When traveling by plane, many people like to bring some snacks and pastries on board to enjoy during the journey. However, flight attendants remind passengers to think twice before packing onboard snacks, as there are certain foods that should never be brought onto a plane.
Many passengers who have tasted airline meals while flying have had similar experiences: the taste of food and beverages at 30,000 feet in the air is different from on land. While some airlines offer delicious dishes, such as the world’s oldest bread served by Turkish Airlines and meals provided by Michelin-star chef Brandon Jew for Alaska Airlines’ premium cabin routes, airplane food is generally not as appetizing. Therefore, bringing your own snacks onboard is always a good idea.
Before packing your carry-on luggage, remember that there are some items best left behind according to aviation etiquette. Flight attendants past and present have shared which foods and drinks should absolutely not be brought on board.
Passengers carrying sealed bags filled with boiled eggs may cause discomfort to flight attendants and other passengers.
“I had a couple take out about 10 to 12 boiled eggs from their bag and start peeling them while I was working a long-haul flight,” shared one flight attendant on Reddit. “The smell of eggs lingered throughout the entire flight, and they were only a few rows away from my jump seat.”
There are also food safety considerations. Even when boiled, eggs still need to be kept at a safe temperature to prevent bacteria growth.
Many flight attendants agree that strongly-smelling foods should not be brought on board, as in the confined space of the aircraft cabin, these smells can spread to every corner. Tuna salad is one of the most likely offending foods. Curry, raw onions, fried foods, beef jerky, pickles, fish sauce, and fish and chips are also foods to avoid on a plane.
One flight attendant summed it up by saying, “To be honest, anything that smells, whether good or bad,” is best avoided. He then shared some food for thought: “I might just recommend light snacks during the flight.”
Of course, bringing shelled nuts can be delicious and a good source of protein, making them a great snack for passing the time on the plane. However, cleaning up shelled nuts can be quite a hassle.
One flight attendant shared their pet peeve: passengers bringing pistachios and/or sunflower seeds on board, only to leave the shells in the seat-back pocket.
“As I quietly cursed them, I pulled out 43,000 tiny pieces from the pocket,” the flight attendant said.
Bananas are also a culprit. “I’m fed up with finding banana peels in the seat-back pocket,” said another flight attendant.
A flight attendant complained about parents bringing snacks for their children, as these snacks can end up making a mess. The flight attendant specifically mentioned children’s snacks like Cheerios and Goldfish crackers.
Flight attendants explained that anything that could end up being stepped on and creating a mess is a headache because most parents don’t clean up, leaving the snack crumbs to soil the carpet.
Another common taboo is bringing pizza in a large pizza box on board. A flight attendant noted that the airplane has limited space for trash and storage.
“These pizza boxes almost take up a quarter of our garbage bins,” the flight attendant added.
Other flight attendants echoed the sentiment. One flight attendant claimed they didn’t even have space for one pizza box and had to allow passengers to hold the box on their laps until the flight ended.