DRAFT Magazine

By Mariah Beckman

Since when is air travel all about getting from A to B? Life isn’t about the destination — it’s the journey. Make your next airline journey an informed one with DRAFTMag.com’s pick of airlines who present their client-base with popular and indigenous brews to ease the travel-weary mind. In part one, we check in on some of the big boys and girls in the industry. Come on back tomorrow for round dos.

American Airlines
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas
Slogan: “We know why you fly.”
Why we love it: American Airlines carries more passengers from the U.S. and Latin American than any other airline, making it the most likely carrier the next time you fly. American Airlines was formed after years of aviator hunting — the conglomerate originally began seeking out small aviary companies, including Charles Lindburg’s employer, Robertson, in 1929 — and by 1934 had become a lindy-hopping version of the airline we know and love today. Far from being old-fashioned, this company was the first commercial airline to hire both a female and Aftrican-American pilot. They were even forward-thinking enough to establish a stewardess college in the 1950’s. How cute is that?
Most memorable moment: In February 2010, American Airlines launched a site dedicated to commemorating the achievements of African Americans in aviation and aerospace, Black History in Aviation. Equality? We’ll drink to that.
Beers: Amstel Light, Heineken, select domestic beers (check your flight for specific beers offered)
Pilot wings for beer selection (out of four): Three

Delta Airlines
Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
Slogan: “Change is___”.
Why we love it: Delta is the largest airline in the world in terms of passenger and fleet size, and until mid-’10 will be the only airline to offer service to every continent except Antarctica. The airline’s roots as an aerial crop dusting operation are amusing, considering that they currently traffic over 170 million passengers and do not seem to be the least bit concerned with boll weevils.
Most memorable moment: In 2009, Delta merged with Northwest Airlines to become the largest airline in the world, just in time for their 80th anniversary.
Beers: Corona Extra, Michelob Ultra Light, Miller Light, Heineken
Pilot wings for beer selection (out of four): Two

Southwest Airlines
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Slogan: “You are now free to move about the country.” “Just plane smart.” “Wanna get away?” “It’s on.”
Why we love it: It isn’t just because the original flight attendants were chosen by the same man who picked out Hugh Hef’s stewardesses. (They wore hot pants and go-go boots, and served “love potions” and “love bites” that looked suspiciously like Coke and peanuts). No, it’s Southwest’s low-fare that attracts us — they are the nation’s leading low-cost airline in terms of passengers carried per year. They also have a series of crafts, called Spirit One, that are painted and themed inside and out to look like, among other things, Shamu, Sports Illustrated cover model Bar Refaeli, a basketball, and Tinker Bell.
Most memorable moment: In 1983, author Winifred Barnum transformed the real-life struggle between emerging airline Southwest and other incumbent (i.e., successful) airlines into a children’s book called “Gumwrappers and Goggles.” In this Jay-Jay the Jet Plane-style tale, a little airline is taken to court because the older airplanes won’t let him join in their airline games. Then The Lawyer and Good Air Fairy uphold his right to fly, and the little engine that suddenly could learns the magic of honestty, hard work, and love. Awww… While no names were specifically mentioned in the tome, the plane’s colors were the same as Southwest’s. The book inspired a musical of the same name that is coincidentally only shown in cities where Southwest flies.
Beers: Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Miller Light, Heineken
Pilot wings for beer selection (out of four): Two

US Airways
Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona
Slogan: “Fly with US.” “Fly the flag with USAir.” “USAir begins with you.”
Why we love it: This airline began as a simple mail carrier in 1939. Today they consider themselves one of America’s greatest success stories.
Most memorable moment: In 1992, US Airways officially purchased Donald Trump’s small airline, Trump Shuttle, and got to say “You’re fired” to The Donald himself. Respectfully, of course.
Beers: Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck’s
Pilot wings for beer selection (out of four): Two

Continental Airlines
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Slogan: “Work hard. Fly right.”
Why we love it: This airline offers in-flight live television (90 channels, which is more than some people get at home) and inflight Internet. It’s not blazing fast so you might not be able to Google apps on your iPhone, but you’ll be able to check out the latest DRAFTMag.com posts at 39,000 feet. And while Continental may only offer three drafts in the U.S., they certainly get points for being indigenous with their selection of continent-appropriate brews.
Most memorable moment: Honestly, Continental has a pretty dull history. We looked but nothing flew (ha!) to the forefront. Also, they never called us back.
Beers: Corona Extra, Heineken, Miller Lite, Assahi, (Japan only), Gold Star (Israel only), Tsing Tao (Hong Kong only), Yanjing (Beijing only)
Pilot wings for beer selection (out of four): Two

– Mariah Beckman is an editorial intern at DRAFT Magazine.