FAA Tells Airlines To Take Away First Class Drinks Before Pushback — But You Can Keep Your Own Starbucks

Starting September 1, Delta flight attendants will have to collect every Delta-provided service item, including paper and plastic cups, before the aircraft begins pushback. That means less time with first class predeparture beverages, and probably predeparture beverages served less often. This is the result of an FAA required industry-wide change, telling flight attendants to begin predeparture beverage service earlier in the boarding process. A Delta flight attendant first disclosed the instruction online. Aviation watchdog JonNYC shares Delta’s internal communication: pic.twitter.com/ZQr2DknR9N — JonNYC (@xJonNYC) August 22, 2026 The result is wonderfully bureaucratic – a plastic cup of water poured by an airline has to confiscated before pushback, while the passenger in the next seat can keep their Starbucks because they brought it on themselves. But did you know that the Starbucks cup is legally required to be properly stowed, although that’s never enforced? The FAA Is Enforcing A 1992 Rule That’s Been Deferred 14 CFR §121.577 has been in place since 1992. An airline isn’t allowed to move the aircraft, take off or land while carrier-furnished food, beverages or serviceware remain at a passenger seat. That means it’s not allowed to push back if first class passengers still have their predeparture beverages. Although in theory an airline-provide item could be secured somewhere approved instead of collected but that’s not practical. However, the FAA had offered guidance for years that a compliance schedule for paper cups and plastic glasses hadn’t been established. Airlines could collect reusable glassware before pushback but leave disposable cups until the safety demonstration or taxi. “The compliance schedule for enforcing § 121.577…has not been established at this time.” Collection is required “with the exception of paper cups and plastic glasses” The FAA revised its guidance on May 27 and specifically emphasizes that paper and plastic items are supposed to be picked up before movement. Glass and plastic have been treated differently under the regs, but now they won’t be. The rule addressed the “pickup of paper cups and plastic glasses prior to movement” Now, “[a]ll galley items should be picked up and properly stowed prior to movement on the surface.” The FAA Says Plastic And Paper Cups Are An Evacuation Hazard? The 1992 rulemaking suggested that loose food, cups, trays, carts and other service equipment could slow an evacuation after an accident during surface movement. Flight attendants are supposed to be alert to safety problems rather than continuing service during taxi. Commenters at the time argued that plastic and styrofoam simply aren’t dangerous, and argued that the rule would limit first class predeparture drinks which would reduce the value of these tickets to customers. The FAA responded that pushback to takeoff normally takes less than 15 minutes and claimed there was no additional cost because flight attendants already collected everything before takeoff. The only difference was doing it earlier. Paper Cups Are Dangerous, But You Can Keep Your Starbucks The requirement to collect service items is specific to things provided by the airline. It doesn’t apply to drinks purchased in the terminal. If the airline gives you the cup it’s dangerous, if you bring it on yourself it’s not. But there are still requirements for your Starbucks that everyone ignores. Passenger food and drink containers are “considered carry-on baggage and must be properly stowed.” You’re not actually supposed to hold an open cup because no airline “may allow an airplane to take off or land unless each article of baggage is stowed.” Huh? The airline doesn’t have to confiscate your Starbucks coffee. And they don’t require you to stow it. Because it’s not actually a safety risk, though I guess you might spill it on yourself or someone else. Interestingly, some airlines provide passengers with water bottles at their seats. Those are airline-provided beverages. Airlines provide all manner of amenities in international business class. Those are often at passenger seats prior to boarding. Those don’t get collected prior to pushback. But there’s no exception in the rules for water bottles and blankets. Instead, that reflects approved stowage procedure. And separately, an airline can offer limited service while an aircraft is stationary during a long delay after pushing back. The drink can be legal while the airplane sits on a taxiway after pushback, even though it had to be taken away prior to pushback. (It has to be taken away before the aircraft moves again, but in my experience as a coach passenger on long tarmac delays this has never happened.) This Isn’t To Limit Passenger Intoxication Enilria suggests this may be in response to passenger intoxication but that doesn’t make sense t ome. The FAA’s recent proposed fine against Alaska Airlines he cites involved passengers who appeared intoxicated before they boarded. Federal rules separately prohibit airlines from boarding visibly intoxicated passengers or serving them more alcohol. Collecting a drink at pushback and allowing another after takeoff creates only a brief interruption in drinking. It applies equally to water, coffee, and empty cups. The purpose articulated when adopting the rule was evacuation safety and cabin readiness, not limiting alcohol consumption and enforcing the rule doesn’t do much to limit alcohol intake since it can be fully free flowing once the plane is in the air. Expect Fewer Predeparture Beverages While the FAA isn’t banning predeparture drinks, and Delta is asking flight attendants to begin service earlier, airlines even warned when the agency was considering the rule 35 years ago that the effect would be to limit predeparture beverages and reduce the perceived value of premium cabin tickets. On many airlines crew are already collecting everything before pushback. Delta passengers may notice a difference because disposable cups were sometimes allowed to remain until before takeoff. United has previously instructed crews to collect real glassware while allowing an unfinished drink to be transferred into a disposable cup. That workaround gets closed here. There will probably be fewer last-minute predeparture drinks on delayed flights and narrowbodies. Some flight attendants will skip the service rather than offer and immediately retrieve it. Normal boarding provides ample time, but crew frequently don’t do beverages when passengers first board. Topics on this page