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Original poster

Airlines that allow drunken fools on the flight

37 replies

hellohellooo · 05/03/2025 14:05

Major rant ahead
Sorry in advance

So flew back home last night after a work trip

Was at the end of the queue and around 15 people clearly really drunk were in front of me getting on plane
Duty free bottle open
Paper cups in hand

You name it

So why were they allowed on the flight? They were obviously barely able to stand

They drank more on the flight (duty free)
Started a fight with a man quietly sitting beside them and then police were called as we landed

The police had to carry one off he was so drunk

Kids behind me bawling
Young girl to my right having a major panic attack

It was awful

Why could this even be allowed

Flight attends tried so hard
They were young and did not know how to deal sutuation

Two hours later we got off the plane

OP posts:
marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 05/03/2025 14:27

Agree it should stop.

frecklejuice · 05/03/2025 14:32

They shouldn't have been allowed on the plane and the ones causing trouble should be banned from flying for a fixed amount of time. We flew to Tenerife in October and there was a big group at Gatwick so drunk and loud, thank god they weren't on our flight.

notimagain · 05/03/2025 14:33

Was at the end of the queue and around 15 people clearly really drunk were in front of me getting on plane

I guess the starter for ten is which airline - For a Uk airline the law is quite clear, this from the Air Navigation Order 2016

Drunkenness in aircraft
242.—(1) A person must not enter any aircraft when drunk, or be drunk in any aircraft.

At any decent airline if in the opinion of the crew a person or persons were not fit to fly due drink then there would be no question about it, they would be offloaded.

(edit for spelling)

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Flying Holidays
WilmaTitsDrop · 05/03/2025 14:34

Shocking.

I genuinely hope you complained to the airline OP.

Sounds like my worst nightmare being trapped in that situation.

Bippityboppitybooo · 05/03/2025 14:39

I flew put yesterday (9am flight) for a work trip, just Europe, and there were 3 bladdered british men a few rows back causing chaos. Shouting at people, swearing, hitting things, trying to start fights. But they were still serving them more alcohol!

Original poster
hellohellooo · 05/03/2025 14:40

Shocking

Irish airline 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 05/03/2025 14:40

It's so stupid and they're to blame for the disruption and stress it causes all the rest of the passengers as much as the drunken idiots! 😡

Original poster
hellohellooo · 05/03/2025 14:41

Bippityboppitybooo · 05/03/2025 14:39

I flew put yesterday (9am flight) for a work trip, just Europe, and there were 3 bladdered british men a few rows back causing chaos. Shouting at people, swearing, hitting things, trying to start fights. But they were still serving them more alcohol!

Disgusting

OP posts:
Mochudubh · 05/03/2025 14:55

Duty Free's supposed to stay sealed till final destination isn't it? Surely that should have been taken off them at the gate if it was open.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 05/03/2025 14:56

I’m sick of drunks and their antisocial behaviour ruining travel, concerts etc. Not people having a drink or two but this disgraceful anti social behaviour

notimagain · 05/03/2025 15:02

Mochudubh · 05/03/2025 14:55

Duty Free's supposed to stay sealed till final destination isn't it? Surely that should have been taken off them at the gate if it was open.

That can depend on airline policy and to some extent where in the world you are.

FunkyMonks · 05/03/2025 15:05

Agreed Op this should stop sadly the airports are just as much to blame as flight attendants serving the drinks.

Some people get drunk sat in the bars before boarding flights even stag/hen parties or large group parties drink a fair bit before even entering the airport.

I really do wish there was a ban/limit on alcohol that you can drink when flying.

We had an awful experience last year flying with an airline flight was delayed which meant a large group
Of men got an extra hour of drinking and they were already gone at this point, it was our first family holiday abroad I was already anxious how my DS would take to being on an aeroplane as he's autistic.
We all board the flight looks like we are getting ready to take off then the aeroplane stops announcement that we are heading back for some passengers to be removed was the large group of men all shouting at why were they getting kicked off something had been said to a flight attendant before hand which the pilot had been alerted to and made the decision to halt flight to have a few of them kicked off, at this point my anxiety was getting worse I was waiting for my DS and DD at any moment to start whinging or playing up as to why we were delayed nope they behaved fantastic no fuss nothing at this point I had broken out red and blotchy from the stress on my neck and face and arms and one of the men from the group was sniggering at me it's was bloody awful and I really do wish they would stop idiots like this on the plane in the first place .

Nanny1983 · 05/03/2025 15:11

They need to limit alcohol at the bars in the airport and on the plane . I don’t understand why we need to be serving alcohol on a plane anyway it makes no sense .
Maybe every customer should get 2 vouchers with their boarding passes that they use at the bar or on the plane and that’s it .
There’s so many people now with problems but it’s even scarier thousands of miles up in the air with these drunk people and nowhere to go to escape it . It must be so so triggering for some people .

They need to control the problem .

ThejoyofNC · 05/03/2025 15:15

Let me guess, ryanair?

MissyB1 · 05/03/2025 15:19

hellohellooo · 05/03/2025 14:40

Shocking

Irish airline 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

How did I guess?! The one and only time I’ve encountered this problem it was Ryanair! They don’t give a shit!

notimagain · 05/03/2025 15:20

Nanny1983 · 05/03/2025 15:11

They need to limit alcohol at the bars in the airport and on the plane . I don’t understand why we need to be serving alcohol on a plane anyway it makes no sense .
Maybe every customer should get 2 vouchers with their boarding passes that they use at the bar or on the plane and that’s it .
There’s so many people now with problems but it’s even scarier thousands of miles up in the air with these drunk people and nowhere to go to escape it . It must be so so triggering for some people .

They need to control the problem .

You’re not going to get many takers for no alcohol being served onboard from a lot of regular long haul flyers who can responsibly handle a beer or glass of wine with their lunch or evening meal

I’m retired from the industry now so don’t know if it’s got worse since I left or not, but certainly Long Haul it was very very rare to almost unknown to run into a situation that couldn’t be easily controlled by cabin crew - but where I worked the cabin crew knew that if there were any issues they’d get back up from the captains on the aircraft on the day and subsequently from management in the office.

Looking at a lot of what’s being reported these days it seems to be more of a problem for certain airlines on certain routes. IMHO that’s something for those airlines/airports to sort out - maybe they need to look at the corporate culture.

I’m not sure there’s a need yet for a blanket ban - but as I said I’m possibly out of touch with current trends.

Timeistightagain · 05/03/2025 15:20

ThatsNotMyTeen · 05/03/2025 14:56

I’m sick of drunks and their antisocial behaviour ruining travel, concerts etc. Not people having a drink or two but this disgraceful anti social behaviour

I totally agree .

There was a thread a wee while ago on MN where people were detailing the instances they'd experienced of drunken behaviour in all sorts of social situations- alcohol fuelled fights in theatres , concerts, sporting events. My contribution was about the amount of alcohol consumed at some tennis matches which spoiled the experience for those who actually wanted to watch the match.

But allowing drunks, and serving drunks , on airplanes is whole different level of irresponsible behaviour . The danger to life and the really frightening experience for the other passengers is just truly awful.

MooDengsFatRolls · 05/03/2025 15:23

O'Leary has criticised the pre flight boozing in the past, he really ought to act on what's in his control!

I hate it, makes me feel really unsafe.

JohnofWessex · 05/03/2025 15:24

There clearly a serious issue with drunks on planes

Both the airports and airlines need to be doing more to prevent people arriving drunk at airports and getting drunk waiting for planes.

In the same way steps need to be taken to prevent drunks boarding buses and trains.

Drunk Tanks anyone?

Original poster
hellohellooo · 05/03/2025 15:24

Like you could tell in Stansted just how. Much risk they posed

The airline staff seemed to be too afraid to say anything ?!!

Madness

The flight almost had to divert

OP posts:
MorrisZapp · 05/03/2025 15:27

Yip, drunken yobbishness takes on a whole new angle forty thousand feet up in a sealed tin can. Had a horrible experience on Ryanair, Spanish police met us on arrival. The cabin crew appeared to be teenagers, the pilot put the fasten seat belt sign on to try to at least keep them seated. Utterly appalling.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 05/03/2025 15:28

God I miss getting smashed on aeroplanes...

Millymoonshine · 05/03/2025 15:30

Dh did a stint for Jet2 and one of his tasks was to walk around the bars in the airport and warn people to take it easy as they would not be allowed on the flight if they were drunk.
One guy missed his own stag do because his so called mates got him too drunk to fly!

They also don't allow people with inappropriate slogans on their clothes as they are marketed as family friendly.

GoosieLucie · 05/03/2025 15:36

I agree. Personally, I feel that there should be no alcohol sold at the departure area of airports, ie you wouldn't be able to buy any once you've gone through the security gates, and all airlines should stop serving alcoholic drinks during flights. That would solve the problem for everyone.

Longwaysouth · 05/03/2025 15:43

Personally, I don't think 'duty free' should sell alcohol. Or it should be packed and boxed and put in the hold.
Let's face it you can hardly get anything in the overhead lockers as they have so much booze.
Possibly, we could introduce breath testing before boarding.
Stop selling alcohol on the plane.

Always amazes me that people are drinking at 4.30am at Gatwick. Especially, when kids are with them.

By the way I am not tea total.
There is time and place for every.