When hurrying to catch a budget airline flight at an early hour, thoughts often turn to that first cup of coffee. After passing through security, many travelers head straight to a nearby café to fuel up for the journey.
However, the rules on bringing hot drinks onboard can vary among airlines. While some airlines permit hot beverages if securely lidded, others may require passengers to discard their freshly brewed drinks, resulting in a wait for onboard beverage service.
It is essential to familiarize yourself with your airline’s policies to avoid wasting money on a drink that may need to be disposed of before boarding.
Here is an overview of the policies of some popular UK airlines regarding bringing hot drinks onboard:
For passengers flying with easyJet, bringing your own food and drink is allowed, although the airline also offers onboard options. The easyJet website specifies that hot drinks purchased at the airport with a lid are permitted onboard.
To ensure you can enjoy your takeaway drink, it is advisable to retain the lid or consider purchasing a reusable cup with a secure seal like the Byron 2.0 SNAPSEAL™ Travel Mug to fill up with your preferred beverage before boarding.
Regrettably, Jet2 passengers are not allowed to bring hot drinks onboard, even if purchased at the airport, due to safety reasons. The airline recommends pre-purchasing meal deals and sandwiches from their menu.
Ryanair permits passengers to bring their own cold food and drink onboard but prohibits hot drinks and self-consumed alcohol during the flight. The airline offers an app for ordering food and drink before and during the flight, with a limited selection of hot beverages available.
Regarding TUI, it is not explicitly stated whether passengers can bring hot drinks onboard. The airline suggests low-risk, cold food options for self-brought snacks and sandwiches.
The allowance of bringing hot drinks onboard with British Airways (BA) is not explicitly prohibited. Food and drink must pass security checks and customs regulations, leaving the decision to the crew’s discretion.
BA’s High Life Café on most short-haul routes provides a wide selection of hot drinks, including specialty coffees like flat whites and pumpkin spice lattes, along with Birchall teas and hot chocolate.
Flight attendants may exercise discretion on allowing passengers to bring their own cups of coffee onboard, making it advisable to be prepared to wait for onboard service. Airlines like TUI and BA offer a variety of hot drink options, ensuring a satisfying journey for coffee enthusiasts.