For many of us, a cup of coffee is an essential part of our flying routine, whether it’s to shake off the grogginess of an early morning flight or to find comfort in the familiar warmth amidst the cold, pressurised cabin of an aeroplane. However, a flight attendant’s revelation might just change the way you think about enjoying that seemingly innocuous cuppa in the sky.
Kevin, a former flight attendant, took to social media to share a rather unsettling piece of advice: you should think twice before ordering coffee on an aeroplane.
His warning echoes the concerns of a pilot who previously cautioned passengers on an online forum about the cleanliness of the water tanks on board, saying, ‘Don’t drink the coffee on board. The water tanks on [aeroplanes] are rarely, if ever cleaned, and they use this water to make coffee on board.’
‘I don’t want to think about the [mould] and bacteria growing in those tanks.’
The implications of this are more than just a matter of taste. The water from these reportedly seldom-cleaned tanks is used to brew the coffee served to passengers. The thought of mould and bacteria flourishing in the dark, confined spaces of an aircraft’s water tank is enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
@ichbinvin #flightattendant #travel #airline ♬ original sound – keVin
But the concerns don’t stop there. Kevin’s insider knowledge reveals a practice that might shock even the most seasoned traveller: the cleaning process for coffee pots reportedly involves taking them to the aeroplane lavatories.
According to Kevin, flight attendants are instructed to empty the coffee pots into the toilets, a method that poses a significant risk of contamination. The proximity required to avoid spilling means that the coffee pots could be subject to ‘backsplash’ from the toilet, introducing unwanted particles and bacteria directly into the vessels that will later be used to serve more coffee.
The thought of such a cross-contamination is enough to make one’s skin crawl. Kevin’s video, which has amassed over 726,000 views, has understandably alarmed many coffee-loving flyers.
‘I am NEVER drinking anything that’s not sealed on a flight again,’ wrote one commenter.
‘Ok, never mind on getting coffee on a plane,’ echoed someone else.
Comments ranged from vows to never drink aeroplane coffee again to calls for regulatory audits of airline hygiene practices.
This concern is not isolated to one flight attendant’s experience. Another cabin crew member confirmed the practice, saying, ‘We’re required to dump coffee in the toilet and we’ve had coffee inoperative because of E.coli in the water tank.’
‘I was a flight attendant in the ‘80s and we were told in training not to drink the water/coffee. I guess it hasn’t changed,’ claimed a second person.
‘I hide the pot when I’m dumping it [because] I don’t want anyone to see me do it,’ said a different commenter.
However, others who also claimed to be flight attendants disagreed with Kevin’s comments about in-flight coffee.
‘[Sixteen] years of flying and we always dumped coffee down the galley drains, just not while parked at the gate. So that seems a bit off,’ argued one commenter.
‘Galley drain. I drink [the] coffee I make on the plane and never had an issue. I wouldn’t serve it if I wasn’t comfortable drinking it,’ wrote another.
‘I drink coffee on every flight and I’ve always been just fine,’ remarked someone else.
So, what should you do if you’re craving a caffeine fix while cruising above the clouds? Kevin suggests opting for airlines that offer espresso from machines, as these are reportedly less likely to be affected by the same hygiene issues as regular drip coffee makers.
At YourLifeChoices, we understand that this information might be quite jarring, especially for those who regularly rely on in-flight coffee. If you’re feeling particularly concerned, don’t hesitate to reach out to your airline and inquire about their coffee preparation methods.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever had a questionable cup of coffee in the sky? Will this insider tip change your in-flight beverage choices? Share your stories and join the conversation in the comments below.
Also read: Qantas frequent flyer slams ‘embarrassing’ meal served by the airline
