It's a PLANE not a flying Starbucks

[Chromatix]

It probably has something to do with the finite supply of drinking water on board, which has to be shared among everyone. Okay, some people actually do need more than others to be comfortable... but can you imagine if half the passengers turned into EWs about it?

The reason why packets are difficult to open is not because the "tube" is pressurised, but because it's still at a lower pressure than sea level - typically the equivalent of 8000 feet altitude, I believe. (I know, from brief experience on Sandia peak, that vigourous exercise above that altitude will get you out of breath very quickly.) The packet was probably packed at sea level pressure, or nearly so. I wonder if "airline peanuts" packets are specially packed for opening at 8000 feet equivalent pressure?

The restriction against hot food is probably because the official meals come in trays, which are probably type-approved to avoid accidentally spilling the contents in awkward places. Sort-of like McDonalds coffee being too hot if mishandled, if you see what I mean.

[Belari]

Actually, this has been lifted for awhile. You just have to purchase it after going thru security.

Yep, you can spend $3.00 for a 20oz bottle of water in the terminal. Very kind of them

[bunnyboy]

And to the latte lady - seriously?! you want your flight attendant dealing with steam on a moving aircraft. EW that one.

I would, then again said moving aircraft would be a Zeppelin, and the steam would be a little pressure from the propeller boilers (gotta love being steampunk.)

[PhotoChick]

Yep, you can spend $3.00 for a 20oz bottle of water in the terminal. Very kind of them

Solution: Bring empty water bottle. Find water fountain. Fill.

[Jester]

I never understand people like this.

As long as I can have a beer or a soda on the flight, I am one happy Jester.

Do I have to pay for the beer? No problem. Here ya go. Thank you very much.
Is the beer free? EVEN BETTER! Thank you VERY much. And yes. I actually tip for my beer on flights. The last few times, flight attendants have looked at me when I tip like I am some unexpected saint or something. It feels good to make someone's day and/or restore their faith in humanity when they deal with idiots like the latte lady all the time.

And honestly, people, when was the last time you got GOOD food on an airplane? I can count the times I have on ONE BLOODY FINGER! So stop your bitching, flyers, eat what they offer, if anything, and shut the flying hell up!

Oh, and get out of the flight attendant's way when they are bringing me my beer!

Solution: Bring empty water bottle. Find water fountain. Fill.

Negative, Ghost Rider. Won't work. They have rules in place that you can only bring water bottles on if they are SEALED and UNOPENED. Once you open them, you lose the right to bring them on board the plane. The point is that, once it is open, there can be any kind of liquid in there, such as something explosive, acidic, toxic, etc.

So, good idea, but it won't fly. So to speak.

[Belari]

Solution: Bring empty water bottle. Find water fountain. Fill.

I tried that. My bottle was confiscated at the security gate

[PhotoChick]

Now I'm worried. I do this at Dulles and BWI all the time. *Wonders why security is less in DC, where it should be more.*

[smileyeagle1021]

Now I'm worried. I do this at Dulles and BWI all the time. *Wonders why security is less in DC, where it should be more.*

no... really terrifying is when you go through security at Salt Lake, you have your ticket and ID out and the security person not only doesn't check it, but you hear them make a comment to one of their coworkers "I just don't care enough anymore to check" (and yes, I did find a supervisor to report that too)

[Dreamstalker]

They have rules in place that you can only bring water bottles on if they are SEALED and UNOPENED. Once you open them, you lose the right to bring them on board the plane. The point is that, once it is open, there can be any kind of liquid in there, such as something explosive, acidic, toxic, etc.

Wow, I didn't know about that restriction. A friend was able to bring an opened bottle of water (purchased on the concourse) on the plane last month.

There was an article in The Register awhile ago showing exactly why the liquid ban was ridiculous (in short, the alleged liquid bomb could never be pulled off the way everyone thinks). Anything more would seem to be Fratching territory, so that's all I'll say on that.

I actually like the coffee that American serves (I think they use Green Mountain Coffee now). I was on a flight once, and a lady next to me actually asked the attendant if she could have a bag of the coffee "because it's so good". Which it is, but why make a request like that when you can go online or to the store and buy it fresh?

[Belari]

Wow, I didn't know about that restriction. A friend was able to bring an opened bottle of water (purchased on the concourse) on the plane last month.

There was an article in The Register awhile ago showing exactly why the liquid ban was ridiculous (in short, the alleged liquid bomb could never be pulled off the way everyone thinks). Anything more would seem to be Fratching territory, so that's all I'll say on that.

I actually like the coffee that American serves (I think they use Green Mountain Coffee now). I was on a flight once, and a lady next to me actually asked the attendant if she could have a bag of the coffee "because it's so good". Which it is, but why make a request like that when you can go online or to the store and buy it fresh?

Did your friend buy it after going through security? Then it would be ok. You just cannot bring the opened or empty bottle through security.

[Chromatix]

The cheap airline of choice for Helsinki-Manchester flights is SAS (Scandinavian Airlines). They're a whole lot cheaper than most "national flagship" airlines, but you can see at least one or two areas where they're trimmed the service to fit that price.

One is that they have a very strong hub-and-spoke system - you get on one flight to go to either Stockholm or Copenhagen, and then a second flight to get to your destination. So the flight doesn't go directly from Helsinki to Manchester. Because they have two hubs close together, neither of them is overloaded.

The other is that they charge for refreshments on board. And the prices are listed in Kroner (crowns), not Euros, because neither Sweden nor Denmark have joined the Single Currency. Fortunately the attendants are permitted to take Euros, and the on-board exchange rate avoids making awkward change - but you have to ask what the exchange rate is (IIRC, it was about 10 Swedish Kroner to the Euro, and something else for Danish Kroner). The prices are high but not completely ridiculous - about €1 for a small coffee, for example - and the quality of what you get is respectable by airline standards.

[Dreamstalker]

Did your friend buy it after going through security? Then it would be ok. You just cannot bring the opened or empty bottle through security.

Ah. Yup, it was purchased after security.

I was able to get an open bottle of soda through a couple times, but at other times sealed bottles have been confiscated (one of ramune soda which is impossible to "reseal" once opened, and refilling it would be a hassle).

I've given up trying to figure out exactly what the rules are as they seem to change depending on the airport, moon phase, screener's mood, etc.

[depechemodefan]

Great, comp. ate my post.

There was this one ahole who was sitting in his seat, with the seat all the way back, in the other person's lap practically...but he was hunched over the tray, the whole trip, on his laptop.

[Jester]

I was on a flight once, and a lady next to me actually asked the attendant if she could have a bag of the coffee "because it's so good". Which it is, but why make a request like that when you can go online or to the store and buy it fresh?

I can answer that one.

Not all coffee that is served in restaurants or on airlines is available for retail purchase by the average customer. Also, the coffee in question may not have been available in the woman's area. And hey, nothing wrong with asking.

I know that in a lot of restaurants I've worked in, we've gotten asked what brand of coffee we use a lot. Not so much at The Bar, though, as I guess our coffee ain't that great....and not a lot of people drink coffee at The Bar.

[greensinestro]

I've always wondered about the galleys on airplanes. I have only flown a handful of times in my life and therefore don't have a full understanding of how things work. Does that galley actually have people who work in there, whipping up food and actually cooking it for the guests? My feeling of it was it's pre-packaged food, like sandwiches. I've had hot meals, but I figured it was also pre-packaged, just heated up afterwards. I was happy as long as I had something to eat. And, I was happy if I at least had a bag of peanuts, or crackers.

Seems like those who fly frequently are the ones who expect the plane to have a Steak And Ale on board, complete with kitchen and bar. Shouldn't people like this be traveling on a cruise boat instead where all of this is available?