Complimentary beverage? Negative, ghost rider.
Be careful what you eat or drink on your next flight — passengers unfamiliar with the way their bodies handle certain foods and beverages could be in for a rough landing, a pro warns.
First Officer Paul Janowicz, experienced Delta pilot, explained that for those trying to keep things at a comfortable cruising altitude, the number one thing to be careful of is booze.
“Alcohol can dehydrate you and make you feel groggy and tired after the flight,” he told Well + Good.
“Due to the pressure changes in the cabin, a person will get intoxicated faster drinking in-flight than on the ground.”
The warning comes as some airline industry honchos are floating the idea of capping alcohol purchases in airports — but more for peacekeeping reasons, as unruly behavior has made the skies a lot less friendly in recent years.
Coffee, used by flight attendants to mask bad smells on an aircraft, is another item landing on Janowicz’s no-fly list.
“While it may be nice for those early morning flights, the caffeine in coffee will dehydrate you in an already dehydrating cabin environment,” he added.
Flight crews have warned again and again that the tank sources for plane water used in coffee and tea can be surprisingly gross.
Carbonated beverages are also worth passing on due to gas and bloating, according to the first officer.
“Especially if drinking while the plane is climbing or descending with the pressure changes that occur in the cabin.”
Spicy food is another one that can cause chaos at 30,000 feet, he said, adding that this is applied to what’s consumed before boarding as well.
“Generally our menus onboard are very mild, but I would not pack any snacks that might have spice involved as it may cause stomach discomfort in-flight.”
And, last but not least, fried food’s “higher sodium” leads to a double whammy of both gas and bloating along with dehydration.
While those may be the pilot’s recommendations, customers have spoken up as well regarding what they wish security would flag as a travel faux pas.
A recent survey found 92% of flyers expressed ire against several foods — one planeload nearly went into revolt after one traveler decided to eat a rack of ribs en route.
Other odiferous food notorious for annoying your stomach — and other passengers — includes boiled eggs and tinned fish.
Although not brought on for consumption, fish stowed away in a passenger’s carry-on caused maggots to fall from the stow-away bins onto people in nearby rows last winter.
