When you’re flying in business and first class, it’s easy to overdo it on the drinks. A cocktail in the lounge, champagne when boarding, wine with dinner and a nightcap before the lights are turned down can all make it feel like vacation’s started.
But overindulge and you’ll be left feeling terrible when you arrive. Thankfully, airlines are starting to make it easier to order something fun without the booze. Whether you’re sober, under 21 or just looking for something different, these nonalcoholic beverages won’t leave you feeling deprived.
Cathay Delight (Cathay Pacific Airlines)
Served in business and first class, the Cathay Delight is a refreshing fruit-based drink. It’s described as being made with kiwi, coconut milk and mint, though according to the official recipe they shared online, there’s also a little dairy milk for an extra creamy kick.
How to book it: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles offers extra availability to its own program members rather than partners. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards or Citi ThankYou to take advantage of this, with U.S. to Hong Kong awards starting at 84,000 miles one-way in business class.
Cipriani Bellini (Etihad Airways)
Clink glasses with a celebratory drink when ordering Etihad’s mocktail version of a classic Bellini. Rather than mixing peach puree with sparkling wine, it swaps in sparkling water. The drink is big on bubbles and flavor without the big headache the next day.
How to book it: Although Etihad has solid business and first class on all its planes, it’s best known for the “Etihad Apartments,” a first-class product featured on the A380. Award availability can be scarce but is sometimes found flying between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi. Book through Air Canada Aeroplan to include segments from home to London and add a U.K. stopover for just an additional 5,000 miles.
Cold Brew (Delta Air Lines)
It’s not just premium passengers who can select a premium caffeinated beverage with Delta. They now serve Explorer Cold Brew on board and you can even select an oat milk creamer should you wish. Though it’s free in business class, economy passengers will have to pony up a few bucks for this upgrade over standard brew.
How to book it: Delta has a dynamic award chart, meaning there’s no set prices for its award flights. Instead, they’re loosely tied to cash ticket prices. Since this cold brew is available even in economy, feel free to book the cheapest award and still get your caffeine fix when you want it.
Date Smoothie (Saudia Airlines)
As a dry airline, there won’t be any temptation to order alcohol when flying Saudia—it’s simply unavailable. Still, you won’t be missing out. Their signature date smoothie is well loved as a velvety sweet option topped with crushed pistachios for an extra special touch.
How to book it: Saudia is a SkyTeam member, giving you several options for using miles to book business-class tickets, including Air France/KLM Flying Blue. You’ll find routes out of the U.S. departing from New York-JFK, Washington-Dulles and Los Angeles with logical connections to destinations in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
Everyone’s Mule (United Airlines)
For a fantastic mocktail, you don’t have to wait until you reach 35,000 feet. United Airlines offers a handful of handcrafted mocktails at their Polaris lounges to sip on before you fly. Try drinks like Everyone’s Mule, a riff on the traditional ginger-lime Moscow Mule except made with Seedlip Grove 42, a nonalcoholic spirit.
How to book it: United Polaris lounges can currently be found in six U.S. airports with significant United service and are available exclusively to travelers flying in business or first class internationally. Though you need to be flying United, you don’t necessarily need to book your award through United MileagePlus.
Golden Ale (JetBlue Airlines)
You can order nonalcoholic beer next time you fly JetBlue, which currently offers Athletic Brewing’s nonalcoholic Upside Down Golden Ale. If you’re lucky enough to be flying in their coveted Mint Class, you can enjoy this cold drink for free, but even those flying in economy have the option to buy one.
How to book it: Though JetBlue has a few partners, you’ll most likely be booking your award tickets directly through JetBlue TrueBlue. Mint class is currently limited to a handful of transcontinental and international routes, so plan on budgeting for an extra expense if you’re flying in economy.
Karak Chai (Qatar Airways)
True to its status as a Middle Eastern hub, Qatar Airways brings one of the region’s most beloved drinks to its onboard menu. Passengers can choose from cardamom or saffron karak chai for a creamy, sweet and spicy hot drink. Can’t decide? Their service is so excellent they’ll gladly bring you both.
How to book it: One of the most popular ways to book Qatar Airways business class is through American Airlines AAdvantage where a flight from the U.S. to the Middle East or Indian subcontinent will set you back 70,000 miles each way. But Qatar’s route map is far and wide and you’ll find connections to other parts of the world, too.
Royal Sparkle (Singapore Airlines)
Singapore Airlines has been serving mocktails since before it was trendy and typically has several to choose from on each flight, such as the Royal Sparkle, a concoction of apple juice, ginger ale and club soda.
How to book it: Singapore Airlines is notorious for providing more award availability to their own Krisflyer members rather than partners. Luckily, that’s not a problem: You can transfer in points from nearly all transferable credit card currencies. Hint: If you’re not flying to Asia, you may still find space on one of their fifth freedom flights.
Three Spirit Nightcap (Virgin Atlantic Airways)
Virgin Atlantic titles drinks made from Three Spirit Nightcap, a nonalcoholic spirit, as “The Dream Maker”, something especially useful when flying relatively short transatlantic flights like New York to London. Though you can order this spirit in any mixed drink of your choosing, this mellow drink is equally suitable when served neat or on the rocks.
How to book it: Virgin Atlantic imposes hefty fuel surcharges when flying in Upper Class, so you’ll want to determine whether that’s worth it to you. During off-season travel, award rates are lower, so the bargain mileage might make up the difference in your total cost. Since you can find premium flights for less than 50,000 miles one-way between the U.S. and London, it can still be a fair price overall.
Virgin Mojito (Emirates Airlines)
Enjoy this long-time favorite sans rum as a bartender—yes, an actual bartender at an actual bar, if you’re flying on an Airbus A380—muddles mint, lime, sugar and club soda for you. That’s just one of the several mocktails advertised onboard, giving you plenty of options to sample throughout your flight.
How to book it: If you want to book one of Emirates’ new “Game Changer” first class suites, you’ll almost certainly need to be looking last minute. Award seats, if any, are typically only released a few days before departure. But their other business- and first-class seats are awesome as well and can be booked farther in advance. Emirates Skywards is a transfer partner for all six major credit card flexible points programs.
Wiener Eiskaffee (Austrian Airlines)
Though several airlines offer espresso-based drinks in business and first class, Austrian Airlines offers one of the most decadent. Their eiskaffee combines a double espresso with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream for the ultimate in-flight treat.
How to book it: Austrian Airlines has been known to be generous with their business class availability, making it a great option for travel to Europe or beyond. One great way to confirm your tickets is by paying with Avianca LifeMiles. Business-class awards between the U.S. and Europe on Austrian typically cost 63,000 miles per person with low taxes and Avianca transfer bonuses aren’t uncommon, which means your rewards could stretch even farther.
Bottom Line
Beverage offerings go far beyond the standard soda and juice when flying these days, at least if you’re flying in premium classes. A few airlines even offer entire lists of mocktails and nonalcoholic offerings, making it one of the few times you can drink your way down the menu entirely guilt-free.
Source : Forbes Advisor
