Do you have to pay for snacks and drinks on a plane?

Snacks are Still Free on Many Airlines No charge -- it's included in the price of the ticket. Many airlines still pour a small glass of soda for their passengers or hand them a bag of pretzels or peanuts. It's certainly not a meal, but it might quiet the hunger and thirst pangs for a little while.



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Non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, and juice are free and accessible all day on every United Airlines' flight. For flights under 300 miles, passengers need to request these drinks from the flight attendant. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased on domestic U.S., Latin America, and Canada flights.

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Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

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Foods you can't pack in your carry-on
Think: creamy cheeses, liquid chocolate, liquid coffee, creamy dips and spreads, gravy, honey, hummus, ice cream, jam, jelly, juice, syrup, peanut butter, salad dressing, sauce, salsa, soda, soup and yogurt.

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Tip #2: Reduce waste and save some money by bringing a reusable water bottle. So you can't bring H20 or any other liquids more than 3.4 oz. (well there are some exceptions) through security, but you CAN bring an empty bottle. Just fill it up on your way to boarding your flight after screening.

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Credit/Debit - No Cash: Most airlines now have cashless cabins where payment for drinks or snacks will only be allowed by credit or debit card. As a reminder, alcoholic beverages are for adults 21 and older. Flight attendants will not be afraid to ask you for your ID, so keep your credit card and identification handy.

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Check your flights itinerary and it'll either specify what, if any meals are served, or it will say food for purchase. Non-alcoholic drinks are still free on airlines. If it is that important, make sure to have snacks handy.

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To be extra safe, the CUNY researchers advised people never to drink water onboard a plane that does not come from a sealed bottle. They also said passengers should not drink coffee or tea brewed on their flight, and that they should even use hand sanitizer instead of washing their hands with onboard water.

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Getting free non-alcoholic drinks
For those of you who just want to sip on something it's very common for airlines to offer free non-alcoholic drinks to economy passengers. This typically includes water, juices, tea, coffee, and sometimes soda.

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Allegiant Air comes in slightly under Spirit at $10.34 per drink followed by Alaska ($9.67), Delta ($9.63), and United, JetBlue, and American, which all came in at $9 a drink. Southwest took the honors as the cheapest place to get a drink in the air. The average cost of an alcoholic drink on the airline is $6.67.

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Economy class meal service varies by flight time: flights under 2 hours: a snack. flights over 2 hours: a main meal. flights over 7 hours: a main meal and snack.

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Regarding food, complimentary snacks aren't provided on flights under 800 miles, but passengers can bring their own. Flights over 500 miles offer additional items like snack boxes for purchase, and flights 1500 miles or longer have Bistro on Board items available.

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Food. For flights under 800 miles long, we won't have complimentary snacks available, but you're always welcome to bring your own snacks on board. Flights over 500 miles will also have additional products like snack boxes, and flights 1500 miles and over have Bistro on Board items available for purchase.

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The roots of the prohibition of water can be directly traced back to an incident in 2006 when surveillance cameras captured a terrorist drilling a hole into an unopened water bottle and filling it with explosive liquids.

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TSA-approved snacks and meals
  • Sliced veggies with a (smaller than 3.4 ounce) container of hummus.
  • Protein bars.
  • Dried fruits and nuts.
  • DIY charcuterie box (with hard, not creamy, cheeses)
  • Muffins and pastries.
  • Beef or mushroom jerky.
  • Popcorn.
  • Whole wheat crackers.


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Yes, you may pack food in your carry-on or checked bag, but remember all food must undergo x-ray screening. Foods that are liquids, gels, or aerosols must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule. TSA officers make the final decision on whether certain items are permitted into the secured areas of the airport.

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