The quality of food on airplanes is a subject of constant debate.
A flight attendant now advises staying away from two drinks.
Many passengers do not want to miss out on a small soft drink in between - especially if it is already included in the ticket price.
However, as a flight attendant from an American airline says, you shouldn't sip every drink.
She advises against two.
Stay away from tea and coffee – the flight attendant gives the reason
Like ordering a coffee to stay awake or a tea to warm you up a bit?
Neither is a good idea when it comes to a TikTok user who regularly posts videos from her everyday life as a flight attendant under the name "cierra_mitts": "Unless we're super desperate, we don't drink the coffee or tea that's offered on the plane will,” she explains in one of those clips.
The reason?
The water used for the coffee and tea would come from the same water tank: "And guess what: it's never cleaned," said the flight attendant.
@cierra_mistt
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Although the airlines would always assure that the water quality on board is tested regularly: "But we were told that it takes about six to nine months for a test to be carried out on the plane," claims the woman.
She is not alone in her opinion: Some time ago, a former British Airways flight attendant warned about the tap water on board: “The water tanks are not cleaned enough – if at all.
There's a reason we offer bottled water," she said at the time.
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According to an American flight attendant, the water used for tea and coffee is not checked for quality often enough.
© Imago
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In the comments, some of the TikTok users are grateful for the flight attendant's note: "I never knew that.
Thanks for the info!
It's a good thing I don't drink the coffee." However, some people also have doubts about the flight attendant's statements: "As an aviation mechanic, I can say that we regularly disinfect the water and have the water tested several times a month," writes one, for example.
Another user reports something similar: “I am a technician at a large airline.
We are constantly cleaning the water systems.”
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US airlines have historically performed poorly on water quality
In fact, there is a study by the City University of New York from 2019 that concludes that the tap water on airplanes - at least on US airlines - is not of the best quality.
Among other things, the researchers checked the water for E. coli and other coliform bacteria, which can be responsible for diarrhea or gastrointestinal problems.
The airlines JetBlue and Spirit Airlines got the worst rating at the time.
United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta also underperformed.
So if you want to be on the safe side when it comes to water quality on board an aircraft, according to the British Airways employee, you should buy your own bottle at the airport.
List of rubrics: © Imago
