Amanda Mactas
Surely you are no stranger to a fashion faux pas, but when it comes to jetsetting, there are a handful of faux pas you don't want to be a victim of either. Acting like it's your first time in a security line, hovering around the gate before your flight even begins boarding, and overpacking so you have to open your suitcase and shove things into your carry-on at the last minute are just a few of the things that are unfortunately way more common than they should be. But when it comes to your behavior on the actual aircraft, following proper etiquette can play a big role in whether your flight attendants want to get out their parachutes or not.
Aside from bringing aboard stinky snacks, there is more to airplane dining etiquette than meets the eye. If you're not one of the many people who bring their own food on the plane, chances are you take your pick from the on-board menu. However, before you press that call button, there are a few items you might want to add to your no-fly list. We spoke to flight attendants to find out what food and drinks you should never order on the airplane...and for good reason.
Coffee Or Tea
If you wake up on a redeye or have a super early morning flight, it might be your instinct to grab that much-needed caffeine boost once you're seated. But former flight attendant Alex Quigley strongly suggests thinking twice before ordering a cup. As he explains, airplanes utilize "potable" water tanks, and often, that water sits there for a long, long time. "There's no telling how often or when the tank has been cleaned last," he tells Delish. "This is a beast for bacteria. Plus, we were never allowed to pour the remaining coffee brewed into the drain of the airplane and were usually instructed to pour the coffee out into the toilet." Yes, you read that correctly. This entails bringing the pot into the bathroom to dispose of the coffee. "I can be honest and say I NEVER knew or saw anyone empty and refill or wash them out in between trips," he noted. Excuse me while I go vomit.
Strong-Smelling Snacks
Flight attendants specifically called out corn nuts, even though they are sometimes served in flight. "They are pretty tasty, but some of them stink the second you open the package," an anonymous flight attendant tells Delish. "We actually serve them in our first-class snack basket. The roasted barbecue flavor [is the worst]. When you open the bag, it smells like something is burning on the plane." We'd avoid other onion, garlic, or barbecue-flavored chips or snacks, too. No one likes a stinky plane.
Meat
Oftentimes, you'll have a selection of meal options to choose from on your flight. Quigley suggests avoiding any meat dish. "You're putting the trust of storing any meat in the flight attendant's hands, and as we all know, delays happen, and mechanical issues happen; so if you run into a situation where there's a possibility the cooked meals aren't actually being stored appropriately or have exceeded the storing time allotted for the meal," you can be in for trouble, he says. "Food poisoning on a plane? No thanks!"
Gas-Inducing Foods
"Avoid!" Quigley exclaims. "Air in the airplane is circulated, it's never fresh. That means if someone passes gas, you're breathing that in over and over again, so this is more so for common decency," he explains. This means cutting back on dairy, beans, fatty foods, green veggies, and sodas. Additionally, gassy food combined with the air pressure on an airplane can cause you to feel even more bloated, making you even more uncomfortable on what is likely an already not-so-comfy flight.
Alcoholic Beverages
We get it. Sometimes, you just want to sit back, turn on your TV monitor, and relax with a nice, cold drink in your hand. But, according to Quigley, "You're not actually doing yourself a favor by drinking on a flight." The combination of high altitude and alcohol can make you feel light-headed and can cause you to feel more drunk than were you on the ground. "When pressure is decreased in the airplane, the body can't absorb oxygen as well," Quigley explains, resulting in feeling not-so-good overall. Another flight attendant specifically calls out Bloody Marys. They tend to be super salty, which further dehydrates you on the plane. It's also best to avoid anything mixed with orange juice, as it tends to be high in acidity, which can upset the stomach. "I always tell folks to drink water," she tells us.
Women’s Health
