This is obviously an issue, and one wonders how something like this could happen. At the same time, I’m not sure what more the family wants…
In this post:
Cathay Pacific serves three-year-old wine instead of water
Cathay Pacific has apologized over an incident that happened on April 24, 2025, on Cathay Pacific flight CX255, from Hong Kong (HKG) to London (LHR). On this flight, a couple were traveling with their three-year-old son in business class.
After the meal service, the toddler reportedly told his parents that the beverage he had just been served tasted sour. Upon inspecting the drink, the parents discovered that it was actually white wine that was served, and not the water that had been ordered.
The flight attendants promptly switched out the drinks, but didn’t provide immediate medical assistance. Following the parents’ insistence, a French doctor onboard checked the boy for symptoms, but identified that nothing has wrong.
The crew told the parents to “watch for symptoms” based on the doctor’s judgment, and to contact the airline after the flight. The parents weren’t okay with that resolution, so the crew helped the family contact emergency services company Medlink from onboard. It was still determined that nothing was wrong, but the parents are now in the process of “arranging comprehensive medical assessments with pediatric specialists.”
The airline has apologized for this mistake, and has offered the family a refund of the child’s ticket cost, plus upgrade vouchers for future flights. Cathay Pacific also claims to have conducted coaching with flight attendants, to reinforce the importance of checking drinks before serving them. Per the email that the airline sent the family:
We would like to extend our heartfelt apologies for our Cabin Crew member’s oversight serving wine to your son, instead of water by mistake.
We take this matter extremely seriously. It is our responsibility to ensure that all passenger requests are handled with care and accuracy, especially where the safety and comfort of young passengers are concerned. We deeply regret that this standard was not met in this instance.
The family isn’t happy with this outcome
The parents of the child are still angry at Cathay Pacific, as they haven’t received a direct apology from the cabin crew involved, and they also haven’t seen any proof of new safeguards that have been provided to prevent a similar situation in the future.
The family has filed complaints with multiple authorities, including the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, and the Consumer Council. As the father explained, “if a flagship Asian carrier can miss such basic safeguards in business class, every traveling family is at risk,” and “this incident, especially given its potential impact on our son for the rest of his life, has caused our family tremendous emotional stress and anxiety.”
I’m of two minds on this incident. On the one hand, it’s kind of shocking that a flight attendant would accidentally serve a three-year-old wine instead of water. Like, how does that even happen? I know flight attendants are really busy and have a lot of things to pay attention to, but to pour something from a wine bottle into a glass and then hand it to a toddler? I don’t get it.
That being said, admittedly I’m no doctor, but I feel like this is being blown out of proportion. It sounds like the child had a sip of the wine, and didn’t drink more, because it was sour. The family thinks this could have an impact on the son for the rest of his life, and they’re arranging comprehensive medical assessments with pediatric specialists? Do I just suck at science, or does that seem like a bit much?
Credit to Cathay Pacific, the airline does seem to be taking this very seriously, taking responsibility for what has happened, and even refunding the ticket cost, and more, which you don’t see an airline often do.
Honestly, I’m not sure what other safeguards could possibly want the airline to implement? This shouldn’t happen, but, like, what more can realistically be done? It’s not like this is a frequent problem, and I imagine this is the only time this has happened in a very long time, when the airline carries tens of millions of passengers.
Bottom line
Cathay Pacific has accepted responsibility after a flight attendant accidentally served a three-year-old wine instead of water on a flight. Fortunately the child caught it pretty quickly, when he noticed that the drink tasted sour.
The airline took responsibility for what happened, refunded the ticket, provided upgrade vouchers, and promised to train flight attendants so this doesn’t happen again. The family isn’t happy with that resolution, though. While I totally agree that this shouldn’t have happened, it sounds to me like the airline has actually done a good job taking responsibility for the incident.
What do you make of this Cathay Pacific wine incident?
It was wine, not poison. Get over it. Poor oversight on the parents for not being vigilant as well.
Trust me, this family is not "arranging comprehensive medical assessments with pediatric specialists." This is all blatant and obvious attention seeking from the parents, and most likely also looking for some sort of payout.
This is totally out of proportion ! the Wongs' ?! are using their child to extort money from Cathay.
This is greed at its best.
The family is definitely over reaching to this situation.. Also usually 3 year olds get their own tippy cup filled by their parents vs giving a 3 yo a real glass???? I was in a Ritz club floor reading a book with a glass of champagne on the coffee table in from of me.. Along came a 2 year old who grabbed my glass and ran with it... The parents thought it was cute when he started to drink it...
I fully agree with your analysis Ben. Regarding this getting blown out of proportion, I see two possible reasons:
- Either these are hysterical parents, over-worried for nothing (there are many - and they're tiring)
- Or they just want to push their luck for a better deal
Regardless, they need to chill. Their kid is all right.
I agree: they are trying to squeeze the airline over nothing.
Parents sre fi$hing for a better deal.
Honestly, it sounds like to me that the family is a stereotypical Asian family. It sounds like they are worried about the child's future development and worry that consuming alcohol at his age will negatively affect his cognitive and physical abilities when he grows up. This is based on quotes from the family I read in another article about this event.
I hate to say this and spread judgement based on race, but they...
Honestly, it sounds like to me that the family is a stereotypical Asian family. It sounds like they are worried about the child's future development and worry that consuming alcohol at his age will negatively affect his cognitive and physical abilities when he grows up. This is based on quotes from the family I read in another article about this event.
I hate to say this and spread judgement based on race, but they sound like stereotypical Asian parents who are definetly not physicians and want to make sure theor child will succeed in life (based on their definition) and they worry that this event will affect that. It does indeed sound like the child only had one sip. That shouldn't have an affect that the family worries it might have (this is coming from a training physician and I also asked certified physicians about this and they agree).
I am also Asian, so excuse my slight judgement based on stereotypes. Unfortunately though, it does seem to be true in my eyes in this case.
There are some Asian parents (and other races as well) out there who must have their children be the best in every way possible. Their children not succeeding and bringing pride to their family will leave lifelong trauma and disappointment for them. They will not let anything affect this. It sounds like this is where the overreaction is coming from. Hence the extra examinations on the child to ensure no damage was done.
Im sorry but I’m calling this. As a parent, I would be sitting right next to my three year old child and keeping a close eye on him/her. And I would certainly have checked anything and everything that was served. This looks more like the child picked up my glass instead when I wasn’t looking. No attendant would serve wine to a three year old kid. They are well trained and intelligent. Something smells off.
I am like how did that happen.
Hey Ben Schlappig. Can you tell me what aircraft did the accident happen on the Hong Kong to London (LHR). It was in Business Class.
This was really crazy to see
Wait!!! Wait!!! It's Trump's fault!!!
Thank God that the Flight Attendants didn't offer a sex change operation. Don't you know that it's legal in CA? That is without adult notificiation.
You mean to tell me that "water" that was srerved wasn't clear, but a golden tone liquid wasn't observed immediately? Just another reason why 3 year olds shouldn't be seated in Business Class.
Reminds me when I first saw "Refer Madness". Now this 3YO will become a maniacal deviant in his/her (prefered pronouns) future.
Seriously, wtf are you even on about...?
Also, the family got their front cabin fares refunded?!! That seems very unfair to many of us who experience real issues and get nowhere near that level of compensation> The family must have gone full WASP-Karen to get so much out of the airline.
The babble about risk is just liability-coverage speaking. Having a doctor check the child?? Bizarre.
If a single sip of wine (and little kids have super sensitive palates, not like they chugged the cup) caused major health issues, much of the youth of France would not have made it to adulthood.
If anything, might calm down the always-noisy age group of a toddler. It's safer than the benadryl and melatonin that American parents give their small kids.
Storm in a wine glass.
My parents soothed my teething pain by rubbing their bourbon-dipped fingers on my gums. I Benadryl-ed my four children before Xcountry flights when they were young. I’m fine. They’re fine. No alcoholics in the family. End of story.
THANK YOU ! Me too !
right on!!!
All of you are saying it's no big deal. If it were your child, you'd all be Cathay Karens in a HK minute.
Nope, because the rest of us are grownups. This is basically a nothing-burger that the parents are trying to milk for as much as possible.
Most jewish boys have a little wine at their brit milah when they're eight days old, some girls get the same at their brit bat. My parents also let me try a sip of their nicer wine here and there when I was growing up. And I turned out...
Alright maybe I'm not the best example xD
@BenjaminKohl, LOL
Omg such Karen’s. British airways mixed brandy and milk in a bottle for me when I was a screaming baby. The crew member apparently said ‘this should help him sleep’ to my mother. Apparently it did. I think those parents need to calm the f*** down.
I got served white wine once when I asked for Sprite. I was 18 at the time and it was a flight to the US (MAN-IAH on SQ), so kinda illegal. I didn't drink at the time, so now I have this funny story about my first drink in the middle of a metal tube that happened to be super accidental.
The person who never made a mistake never made anything.
That is however no excuse for the subject mishap.
At the end of the day the parents are ultimately responsible for what such a small child puts in their mouth.
It would seem at the surface the Cathay Pacific gave a generous upgrade to the beverage!
This might be an answer to your previous post about whether children should travel in Business/First. Obviously the child would never have been offered wine in economy. In some airlines, the child would be lucky to get a meal in economy. Could have been worse - peanut allergy or something of actual medical significance. Hopefully the French doctor was compensated. Free wine perhaps. Not being a parent I reserve comment on issues raised in other...
This might be an answer to your previous post about whether children should travel in Business/First. Obviously the child would never have been offered wine in economy. In some airlines, the child would be lucky to get a meal in economy. Could have been worse - peanut allergy or something of actual medical significance. Hopefully the French doctor was compensated. Free wine perhaps. Not being a parent I reserve comment on issues raised in other posts. I am not qualified to judge the parents.
So much conflation in one post...
These people are looking for money compensation, that's what it is. A sip of the wine will scar this child for life? Give me a break.
The family is cashing in on the ghetto lotto.
Are you serious?
A 3 year old drank a bit of wine. And so what.
Cathay should place the parrents on a no fly list - they are clearly only asking for trouble. They might even have poured the wine themselves.
the kid is alright. I've witnessed around 3 toddlers drink alcohol either by accident or because they were too insistent on tasting it the parents let them taste it. all 3 kids are fine and grown up. And so is that kid. The parents need to chill.
“ On the one hand, it’s kind of shocking that a flight attendant would accidentally serve a three-year-old wine instead of water. Like, how does that even happen? I know flight attendants are really busy and have a lot of things to pay attention to, but to pour something from a wine bottle into a glass and then hand it to a toddler? I don’t get i”
I’ll tell you exactly how: FA1 enters galley...
“ On the one hand, it’s kind of shocking that a flight attendant would accidentally serve a three-year-old wine instead of water. Like, how does that even happen? I know flight attendants are really busy and have a lot of things to pay attention to, but to pour something from a wine bottle into a glass and then hand it to a toddler? I don’t get i”
I’ll tell you exactly how: FA1 enters galley “I need a glass of water” and leaves. FA2 (galley FA) pours it, leaves it on counter. FA3 “I need a glass of water for 4A” and leaves; FA2 pours it, leaves it in counter. Two similar looking glasses on counter, FA1 grabs the wrong one (a light white wine and water not unlike one another in low light setting). Been in food service for 30 years and a FA for over 20; I can so see how this happened, I can’t believe I haven’t made this mistake myself yet. These parents sound obnoxiously entitled. Get a grip
In short, on widebody long haul flights, there will often be times at heightened service times when someone in the galley is bartending for the aisle flight attendants. On a 777-300 with 50-70 business class Pax, you will have a minimum of six FAs working, so with one FA bar tending at a time and 4-6 aisle FAs running drinks it can happen easier than you think. I just can’t get over the overreaction of...
In short, on widebody long haul flights, there will often be times at heightened service times when someone in the galley is bartending for the aisle flight attendants. On a 777-300 with 50-70 business class Pax, you will have a minimum of six FAs working, so with one FA bar tending at a time and 4-6 aisle FAs running drinks it can happen easier than you think. I just can’t get over the overreaction of the parents. They should be mortified. Thankfully it’s very rare for us to encounter such entitled passengers, I love most of my passengers who are way more relaxed and agreeable than this couple.
They are from a greedy nuclear country
The 2 adults are from a greedy country equipped with nuclear bombs. Anyway, CX is commie owned, they are too happy to follow the demands of their masters
Good gravy. Considering this was certainly an honest mix-up, they’ve made quite the mountain out of this mole hill. Not that I condone people not paying attention to their work, if this happened to me I’d accept the “oops, I’m so sorry” from the flight attendant and move on with my life.
lol I expect better from a French doctor. Should've questioned why the baby didn't finish the glass
I'm going to guess that the parents are not French Christians.
Is the extraordinary over-reaction because they are Muslim?
The Islamic Reformation (from 18th century) has demonised alcohol (etymological source al-kuhul) to the extent that in Gulf countries even mouthwash has to contain no ethanol.
Note that Turkish Airlines serves multiple Turkish wines as well as showing a Qibla finder.
Right?!? I’m currently holidaying in France and my thought reading the article was “if the parents were French, they’d be upset if their child wasn’t offered wine”.
I mean it was a different era, but back in the 70s I apparently routinely stole drinks from my parents’ friends when I was a toddler. I’m more or less ok.
My first reaction was, why wasn’t the parent assisting the child with eating?
Though, yes it is a big mess up. Though, I can slightly understand how this can happen?
I am cabin crew, and occasionally in business class we pre-pour drinks, after taking the meal orders. Possibly the parents asked for apple juice for the child, and mistaking the cabin crew member picked up a pre-poured glass of white wine, thinking that...
My first reaction was, why wasn’t the parent assisting the child with eating?
Though, yes it is a big mess up. Though, I can slightly understand how this can happen?
I am cabin crew, and occasionally in business class we pre-pour drinks, after taking the meal orders. Possibly the parents asked for apple juice for the child, and mistaking the cabin crew member picked up a pre-poured glass of white wine, thinking that was the apple juice. That is my guess.
Though, the situation is completely blown out of proportion. When I was young my parents gave me whisky when I was teething. And I turned out.. semi normal.
LOL, my parents rubbed sherry on my gums when I was teething. I also turned out moderately normal.
Genuine question for @WineGate: aren't the glasses usually [or always] different (wine/alcoholic drinks vs juice/soft drinks)?
good point !
Odds one of the parents was tipsy enough to set the wine glass down on the kids tray when they realized they needed both hands to help the kid with something on their plate and then picked up the kids water glass?
Poor kid though. 2 crazy Karens for parents! It’s not like they were repeatedly dosing their kid with alcohol, only thing a bit of wine would do might get the kid to sleep...
Odds one of the parents was tipsy enough to set the wine glass down on the kids tray when they realized they needed both hands to help the kid with something on their plate and then picked up the kids water glass?
Poor kid though. 2 crazy Karens for parents! It’s not like they were repeatedly dosing their kid with alcohol, only thing a bit of wine would do might get the kid to sleep earlier if his parents hadn’t made him go through 2 exams (or a tummy ache but those Karens would have undoubtedly insisted on an emergency medical landing had the kid shown any signs of tummy ache).
Missed opportunity here.
If it were my child, I'd proclaim he was served water and it turned to wine on touching his lips, so he (or would it now be He) is the second coming! I'm sure Cathay would go along with "yeah, we gave the child water, honest!"
Imagine how many millions one could make having tent revivals like Marjoe Gortner's parents did.
I'm a pediatrician, and yeah, these parents are completely blowing it out of proportion. One sip, or even a whole cup for that matter, wouldn't have any impacts for the "rest of his life."
I'm neither a pediatrician, nor a medical doctor of any sort, but I am the father of three young boys. I'm fairly "hands-off" in my parenting, not in the sense that I let me kids do outlandishly dangerous things, but in the sense that they're encouraged to run around outside and bike and climb trees and generally be children. Sometimes they get hurt. Sometimes badly. And you know what? I think they'll grow up better...
I'm neither a pediatrician, nor a medical doctor of any sort, but I am the father of three young boys. I'm fairly "hands-off" in my parenting, not in the sense that I let me kids do outlandishly dangerous things, but in the sense that they're encouraged to run around outside and bike and climb trees and generally be children. Sometimes they get hurt. Sometimes badly. And you know what? I think they'll grow up better people for it because they've been allowed to experiment and push the boundaries and learn what they can do.
This story is so emblematic of modern parenting ("snowplow" or "helicopter" or whatever you want to call it) and I see examples of this all the time. For some reason, modern parents think that kids are a lot more fragile than they really are. My wife and I like to joke that kids are made of rubber: if taught how, they'll bounce back from nearly anything. No, the kid shouldn't have a glass of wine, but also, he'll be totally fine. He's already fine, and seemingly in better shape than his parents!
I'm thankful I was raised in a time when getting smacked by my mother across the face or the behind if I misbehaved in public was still acceptable and wouldn't yield everyone around calling the police and social services.
What symptoms would a child display for a sip of wine? These dumb toddlers get more drunk off of sugar and SpongeBob nowadays.
This child is now subject to a lifetime of stealing sips of his Mom's yellow tail while she isn't looking.
The underlining problem is that apart from the cabin manager, all the other cabin crews serving J are very junior and inexperienced staff. Most of them have no clue what they are doing. Quite a number of them have communication problems. I have pointed this out to the cabin managers many times to no avail. So be on guard when you travel J on CX.
While it obviously shouldn't have happened, a) parents are equally at fault as the cabin crew, b) parents' reaction is completely out of proportion. It almost sounds as if they hope for some health effects on their kid, despite multiple confirmations of there not being any, so they can make money out of it.
Agreed they are trying to find a problem
You really think parents are doing it for the kid? I know asian culture enough to understand the real reason for the noise. $$$$$
"Give me enough money and I shut up."
On social media, some commenters claim a compensation of 50k HKD (roughly 6.4k USD), or one commenter claims even 500k HKD wouldn't be unreasonable. Absolutely bonkers.
And parental responsibility is once again no where to be found.
Typical parent in 2025
"The family thinks this could have an impact on the son for the rest of his life" For a sip of white wine? LOL! They are definitely seeking $$$ here. Most Italians have a sip of wine since they are toddlers and they are just fine.
Just give them a check. That’s clearly what they’re looking for.
Fly Saudia from now on. No alcohol, no problem.
I mean WTF were the parents doing that they didn’t notice a glass of wine set down in front their child? I guess every kid is different but I definitely needed to keep on eye on my kid when he ate/drank at 3.
I'm wondering exactly the same.
Jesus, parents. I like getting my compensation miles as much as the next guy but a sip of wine isn't gonna kill your kid. It's not poison
The family is either attention hungry, greedy, stupid or (most likely) some combination of all of the above.
If having a sip of wine was so awful for children, churches that serve wine would not be able to serve communion to children.
Sure, it isn't an ideal situation, but the more fuss the family makes, the more I suspect them of faking the whole thing.
It's Asian parenting. What do you expect?
How do you not have an article about the comms blackout at EWR ATC?
The parents aren't suing the wine manufacturer for making an alcoholic product that looks too similar to water?