Bar closing 2 hrs before landing

On my flight over to the US on Sunday, there was an announcement two hours before landing that "as we are two hours from landing all bars are now closed" - not that I was desperate for a drink, it being a morning flight and unually for me only one BM was consumed, but I'd never heard this before. Perhaps I'm usually asleep ... but does this happen all the time?

Thats not very good at all.

I assume that was on the LHR-BOS sector? - and if so that's only 2/3rds of the way through the flight.

It's akin to last orders at 9pm in a pub - not good!

[ChuckC]

Perhaps they were short on the crew?

Chuck-

[Bazz]

Or short on Booze? Mcuth wasn't on the flight was he?

On most flights I've been on west (VS45,19) the bar has normally closed 45 minutes before landing.

Slinky, did they not turn on the IFE until about 2 hours in too [}:)]

dean

I know they lay a help-yourself brekkie out on the bar, and to do that, they have to clear a lot of the bar paraphernalia away. That I can understand - but it shouldn't stop you asking for an alcoholic drink if you wanted one.

To say "The bar is closed" just sounds like another crew with a chip on their shoulder to me.

Cheers,
Mike

Sounds like Lazy crew to me. But perhaps there is another answer? Perhaps there were people very inibrieated or, they were short on booze for the return flight? Wasn't that discussed recently too?

have also been on flights where booze is stopped. Was in UC one time when this happened - the crew explained that further down the plane there were 'problems' so captain decided that no more booze be served to anyone including UC

Originally posted by armadillo
have also been on flights where booze is stopped. Was in UC one time when this happened - the crew explained that further down the plane there were 'problems' so captain decided that no more booze be served to anyone including UC

That is acceptable, IMHO, as the Captain is protecting the safety of the aircraft by stopping service due to a disturbance.

It's the whole "as we are two hours from landing, the bar is closed" which sounds a bit off to me.

Mike

[Decker]

The common variant of this is of course the "as we're X minutes from landing the duty free trollies will be closing in 5 minutes"...

Originally posted by mike-smashing

Originally posted by armadillo
have also been on flights where booze is stopped. Was in UC one time when this happened - the crew explained that further down the plane there were 'problems' so captain decided that no more booze be served to anyone including UC

That is acceptable, IMHO, as the Captain is protecting the safety of the aircraft by stopping service due to a disturbance.

It's the whole "as we are two hours from landing, the bar is closed" which sounds a bit off to me.

Mike

Agree re safety of passengers - and in any case the crew were cool - they gave us a couple of beers each - just after the 'offical close'.

What gets me is why do people have to ruin it for all the rest of us who like a drink or two, but dont get stupid.

Originally posted by armadillo


Agree re safety of passengers - and in any case the crew were cool - they gave us a couple of beers each - just after the 'offical close'.

What gets me is why do people have to ruin it for all the rest of us who like a drink or two, but dont get stupid.

Who knows ?

Drinking because..it's available and nominally free ?
Drinking because..you're going on holiday and drinking's what you do to have fun ?
Drinking because..you've bevvied up in the airport and my as well carry on ?
Drinking because..you're trying to blot out the fear brought on by being in a thin metal tube 37,000 ft in the air over a watery nothing and potentially seconds and a loose bolt from meeting your maker ?

What I can add is that having been experienced an event with someone completely out of control [:0] I can understand why nipping it in the bud is a priority.

Paul

On Vegas flight we sometimes have to close the bars early as there are too many customers getting drunk.

On other flights if there is a lot of drinking going on and the CSS and FSM feel there is not going to be enough left for the return flight then yes we can close the bars. We can also close the bars if we feel things coul dget out of hand with too many people drinking too much.

Unless you mean Duty Free Bars which are closed 1 1/2 hours before landing so that we can count stock and continue with services.

Was in UC one time when this happened - the crew explained that further down the plane there were 'problems' so captain decided that no more booze be served to anyone including UC

I can understand that the Captain was concerned for the safety of everybody, but its a pity that he took the easy option and penalised everbody.
If any passenger is causing a problem, drink related or otherwise, then that passenger should be dealt with. I'm not sure what action the crew can take, but surely they should recognise the potential effect of alcohol and take action by refusing to serve excess drinks to certain individuals before the potential becomes an actual problem.

Please don't punish the majority because of the actions of a minority.

Originally posted by virgin is the best
On other flights if there is a lot of drinking going on and the CSS and FSM feel there is not going to be enough left for the return flight then yes we can close the bars.

How do you monitor consumption? I would assume (and there is that assumption thing again) that the booze is located in different parts of the aircraft and keeping an eye on what is there would be difficult.

Or do you develop a knowledge of consumption patterns and you realise if its over or under the average flight.

As VITB has mentioned there are certain routes where due to high consumption Alcoholic Drings bars are closed early.. What a lot of Customers dont realize iks that as a UK airline and Customs regulations all Alcohol is round tripped so no extra is loaded overseas.. only soft drinks.

it was also mentioned that on one flight a Captain decided to close bars for safety and security reasons... All Cabin crew can refuse alcohol to anyone they consider to be getting too intoxicated. AS it is a criminal offence to be drunk on a uk registered Aircraft...

It is unfortunate for those who have not had a drink and want one later... But I guess when drinks are free there always be those who will take advantage...And we should be pleased that the likes of BA and Virgin havnt gone down the BD route of charging!!!

I really object to the comments that closing of bars early was becasue crew were being lazy or having a chip on their shoulder!

2 hours left is actually only 30 minutes prior to the last service or just over 1 hour before the seatbelt signs for landing.

a question i've always wanted answered is

WHY do airlines serve premium beer - over 5% alcohol

why not just serve regular beer ??

most people just drink regular beer at home - so maybe thats why so many people get wasted on the lond flights ?

that is - they are not used to it!

Well seems not then ... I certainly understand the comments about excess, safety, low supplies and the like. The reason I posted was the very specific nature of the announcement "as we are 2 hrs from landing all bars are now closed.

Oh and this was the VS3 LHR to JFK which leaves at 0930 and I could not see any excess drinking going on or any disturbance, so presume it was something to do with the crew ...

Oh if it was said like that then yes that would be wrong. There may have been another reason but without being there who knows.