Photo by The Silverdalex / Unsplash
“Ladies and gentleman, we’ve reached cruising altitude. Flight attendants will be coming through the cabin,” a voice announces over the loudspeaker. Boarding pass in hand, you lean back in your seat, glance out the window, and sure enough, clouds are drifting by. For a second, you almost believe it: you’re somewhere above Kansas, cruising at 30,000 feet on a glamorous Pan Am flight straight out of the ’70s.
But really? You’re in Phoenix. And this is Carry On, an immersive cocktail bar that turns a night out into a retro airline fantasy.
Clouds, Cocktails, and “Martini Time”
Carry On is the kind of place that makes you wish you’d dressed up a little more. The staff, decked out in full vintage flight crew uniforms, greet you at the “gate” and show you to your seat, where you’re surrounded by airplane windows, twinkling cabin lights, and just the right amount of kitsch. The whole thing feels like stepping into a movie set (or maybe your grandmother’s best travel memories from 1974). But don’t worry, this flight skips the cramped economy seats in favor of spacious booths, plush recliners, and intimate two-tops, all with actual legroom.
Once the “flight” takes off, the experience really begins. The crew rolls a drinks cart down the aisle for Martini Time, hands out bags of peanuts and cookies like you’re actually mid-flight, and keeps the illusion alive with perfectly timed overhead announcements. The experience lasts 90 minutes, just enough time to leave reality behind before you “land.”
How to Get a Seat on Carry On Airlines
Like any real flight, you’ll need to book your seat in advance on the Carry On website, where you can choose your departure date and time. But seats at Carry On fill up fast, so it’s worth signing up for the “Air Mail” newsletter to stay ahead of the drop when new flights are announced.
If you want to go all-in, you can spring for the Captain’s Club, a seat upgrade that comes with a welcome cocktail and snack, three craft cocktails of your choice, and a four-course menu of small plates. All passengers of course are free to sip their way through the journey, with a cocktail menu that leans into flavors inspired by the flight route.
Carry On is a rare kind of bar: theatrical without being cheesy, nostalgic without being stale, and just cheeky enough to keep it fun. It’s not just a drink, it’s a trip. And you don’t even have to take your shoes off at security.
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