They think they have unlimited power. They don't think the rules apply to them. I never thought of mileage programs as hazardous. Talk to the passenger next to you, and use humor to defuse a potentially explosive situation. Don't just sit there and stew, because that's when you can go off half-cocked.
Some people just go to sleep when they've had one too many, but others fly into a rage.
Hallowell advises those who know they become mad drunks to keep away from the liquor. Besides, drinking on planes dehydrates you faster. A stretch or a stroll down the aisle can help relieve tensions and lessen anger. Christopher Elliott, a.k.a. The Crabby Traveler, is a Los Angeles-based writer.