I refuse to pay for water. So what do I do? I bring along my empty Sigg/Nalgine/etc. and fill it up at the water fountain AFTER going through security. Security never gives a problem when you leave the cap off the water bottle and tell them it is empty.

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PROTIP: Take an empty bottle through security and fill it up at the water fountain.

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Just earlier this month, I flew Continental for the first time. I was shocked: not only are drinks still free, they give you a whole stinkin' meal. By meal, I mean a meal, like sandwich, chips, and dessert. They're not always cheapest, and not always on time, but they are friendly and feed you well. Needless to say, Continental won my affections.

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Be careful about trying to fill up your own water bottle if you fly internationally. In Mexico if you buy a can of soda from the soda machine a foot away from the gate after you go through security they will still take it from you at the gate, even if it's still closed.

For domestic travel this will work, but overseas it might not.

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You can't bring bottles of water through airport security, but you can bring bottles. Just fill up a bottle after you pass through security.

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I recently flew on Delta- I had brought an empty bottle on the way out & filled it in the airport, that worked fine. But on the way home, I could not find a drinking fountain, and I was running late because of their stupid malfunctioning check-in system. So, no water in my bottle. On the flight, they gave me one BUT ONLY ONE tiny glass of water. They would not give me another- really!

By contrast, on the tiny hop in the tiny Alaska Air plane I took to get back to my tiny hometown, they passed out free microbrew beer, local wine, and organic crackers, as much of each as anyone wanted. Alaska is run by Delta, but the experience could not have been more different between the two, in many ways besides this. If I could fly only on small hops on these small, friendly flights, I would...

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+1 on the empty bottle tack, but I'd be careful about taking a Siig or other metal bottle, even empty. Most plastic bottles (Nalgene, Polar, Specialized Bicycle bottles, et al) make it through security in an empty state (even internationally) without incident, but metal bottles give some security systems pause, and can be tough to get through. Especially given that Siig bottles closely resemble white gas fuel bottles (part of standard backpacking/camping fare), some security agencies will not allow metal bottles of any kind through as drinking vessels.

I usually travel with a pair of bicycle water bottles in the pockets of my backpack. I can easily fill them at a water fountain or bathroom sink. If I need ice, I'll pay a small fee for a soft drink cup full of ice from one of the food vendors on the concourse.

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If you can't find a drinking fountain, often one of the terminal bars/restaurants will give you water for your water bottle if you ask nicely.

I do think charging for water is unreasonable. Soda, ok. Coffee, sure. But water can be a medical necessity if you are dehydrated or a diabetic or whatever. Water should be free. Diet Coke, much as I like it, is not a necessity.

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