Flight Night

Written By Kayla Condon

Bring a Flight of Drinks

And Book a Flight of Your Choice

Why settle for just talking about future travels when you can taste them too? A Flight Night is the perfect way to mix delicious drinks, creative storytelling, and exciting travel planning with your friends. The concept is simple: each person brings a flight of drinks inspired by a destination they want to visit, pitches the trip, and by the end of the night, the group votes on where to go next.

This guide will walk you through every step of planning the ultimate Flight Night—from invitations and setup to creative twists and how to make the final decision.

Planning

1. Set Up a Flight Tasting Station

Arrange a long table or separate tasting stations where each person can set up their drinks. Provide:
✔ Small glasses for each flight (shot glasses, tasting cups, espresso cups, etc.)
✔ Notecards or printable tasting sheets for people to jot down thoughts on the flavors & trip pitches
✔ Decor & music inspired by the destinations (think: a French bistro playlist for a Paris flight, beachy vibes for a tropical trip)

2. Make it Interactive

  • Provide tiny flags or markers for guests to label their flights (e.g., "Brazil - Caipirinha & Passionfruit Spritz").

  • Have a globe or world map where each person pins their destination before they pitch their trip idea.

3. Decide How to Vote

You can vote in different ways:

  • Secret Ballot – Everyone writes down their top choice, and you tally the votes.

  • Point System – Rank trips from 1 to 5 based on drink quality, trip excitement, and feasibility.

  • Unanimous Cheers – Everyone openly debates until the group agrees on the winner.

The Experience

Step 1: The Flight & Trip Pitching Experience

Each person takes turns presenting their flight while pitching why their destination should be the group’s next trip. Here’s how it works:

1. The Flight Presentation (5-7 minutes per person)

  • Introduce the destination they’re pitching.

  • Serve a flight of 3-4 small drinks that capture the flavors of the location. Example ideas:

    • Japan: Sake, yuzu spritz, matcha cocktail

    • Italy: Limoncello, Aperol spritz, amaro tasting

    • Morocco: Mint tea, orange blossom lemonade, pomegranate mocktail

    • Mexico: Mezcal flight, tamarind margarita, horchata

  • Share a few fun facts, personal stories, or cool reasons why this place is a must-visit.

2. The Trip Pitch (3 minutes)

  • How long is the trip? (Weekend getaway vs. two-week adventure?)

  • What are the must-do experiences? (Hiking, food tours, beach resorts, local markets?)

  • Budget estimate – Rough cost per person for flights, lodging, and key activities.

  • A wow factor – One unexpected experience that makes this trip stand out (e.g., “We’ll sleep in a treehouse in Costa Rica!”).

Step 2: Fun Enhancements to the Night

1. Travel-Themed Mini Games

  • Lightning Round Trivia – A quick game about world landmarks, foods, or airports.

  • "Would You Rather: Travel Edition" – Example: "Would you rather explore an ice cave in Iceland or a rainforest in Borneo?"

  • Passport Stamps – Give everyone a fake "passport" where they earn stickers for each flight they taste!

2. Bonus: Food Pairings

Encourage each guest to bring small snacks or appetizers inspired by their destination. For example:

  • French wine flight → Cheese & baguette

  • Caribbean rum flight → Plantain chips & jerk chicken bites

  • Vietnamese iced coffee flight → Spring rolls & banh mi sliders

Step 3: The Vote & The Decision

After everyone has presented, it’s time to vote! Use one of the voting methods mentioned earlier and declare the winning destination.

To make it official, have everyone sign a fun “Travel Pact” stating they’ll commit to planning this trip together. You can even pick tentative dates or create a shared Google Doc or WhatsApp group to start planning right away!

Step 4: End the Night with a Fun Wrap-Up

To keep the energy high as the night wraps up:

  • Play a final toast game: Each person shares one travel goal for the year (e.g., "I want to visit three new countries!" or "I want to take my first solo trip!").

  • Hand out DIY boarding passes with fun fake flight details (e.g., "Flight #2024 to Greece – Departing: ASAP!").

  • Snap a group selfie with a globe or travel-themed backdrop to document the night.

Kayla Condon
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