Airline experts have urged passengers to avoid ordering one common drink while onboard a flight as it can lead to serious illness – and what you can order instead
For many, ordering a drink during a flight is a normal ritual, however, there is one beverage all flight attendants would always swerve even when it’s free and experts say passengers might want to think twice before ordering it.
According to Experience Travel Group, a travel expert that shares insights from frequent flyers and aviation professionals, understanding what crew avoid – and why, as it can help passengers make more informed in-flight choices.
Ordering a fizzy drink, a coffee or a fruit juice are pretty popular, but it’s tap water most travel experts will always avoid. The onboard water used for tea, coffee, or plain drinking water usually comes from the aircraft’s water tanks rather than bottled sources.
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Flight attendants are aware of how these tanks are maintained and refilled, and some have seen maintenance reports or experienced issues first-hand, and as a result, they will often choose bottled water or drinks made from it, even on long-haul flights.
This is due to the water tanks not being refilled after each flight, and despite being in line with airline regulations, studies have found that bacteria can sometimes still be present in the system.
In 2019, a study on airline water quality found that some samples contained bacteria such as coliforms and, in rare cases, E. coli according to Experience Travel Group and while these findings did not necessarily mean the water failed to meet basic safety standards, they were enough for many crew to choose bottled options instead.
So if you do want some water, one top tip taken by f light attendants is to carry their own reusable bottles, filling them with bottled water provided onboard or from supplies purchased before the flight. Many also opt for canned drinks or sealed juices when working long hours in the air.
“Flight attendants know the plane’s water system better than anyone, and many simply feel more comfortable with bottled drinks. For passengers, this means if you’re offered water, it’s worth checking whether it’s bottled or from the tap,” the spokesperson explained. So
You can request bottled water onboard, but for tea and coffee drinkers, they should be aware the hot water used often comes from the same onboard tanks. While boiling kills most bacteria, it does not remove any metallic taste or odour that can occur.
Passengers with weaker immune systems – such as young children, older travellers, or those with certain health conditions – may be more sensitive to contaminants, so bottled water can be the safer choice.
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