The best part of flying for many people is the snacks that are provided on the plane. However, there are certain popular items that passengers might want to avoid ordering due to a disturbing reason that was recently discussed on the HuffPost “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast. Hosts Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson spoke with HuffPost senior reporter and travel expert Caroline Bologna about how to make air travel less miserable. One piece of advice that stood out was to be cautious about drinking water on planes that does not come from a bottle. The water on planes is required to be potable, but it is only mandated to be flushed and disinfected a few times a year, potentially leading to unhealthy water for passengers.
A 2019 study by Hunter College revealed that despite federal regulations, airlines may still be providing passengers with unhealthy water on flights. The EPA rarely enforces penalties on airlines that violate drinking water safety rules. In light of this information, Bologna advises passengers to only drink water from bottles that flight crews serve and to stay as hydrated as possible while flying due to the dehydrating nature of airplane cabins. It is also advised to avoid coffee and tea on flights because they are often made with water from the plane’s tank, which may not be properly cleaned and tested.
While some flight attendants claim to drink coffee and tea on flights without experiencing any issues, experts like Charles Platkin, the executive director at the Center for Food as Medicine, warn against consuming beverages made with airline water due to the potential presence of bacteria and other contaminants. Platkin personally avoids drinking coffee while traveling and opts for hand sanitizer instead of using the lavatory water to wash his hands. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to consume beverages made with airline water is left up to the individual passenger, but Bologna suggests enjoying a coffee from an airport Starbucks before boarding a flight for peace of mind.
In addition to the advice about drinking water and beverages on planes, Bologna and the hosts of the podcast cover a range of other flying tips to make air travel more enjoyable and comfortable. These tips include staying hydrated before flying, using hand sanitizer instead of lavatory water, and having a coffee from an airport Starbucks before boarding. The overall message is to be cautious about consuming items that may be made with potentially contaminated water on flights and to take steps to ensure a more pleasant and safe flying experience.
The podcast episode also explores various other topics such as tipping etiquette, apologizing, managing credit card debt, finding love online, dealing with anxiety, and more. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the podcast to receive more tips and insights on different aspects of daily life. The hosts invite listeners to submit topics for investigation in future episodes by emailing [email protected]. By providing valuable information and entertaining discussions, the podcast aims to help individuals navigate different challenges and improve their daily routines.
