Should you drink before a flight?

“While it may initially feel like you're more relaxed after drinking alcohol, this effect can wear off and in fact, in terms of anxiety, make things worse.



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“Whether or not you're in an airplane, alcohol can disrupt the absorption of oxygen in the bloodstream. Therefore, being at a higher altitude, coupled with this effect on your blood oxygen, may make you feel more tipsy—think dizzy, light headed, or even nauseous.”

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Some people drink to calm nerves or help sleep on planes—can this help? “What is more important is figuring out what can actually help nerves—and there are much better alternatives to booze,” Jo tells us.

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It's a list of four things you definitely should NOT eat or drink right before hopping on a plane . . .
  • Salty foods. It's common for people to get dehydrated on planes, thanks to the dry air in the cabin. ...
  • Carbonated beverages. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Coffee.


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“Probably the best thing you can do before (and during) your flight is drink water,” says Aviva Rubin, MS, RDN. “Water prevents dehydration and reduces jet lag while keeping you from feeling lethargic.” Keeping yourself sufficiently hydrated is a simple way to get your flight off on the right foot.

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Scientists and safety experts would have you stick to room-temperature bottled water—not from that open pitcher on the beverage cart and not with ice (which may contain harmful bacteria).

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Drinking prior to a flight, combined with the low cabin humidity, lowers your resistance to cold and flu germs, making you more susceptible to sickness. Stick to just one alcoholic drink, if possible, and then glug down plenty of water to ensure you are well hydrated before you get on the plane.

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Have a drink. Having a wee tipple on a flight can do wonders for the nerves. Alcohol is a sedative and a depressant, which (in moderation) can help calm the central nervous system. Similarly, other forms of sedatives can help.

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  • Bloody Mary. Ingredients: tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, vodka. A Bloody Mary has long been known as the best cocktail to order on a plane. ...
  • Gin and Tonic. Ingredients: gin, tonic water, lemon slice. ...
  • Moscow Mule. Ingredients: ginger beer, vodka. ...
  • Mimosa.


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Extra Snacks or Drinks If you find yourself a little peckish or thirsty after that service, politely ask your flight attendant for another round. But remember, asking doesn't mean you'll receive. It's all based on availability and whether or not the flight attendant is able to serve you at that point in the flight.

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The FAA provides strict rules that regulate the consumption of alcohol by pilots and crew members of any civil aircraft, whether it is a commercial or private aircraft. A pilot or crew member who violates any of these provisions faces imprisonment, fines, and revocation of his or her pilot's license.

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Tap Water (Including in Coffee and Tea) As T+L previously explained, the water tanks on planes are notoriously grimy. A 2004 EPA sample of 158 planes found that 13 percent contained coliform, and two had dangerous levels of E. coli.

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That same question has been asked time and time again on social media by disgruntled flyers. Paying for water on a flight isn't illegal. The answer is, it's not illegal. Turns out the airlines are not obligated to supply free drinking water in the same way they are not obliged to offer free food.

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Air pressure in the cabin is lower than at sea level. As cabin pressure falls while flying, gas starts to expand. As a result, you may feel pressure in your stomach or digestive system. Gas and bloating are common.

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According to Bacheler, the human body loses about 8 ounces of water per hour on an aircraft at altitude, mostly from breathing. As such, the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) recommends drinking about 0.25 liters (or 8 ounces) of water per hour while on an airplane.

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Top 5 travel tips to help you prepare for a long-haul flight
  1. Wear comfortable clothing. ...
  2. Stay hydrated. ...
  3. Exercise before you fly. ...
  4. Eat nutritious food. ...
  5. Practice meditation and yoga.


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Here are a few questions that make us flight attendants cringe.
  • What Is The Pilot Drinking? ...
  • The Gate Agent Said You Could Seat Us Together? ...
  • Can I Just Sit Here? ...
  • What Hotel Do You Stay At? ...
  • (Ringing The Call Button) Can I Have A Coke? ...
  • What? ...
  • How Many Days Do You Work? ...
  • Is This Your Usual Route?


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There are a few things passengers should never say to flight attendants in order to make their job easier. Examples include calling an attendant stewardess, and asking an attendant to watch your children. Flight attendants have a taxing job, but it can become even worse when passengers say the wrong things.

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In a 2013 blog post that continues to make the internet rounds, the flight attendant noted that because the average airplane cabin is pressurized to the equivalent of about 8,000 feet instead of sea level, soft drinks foam up more when poured out of a can. The worst culprit for this is Diet Coke,'' he wrote.

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