6 Free Things You Can Get on a Plane

Between the actual flight tickets, the ride to and from the airport, the extra service fees, and the pricey airport food, traveling can be pretty expensive.

Luckily, there are some things you can get on the airplane for free.

Though not all airlines explicitly state that these are free, rest assured that our collective experiences of traveling could confirm that you can get these 6 free things on most planes. Read on to know what these are!

6 Plane Freebies You Can Get

Flight attendants are normally happy (and trained) to give passengers whatever they ask for, but sometimes, the plane doesn’t have what customers want. Also, keep in mind that flight attendants don’t have control over that. But usually, there are some things you can ask for without having to pay any more money.

Here are six different things you could possibly get on planes for no extra cost. Enjoy this complimentary stuff!

1. Extra snacks are usually at no cost.

Is that one pack of pretzels just not enough for you? Good news: You can almost always ask for more bags of snacks, free of charge. All you have to do is ask nicely.

Sometimes, airplanes are double-catered, depending on the flight. So, if passengers didn’t get a chance to grab a meal (or if they don’t want to shell out $16 for a ham sandwich), they can munch on cookies, crackers, and pretzels for the duration of the flight.

2. Full cans of soda are usually available.

If you specifically ask for a full can of soda, flight attendants will most likely accommodate you.

If a flight has a large number of people on it, flight attendants will automatically hand out full cans of soda. But if you find yourself on a smaller flight and would like more than one cup of pop, you can check with the flight attendants, as they are always happy to accommodate such requests.

3. Headphones are usually readily available.

The most in-demand complimentary item you can snag on a plane? Headphones. Most flights are catered with complimentary headphones. They go quick, and there usually isn’t enough for each passenger. So if you forgot your headphones (you’re not alone), you’ll have to ask for a pair ASAP.

4. Basic medication is often stocked — and free.

Planes normally have basic medicines like Aspirin and antacids. But these have probably been stocked on the plane for who knows how long. So if you’re feeling like you might need some medicine for the flight, it’s probably best to bring your own to make sure it’s effective.

But if you’re really in a pinch, you can always ask flight attendants for some. Just keep in mind, it may not be newly stocked and may not be as effective.

5. Meet and greets with the captain are often free.

If you’re on a little plane, you can often say “hi” to the captain during boarding.

For obvious security reasons, flights no longer offer tours of the cockpit. But if you’re traveling with little ones, flight attendants can set up a chance for them to greet the captain during boarding.

Pro tip: Sometimes the captains will allow you to take a picture of them with your children if they’re huge plane fans.

6. Free alcoholic beverages are (sometimes) offered.

If you’re seated in a certain place you can sometimes get free alcoholic beverages while on your flight.

If you splurged for the extra legroom and are sitting in the first three rows of a plane or the exit rows, you have access to one more free item. This is usually a free alcoholic beverage like wine, beer, or mixed drinks. If you’re interested in having access to free booze, moving to the front of the plane might serve you well.

Although rules and freebies may differ from one airline to another, at the end of the day, it’s always a good idea to simply ASK. Who knows, you might get that free drink or a full can of soda during your flight. Safe skies and happy traveling!