On each commercial flight, there are routines that we already consider normal. The onboard bar service is one of these practices: it is part of the travel experience and, on long flights, is even a source of enthusiasm for many passengers. But there are details about these altitude operations that few imagine. One involves a very popular drink aboard the plane, which seems to cause more problems than pleasure to the crew.
Anyone who travels by plane knows that along the flight, the distribution of drinks is one of the most anticipated moments. In many airlines, especially on international routes, this service is included in the price and offers drinks with and without alcohol. Among the most common orders are waters, juices, sodas and hot drinks. Everything seems simple, but it is not always like this for those who serve.
In the blog These Gold Wings, a flight attendant who signs as “Jet”, quoted by the Huffington Post, revealed what is, in his opinion, the worst drink to serve an airplane. And the choice may surprise those who are used to asking it. It is the diet coke (equivalent to Coca-Cola zero). According to the professional, this soda causes a real nuisance to the cabin team, delaying the service and creating operational difficulties.
According to “jet”, the problem is not in the taste or preference of passengers, but in the way the drink becomes altitude. The pressure inside the cabin, which corresponds to an altitude between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, causes soft drinks to produce more foam than usual. When you open a can of Diet Coke and try to get it to a glass, the foam rises quickly and you need to wait long seconds until the process can continue. This, in a service with dozens or hundreds of passengers, delays everything.
Persistent and difficult to control foam
The Commissioner, cited by the same source, explains that, unlike other soft drinks, Diet Coke produces a denser and more persistent foam. The product composition itself helps to explain why.
According to data cited by the international press, dietary beverages have a slightly higher viscosity, which stabilizes the bubbles and makes them last longer in the glass.
Most popular, more noted
Other light drinks are likely to have the same effect. However, Diet Coke is one of the most requested on board, which increases its visibility between the onboard team as a constant delay factor. The commissioner says that, on very crowded flights, when several passengers ask Diet Coke, it starts by serving them all at once and then returns to each glass when the foam has come down.
A trick to circumvent the problem
“Jet” admits that, with the experience, he learned to deal with this situation. He even created his own method to pour the drink with less foam, although it remains longer than other options.
Even so, it makes it clear that you don’t care about passenger requests and that you do everything with the same professionalism. Just share this curiosity as a way of showing what happens behind the scenes of a flight.
We recommend:
Pressure inside and out of the can
To better understand this phenomenon, it is important to remember that, inside the can, the pressure remains constant. What changes is the pressure outside the can, inside the cabin.
It is this difference that makes the bubbles release more strongly and the foam raises quickly, as explained by The Real Review, quoted by the same source. The same is true, for example, with the champagne bottles at altitude.
Royal impact on onboard service
Although it seems like a detail, these small difficulties accumulate during the flight. When there are dozens of passengers waiting for their drinks, any delay or obstacle has an impact on the pace of the service. Diet Coke, with its unpredictable behavior in the air, forces the team to work with more attention and patience. This is not always possible on shorter flights or with high occupation.
Effects of altitude on the body
In addition to the effects on any drink, the reduced pressure within the aircraft cabin also affects the human body. It is common to feel dizziness, dry throat or drowsiness during the flight.
Therefore, some drinks have stronger effects on board. Alcohol, for example, tends to have more effect. The same logic applies to the feeling of flavor, which can be slightly altered, says.
The side that passengers do not see
This is just an example of the many details that happen during a flight that go unnoticed to those traveling. For onboard professionals, each drink served has to be thought carefully, especially in special conditions. The revelation made by “jet” raises the veil a little about the complexity of the tasks of those who work in the air. A simple soda can become a challenge at 30,000 feet in altitude.
The next time you board a plane if you want to make it easier for the crew, you may consider it to ask for a different drink. Diet Coke is still available, but now you know there is a reason to take a little longer. Aviation is made of rules, security and also many small details. And sometimes, what looks trivial, like the choice of a soda, makes a difference.
Also read:
