Pre-departure drinks: the elite perk that just got shorter. FAA now requires cups collected before pushback.
The FAA's renewed enforcement of a 1992 regulation means airlines must collect all service items before pushback, cutting the window for pre-departure drinks. This hits premium cabins hardest, where elite flyers often enjoy a glass of champagne or juice during boarding. Some airlines may drop the service entirely to avoid delays, others will rush the process. Your elite status doesn't help you hold onto that cup once the door closes.
the play
Bring your own beverage in a spill-proof container you can stow during taxi, and don't count on the airline's pre-departure service to be more than a quick sip.
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source signal
This drop was reframed from a real reader question asked around the web. Written with the assistance of a language model in the voice of Flynn Ryder.