"To be extra safe," the study concludes, travelers should not drink coffee or tea onboard, and "never drink any water onboard that isn't in a sealed bottle." After using the bathroom, the study also suggests travelers use hand-sanitizer.
“Coffee and tea are made with tap water, which comes from the airplane's water tanks.” Instead, Fogwell suggested, “If you want coffee, buy it in the terminal, [and] if you need a caffeine boost, ask for a Coke or Pepsi.” Not drinking tap water on flights is a well-documented no-no.
“Most flight attendants won't drink the tap water, coffee or tea,” she added, noting that caffeinated drinks also dehydrate you – another reason to avoid them while travelling. And before you put ice in your drink, think again. That is also often made using the very same tap water.
You can bring hot drinks on board if you have bought them at the airport and they have a lid on. You can also bring alcohol onboard the plane as long as it was bought in the airside departure lounge into the cabin as long as it's unopened.
Liquids of less than 100 ml/3.4oz are allowed through the airport security checkpoint, including alcohol, and must be placed in a single resealable quart-sized bag. However, regulations generally prohibit the consumption of personal alcohol on planes unless it's provided by the airline.
Airport security restrictions on liquids are primarily intended to prevent the smuggling of explosive materials onto aircraft. Liquids, including drinks, can potentially conceal explosives or other dangerous items.
According to FlightSafety.org, pilots are told to avoid consuming more than 300mg of caffeine per day, which can impair mood and psychomotor performance. That means most of us stick to about three 12-ounce coffees per day.
Flight attendants and nutritionists both agree on this one. We now know that flight attendants hate when you order Diet Coke and other fizzy drinks on planes because they are hard to pour, which ultimately slows down service for everyone. Soda can also be pretty dehydrating.
It should come as no surprise that the healthiest thing to drink on a plane is water, which also happens to be the healthiest thing to drink on land. Inside an airplane cabin, the air is extremely dry, putting you at heightened risk of dehydration. That can lead to nausea, headaches, and other unpleasant outcomes.
“The decreased pressure environment diminishes the body's ability to absorb oxygen and it can produce light-headedness,” according to KLM. The dry air on the aircraft can also lead to a feeling of dehydration. If you are going to drink on a flight, make sure you have a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage.
Never Order Ice
Not only that but the ice itself is typically made from the plane's tap water, which can be riddled with bacteria due to the fact that an aircraft's water tank is rarely emptied and cleaned, according to a study on the quality of aircraft water (via Insider).
That same question has been asked time and time again on social media by disgruntled flyers. Paying for water on a flight isn't illegal. The answer is, it's not illegal. Turns out the airlines are not obligated to supply free drinking water in the same way they are not obliged to offer free food.
Similar to airplane food, ice on planes tend to be subject to contamination. That means a simple cup of ice water or any other beverage with ice can be home to pools of bacteria—more specifically, E. coli and coliform bacteria.
It's Diet Coke. Simply put, it takes a long time to pour because air pressure means there is more fizz when the can is opened. And when you have a flight full of passengers eager to order a drink, it can become frustrating for cabin crew who have to put up with the whinging and whining.
The pilots can eat in the cockpit, but they tend to not eat at the same time, so that one is always at the controls. If and when all of the various gauges look good, the airplane is flying smoothly, and there is peace in the cabin, the pilots will often get a rest break.
Airline pilots take it in turns to use the bathroom nearest the cockpit during a flight. There are no bathrooms installed in the cockpit. For airplanes with a single pilot, diapers, catheters, or collection devices are used if they are unable to land to use the airport bathroom.
The United States' largest airline, American, serves Java City coffee, a smooth blend known for its slow roast. Delta serves the ubiquitous Starbucks' Pike Place (medium roast) and VIA Ready Brew instant coffees, as does Alaska Airlines.
Taking a Starbucks coffee on your flight is permitted only when you have purchased it after clearing the TSA security checkpoint. You can take it on board without any hassle.
In short, the 3-1-1 rule is: Each liquid you bring through the TSA checkpoint must be in a 3.4-ounce or smaller container ("3"), all containers must be placed inside one clear quart-size plastic bag ("1") and each passenger is only allowed one plastic bag ("1").
What kind of food can be brought on a plane? You can take everything in your checked baggage: from liquid to solid food. However, you are not allowed to carry liquid or gel-like food products in your carry-on baggage.
Can I pack carbonated beverages or soda in my checked bag? Carbonated beverages are allowed in checked bags, but they may explode due to changes in air pressure. Carbonated beverages are not allowed in carry-on luggage because bottles and cans are larger than 3.4 ounces.
Foods you can't pack in your carry-on
Think: creamy cheeses, liquid chocolate, liquid coffee, creamy dips and spreads, gravy, honey, hummus, ice cream, jam, jelly, juice, syrup, peanut butter, salad dressing, sauce, salsa, soda, soup and yogurt.
Most of the food that you take with you during the flight must be packed, such as sandwiches, pieces of fruit and cheese. And yes, that cheeseburger too! Put it in a plastic container or wrap it up. Pay attention!