Why is PDB different to normal beverage service?

[mr_osborne]

Hey, I've been reading through some threads, and I noticed that often airlines serve different beverages as pre dearture beverages (e.g. you often hear of sparkling wine PDB, champagne after take off). I was wondering if anyone would be able to shed some light on this?

Thanks

 

[spudseamus]

Taxes I would suppose

 

[mr_osborne]

I had wondered if it was related to different laws etc...

 

[Simo]

From what I have noticed it is generally a smaller serving of what would normally be offered in flight.

 

[turtlemichael]

From what I have noticed it is generally a smaller serving of what would normally be offered in flight.

On a recent QF flight in F, the FA said, "would you like a glass of champagne? We'll have something a lot better to offer you when we get airborne". I just had water, then wine after we took off so didn't think to ask why.

 

[mr_osborne]

From what I have noticed it is generally a smaller serving of what would normally be offered in flight.

On a recent QF flight in F, the FA said, "would you like a glass of champagne? We'll have something a lot better to offer you when we get airborne". I just had water, then wine after we took off so didn't think to ask why.

:S

Simo, what airline(s) is this normally with?

 

[Simo]

QF and also CX

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Some carriers choose to serve cheaper varieties of drinks prior to departure purely because of tax reasons. They have to pay duty if opened on the ground, but are duty free once in the air.

This seems to be a feature of USA airlines... I have not come across a first tier airline skimping on their costs by serving a sparkling wine before take-off... (although I haven't flown QF out of the states for many years - can anyone shed light on the champagne served on the ground in the US?)

This may also explain why they serve smaller glasses in the USA - just saves opening more bottles I suppose...

 

[Hvr]

My PDBs are always the same as my post take off beverage.

Nice cold Diet Coke.

 

[simongr]

The only one I have seen served differently was on CX when they had Billecart Salmon Rose as a PDB option as opposed to the batery acid they normally serve - I was able to source some of the BSR in flight as well when I expressed my opinion of the battery acid.