The Beverages Flight Attendants Say They'd Never Order On A Flight

Published Sep 26, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT Writer - Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class through to first-class and on private jets as well as being head of cabin crew and cabin safety focal point. Patricia has a master's level postgraduate diploma in Human Factors in Aviation and has written about aviation since 2010. Based in Dubai/Cyprus. In recent years, some flight attendants have expressed concerns about some drinks served onboard for various reasons. Some of the most common are tea and coffee, which most passengers would think nothing of drinking after a meal service. Some flight attendants have workarounds to enjoy their daily coffee onboard or simply buy it at the airport. However, is it really as bad as many flight attendants say? After all, many pilots and cabin crew have drunk tea and coffee onboard for years without issue. In this article, we will take a look at all sides of the argument and what evidence there is about the subject and the reasoning for and against it. We will also consider the beverages that flight attendants love and hate when serving or traveling themselves and the reasons why. Avoid Water That Is Not From A Bottle Credit: the_Dave | Shutterstock Although water is always the best option onboard an aircraft to stay hydrated, it may not always be as simple as it seems. The bottled water on the meal carts is fine, and it's ok to ask for a glass or two, but please don't ask a flight attendant for a 1.5-liter bottle, as we have a limited supply onboard. The problem is with water from the onboard tanks, which supply water to the beverage makers for tea and coffee and at the lavatory water dispensers on widebody long-haul aircraft. The water tanks on board are not regularly cleaned: therefore, they have a questionable standard of cleanliness, according to many flight attendants. However, under the US Environmental Protection Agency's Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, airlines are mandated to routinely flush, disinfect, and test their water storage tanks, which suggests that it's safe to drink. According to Travel + Leisure, an American Airlines source said that “airplane water is regularly potable, tested, and should be completely fine. It can, however, smell a bit chlorine-like and funky, which can be off-putting for many java snobs. (…) I suppose that your safest bet is to stick to sealed beverages, if you can.” So, it seems that all is good, and we can drink airplane water safely, but if in doubt, don't drink it. Let's look at the evidence. The Studies That Suggest It May Not Be Drinkable Credit: WOSUNAN | Shutterstock The Environmental Protection Agency has conducted multiple surveys of aircraft water systems. Findings reveal that roughly one in eight airplanes failed water safety standards, including tests for coliform bacteria, a red flag for contamination. A 2004 EPA sample of 158 planes found that 13 percent contained coliform, and two aircraft also tested positive for E. coli. A comprehensive study released in 2026 by the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity analyzed more than 35,000 water samples. It collected them over a three-year period (from October 2022 to September 2025) across 10 major and 11 regional airlines. Approximately 2.7% of the tested samples showed positive results for total coliform, and E. coli was identified 32 times across the carriers. Delta Air Lines (5.00 score) and Frontier Airlines (4.80 score) earned Grade A rankings for the cleanest onboard water. Major carriers like American Airlines (1.75 score) and JetBlue fell near the bottom with D grades, while Mesa Airlines scored lowest among regional carriers. You would think that because water for tea and coffee is boiled, it should be perfectly safe to drink, but how does that work on an aircraft? While the water is technically heated to near-boiling temperatures to brew coffee and tea, that’s not always enough to guarantee safety, especially when altitude changes the boiling point. Bacteria are killed at around 175 degrees, so it does not have to boil. On an aircraft, water boils at the 7,000-foot equivalent of about 195 degrees, and the World Health Organization says that bacteria are killed at 170, so drinking tea and coffee onboard should be safe, according to USA Today. What Flight Attendants Say About It Credit: BigPixel Photo | Shutterstock One flight attendant told Southern Living that “I don’t drink coffee on the plane. The hot water often smells like chlorine, and if it doesn’t, you suspect it even more.” She had tried to brew her own coffee in the oven using bottled water. A former Emirates flight attendant said that “during my training and service, we were taught that the water tanks aren’t cleaned as frequently as they should be. The rumors are based in reality. Stick with sealed beverages whenever possible.” “I personally avoided drinking hot beverages from onboard tanks,” said another, who worked for seven years as a flight attendant with a major US carrier. “I’ve seen the inside of those tanks during maintenance stops. Let’s just say I stick to bottled water, soda, or alcohol when flying (as a passenger).” A former flight attendant with over 12 years in the aviation industry agrees, saying that “I’ve personally witnessed maintenance crews neglect proper tank-cleaning protocols. The pipes also collect mineral buildup over time.” His advice is to stick with sealed, canned, or bottled drinks. Another flight attendant agreed, saying that “I never consumed hot beverages made onboard, nor did most crew members. The tanks are cleaned periodically, but not after every flight, and testing has repeatedly shown the presence of coliform bacteria.” Although the evidence sounds worrying and with flight attendants avoiding the onboard water, it is no wonder that passengers may be worried about their in-flight beverages. But the question is, is it really as bad as it sounds, or just an exaggeration? Is It Really That Bad? Credit: BigPixel Photo | Shutterstock Although it all sounds pretty scary stuff, passengers and crew members have long been drinking the onboard water. A flight attendant and safety expert commented to Southern Living that “there are flight attendants and pilots who drink tea and coffee frequently and never have had a gastrointestinal issue. For me, this is a probability situation. I like reducing risk, so I bring my own beverages.” On a similar note, another flight attendant agreed, as she worked for Delta Air Lines for 35 years. She said that the rumors about water tanks have been around forever, adding that “we all drank gallons of coffee to stay awake on international crossings. It was a necessity! And I have not heard of any related problems.” On Reddit's r/delta page, a commenter said: “I'm an airline mechanic and can say that the potable water system does get cleaned. We basically fill it with diluted bleach and let it sit for several hours before purging the whole system a few times. Coffee machines don't seem to have a long lifespan considering how often we swap them out. I wouldn't worry too much. As someone else pointed out, if the pilots are drinking it every day you should be alright.” Another user, who said they were an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, added that although the water lines were “difficult to clean,” they were still frequently flushed with cleaning products. “Plus, the water is moved through them so frequently I wouldn’t count on much, if any, buildup,” they wrote, adding that “I’d vouch for it, and I drink it myself.” Flight Attendants Preferences Credit: Beboopai | Shutterstock As well as the long-debated tea and coffee issue, there are some other issues that flight attendants have with serving drinks onboard. One of those is the passenger favorite of Diet Coke because it takes much longer to pour, therefore making the bar service longer. This is because of the pressurization in the cabin and artificial sweeteners making the product more fizzy and more difficult and therefore slower to pour. Passengers may also question the ice used onboard for the same reason as the water. However, ice is not made onboard the aircraft but comes from the airline catering company, so it has to meet certain hygiene standards. Of course, alcohol can be a problem for some too, and things can get out of hand. No one likes a drunk or disruptive passenger. Alcohol dehydrates the body, and the cabin pressure makes every drink in the sky feel like two on the ground. Flight attendants have to be aware of anyone who has drunk too much and limit service. So what do flight attendants recommend passengers drink onboard? Bottled water is the way to go: buy a large bottle at the airport to stay hydrated or fill a water bottle at the airport water fountain. This is the essential way to stay hydrated; you should drink 8 ounces for every hour in the air. Taste buds change in flight due to lower pressure and humidity inside the cabin; therefore, tomato juice is often recommended. A study commissioned by German airline Lufthansa found that tomato juice has the most potent flavor at 30,000 feet. The Bottom Line Credit: Mulevich | Shutterstock Although it seems that it is technically safe to drink onboard water from airline tanks, it comes down to personal choice. It is probably safe due to testing, regulations, and according to airline mechanics. If a flight attendant doesn't drink what they serve, that is to some extent a concern. However, there also seem to be many crew members who drink coffee and tea made with it all the time and don't get sick from it. Bottled water is used for all cold beverage services, including those served by flight attendants from the tray mid-flight: it is not the water from the tank. The tank water is only supplied to the lavatories, the taps in the galley (used for washing and rinsing items), and the beverage makers that make the tea and coffee. You may taste a little chlorine in your hot beverage, but that is no different to drinking from a tap at home. The water dispensers outside the lavatories on some widebody aircraft will also be supplied by the tank. If in any doubt whether it is safe, stick to bottled water and cold beverages onboard and bring a bottle of water with you too. Remember that flight attendants and pilots have been drinking tea and coffee made with this water daily for years without issue.