrible brace .

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