Hodd

I used to do a load of long haul flights and took full advantage of the booze on board and at the airport lounges. The few times I’ve ever flown in business class saw ridiculous levels of drinking, and I’m sure the cabin crew were wary. Then three months after quitting, I had a short haul flight in Europe and was shocked at what a trigger the whole experience was before during and after. For my first ever long haul flight sober, I was semi-addicted to AF beer, but this wasn’t available on board so I managed without. Then came Covid, and I didn’t really fly anywhere for a couple of years, until today. I’m glad to say airports are no longer a trigger nor was the free booze on the trolley.

My last ever beer (touch wood) was also on a plane at the end of 2018, and I remember it being a gassy tasteless affair much like beer always tasted on planes. i really was drinking for the sake of it.

I wasn’t expecting any problems on today’s flight, but you just never know. UK airports are a disgrace at the moment with staffing shortages, and flying anywhere right now can be a massive strain. That stress combined with free booze can be dangerous, which is why I got to the airport ridiculously early. I doubt I’d have been triggered if today’s airport experience went awry, but that’s because I’ve got some decent sober time accumulates. For those newer to sobriety, I’d be very wary indeed or even consider not travelling right now.

Primativo

I am glad you speak about this. I haven't been sober on a flight since I was a teenager. Even long haul flights, I would basically drink non stop, pass out drunk, wake up again, carry on drinking. It was the personification of a drinking problem. I get anxious when traveling and alcohol was my medicine. Whenever I was abroad, it would be one big binge.

So because of all that, I don't plan to travel whilst I am so early in sobriety. I haven't been away since 2019, and I figure I can wait a little bit longer until I book a holiday. I would find it too triggering right now. I think I want at least 3 - 6 months before I try, currently day 40.

Icandothis2013

Pre this period of sobriety, I’ve done flights sober but they are usually to Muslim counties for my work …however, your account gives me another reason to postpone/cancel my planned jaunt to Portugal in a few weeks I think. Thanks Hodd and enjoy wherever you are !

advbike

I never really cared to drink when flying, fortunately.. I’m actually typing this while sitting in business class on an 11 hour Philippines Airlines flight to Manila. Three meals served.. the wine list is ridiculous, but I just told her water to go with my beef. I’ll be happy to get off the plane sober and have my wits about me.

Dee74

I hope you have a good flight Hodd

D

Khorhey

Back in the 1970’s I flew with my parents often. When they still had smoking sections haha. Anyway people use to get hammered on flights like it was one big party. I remember one time the plane had to circle the airport in Miami for an hour because they thought the landing gear was broken. They gave out free booze. At 10 years old I was the only sober one on the plane except the pilot (hopefully).

Yeah business class was tough because they include it and there is no drink limit like coach.

It’s so much better not drinking though because you don’t get dehydrated.

Mysteryman

I can relate to this so much.
For years its been the same for me- one big party on any flight. Feeling in my element because seemingly everyones doing it. Free booze galore.
Got a flight in a month that ill be sober for. Got a rental car booked at the destination.

CaptainHaddock

Thanks for sharing Hodd.

I remember being on a long haul flight many years ago. A young male passenger in the row of seats on the other side of the isle managed to bring a bottle of Tequila on board and soon became quite drunk and loud, drawing much attention to him. The bottle was eventually confiscated and he was lucky not to be arrested.

I was a moderate drinker back then, but still it was quite disturbing and made a deep impression on me. I sometimes think back to that incident when thinking about my own recovery.

Not sure whether this ties in with your thread and I’m sure that you weren’t that person. 🙂

DriGuy

Before recovery, airports and plane travel was a sure drunk. I'm kind of ashamed of being that person in public back then. I was never mean or about to get thrown off a plane, but I was bad role model for families traveling with children, and I probably turned off a few adults too. It's in the past now.

Hodd

^^ That wasn’t me, Captain 🤣 I was never into spirits.

I did once have an all day beer session in the tropics before getting on a night flight to Australia. I’d fallen asleep and woke up with a start, thinking I was about to throw up. I jumped out of my seat, and the next thing I knew I was lying on the floor in the aisle. I managed to graze my forehead on the carpet, but this could’ve been way worse. I could’ve smashed my head against a metal seat or armrest! The cabin crew were openly concerned that time. To be honest, I get that headrush effect now if I stand up too quickly, so the plane episode was probably more due to this.

Apart from that, I never normally got too bad.

Hodd

I once had to travel short haul with a mechanic who had to help me with some work. He was a smoker, and they can be worse than drinkers! He started kicking off at someone who’d reclined their seat in front. He was punching the seat and shouting in his native tongue. I normally find such events amusing, but on that occasion I was worried I was going to get dragged into it..

And on the flight I just took, a large gent was moved from another part of the plane. He was having a bad day by the looks of things, and the only seat free was a middle seat next to another large gent. Large gent A then wanted to move back to his original seat. Soon after there was an unseen battle of the armrests, and the stewardess had to tell them off like school kids. Quite amusing. I’ve often flown alone and happily swapped seats with a couple or group, but I almost make sure first that the new place isn’t the seat from hell 🤣

Hodd

The lady next to me ordered a small red wine, which also wasn’t an issue as I couldn’t even smell it. She took about an hour to drink it, and that was her alcohol intake for the flight. I must admit to being a bit envious of normies like that, but that bird’s long since flown - not again in this lifetime.

Primativo

Yeah, like why doesn't she want to drink a bottle? Why is she able to maintain control after one glass and not think 'to the hell with it, I feel loose, let's get merry'

My dad is like that, he will have a couple of glasses of wine and leave it. He also finds it hard to understand my drink problem. He would say to me "why can't you just have a couple and control it?" He just cannot contemplate why once I drink, I want to drink lots and lots until I pass out.

I was pondering this one the way to the gym the other day. I am so risk averse in every aspect of life, sensible and rational, yet when it comes to drink I am the opposite. It's bizarre. In the big book they talk about this, how you can have someone who is intelligent, sensible, successful,but give them a drink and they lose control of it. They cannot apply their rationality when it comes to drink.

I also envy normies, being able to have a few drinks, relax, socialise and then that's it. But it is what it is,and I accept it.

Hodd

^ Hi Prim, in my case, I eat and drink too fast. Even now, I’ll drink tea, coffee or whatever within a minute, which isn’t a problem but it definitely was a problem with alcohol. The lady sat next to me on the flight was able to sip and savour the wine, and presumably/hopefully she’ll never cross the line into dependence that so many of us have. As you say, we have to accept it. It’s like seeing a 20 year old athlete and wondering why I can’t be like that. It’s not going to happen. It’s this ego thing which is many drinker’s worst enemy.

Radix

Thanks for posting this. I haven't yet had a long-haul flight sober... I also used to do the lounge thing first, then the trip, drinking until falling asleep. That is be one of the few "old" settings in which my sobriety has yet to be tested, but I'm not worried. I actually like flying, and I enjoy the uninterrupted time to read a good book. I expect I'll enjoy both even more without drinking. And I'll definitely enjoy deplaning with a clear head.

No long hauls scheduled in my future yet... but I'll be thinking of SR when the time comes.

advbike

Well my 11 hour flight to the tropics was wonderful without a drink. Filled with gratitude to be flying again. Sober appreciation of the ocean and blue sky, puffy clouds, islands below.. The delicious meals. Looking forward to seeing my girlfriend and her son after two years lockdown. My dad used to get off the plane from overseas drunk. Not this guy. I will never do that to them.

The guy nearest to me on the flight had a glass of red and it smelled like ethanol, which it is. But oh, to read the description..

Then in Manila, gate problems, couldn't disembark. Eventually I got concerned and was able to clearly explain my situation with my connection and they finally let me off. And I jammed to immigration, baggage claim, and customs.. all typically chaotic.. and got my bags rechecked, ran for my connecting flight and made it, sweating profusely. Got into the city and my hotel safely, despite carrying a large sum of cash, split across bags.

Do all this successfully while buzzed from drinking? Not an effing chance. Like I said the best part of sobriety is always having your wits about you. Being able to change plans on the fly. Know what needs to be done and get it done.

Hodd

^ adv, I’m normally laid back to the point of being horizontal, but airports and flying are a stressful experience. Security queues and some of the awful staff make things bad before even setting foot on the plane. I can well appreciate the need for a drink once through security, so I can’t emphasise enough what a trigger this is. Some airports are vast and have last-minute gate changes and then more security queues There was a 70-minute queue for immigration too, but I was expecting that - I’ve had longer waits at US airports, the worst on the planet.

Be careful, folks