For most travelers, the worst part of any trip is the journey itself. Between long security lines, overpriced terminal food, and the seemingly endless wait before takeoff, it is a small miracle anyone manages to get away at all. Once you finally settle into your seat, it is tempting to treat yourself to a snack or a drink, thinking you have earned it. But according to several flight attendants, what you choose to eat and drink at 35,000 feet might be doing you more harm than good.
An anonymous flight attendant speaking to Delish specifically called out puffed corn snacks as the biggest olfactory offenders on any aircraft. “Pretty tasty, but some of them smell like something is burning on the plane,” she said, noting that barbecue-flavored varieties are particularly bad. She also pointed out that these snacks are actually served in first-class snack baskets, which makes the problem even harder to avoid. Onion, garlic, and barbecue-flavored anything can leave a lingering smell throughout the cabin, so it is best to skip them out of consideration for fellow passengers.
When it comes to hot drinks, former flight attendant Alex Quigley had a stern warning about the water used to brew coffee and tea onboard. She explained that planes use water storage tanks where the water can sit for a very long time, adding, “There’s no telling how often or when the tank was last cleaned.” Quigley described these tanks as a breeding ground for bacteria and revealed something even less appetizing: “We were never allowed to pour the leftover brewed coffee down the plane’s drain, and were usually instructed to pour it into the toilet.” She added that in all her time working flights, she never once saw anyone empty, refill, or rinse those tanks between trips.
Alex Quigley also warned passengers to stay away from foods known to cause bloating and gas, including beans, fatty meals, leafy greens, carbonated drinks, and dairy products. “The air on the plane circulates, it’s never fresh,” she explained. “That means if someone passes gas, you breathe it in over and over again, so it’s more a matter of common courtesy.” Beyond the social awkwardness, cabin air pressure already makes the body more prone to bloating, so gassy foods can leave you feeling genuinely uncomfortable for the duration of the flight.
For longer international flights that include a full meal service, Quigley strongly recommended skipping any meat dishes. “You’re trusting the storage of any meat to the hands of flight attendants, and as we all know, delays and mechanical issues happen,” she said, pointing out that pre-cooked meals may not always be stored properly or may exceed safe holding times. Her bottom line on the matter was short and direct: “Food poisoning on a plane? No, thank you!” As for alcohol, both Quigley and another unnamed flight attendant cautioned that altitude intensifies the effects of drinking, and that the Bloody Mary is among the worst choices because of how salty and dehydrating it is. “I always tell people to drink water,” the second flight attendant added, which, after reading through this list, starts to sound like the only truly safe option up in the air.
For some general context, commercial aircraft typically cruise at altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 feet, where cabin pressure is maintained equivalent to roughly 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. At that pressure, the body absorbs oxygen less efficiently, blood oxygen saturation drops slightly, and alcohol is metabolized differently than on the ground. The low humidity inside airplane cabins, often sitting around 10 to 20 percent compared to the typical indoor level of 30 to 65 percent, means passengers are already prone to dehydration even before factoring in salty or alcoholic drinks. Aircraft water systems, including those used for brewing coffee and washing hands in lavatories, have been studied by health authorities in the past, with some reports finding bacterial contamination in onboard water supplies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established rules under the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule to improve water quality standards, though compliance and monitoring can vary by airline and aircraft.
If you have ever had a bad experience with airplane food or drink, or if you have your own tips for eating smart at altitude, share your thoughts in the comments.
