What's the Deal With Airline Food? An Interview With a Flight Attendant
The interview below is part one of a conversation with my friend, who's a flight attendant. This article contains the "food" portion of our discussion. With that said, bon appétit!
So, how are you?
I'm good [laughing]. How are you?
Doing well!
That's good.
So… what judgments or stereotypes do you make based on what people order on the plane?
If you're not going to an island or a vacation destination and you're ordering double vodka tonic or double vodka soda, Woodford Reserve, something like that, at 6 a.m. in the morning, 8 a.m. in the morning, I just feel as though you're an alcoholic [laughing]. If, let's say… hmm… what other stereotypes are there? Based off of orders, correct?
Yeah, I'm thinking primarily orders, but if you have other stuff in mind…
One, we don't—I don't know if this is a part of a future question—but when you come on the airplane and you're handing me trash, why are you doing that? You just came from outside the gatehouse, and there was a trash can out there. And then also, I will point to the trash can, and you're just handing it to me. Like, no. You can go ahead and put your hand on the trash can and throw it away.
Also, when someone has been waiting in the jet bridge, because you can tell when someone's running from a connection or if someone has been waiting outside in the gatehouse to board or waiting in line to board, you're out of breath if you're running from a connection, and I will offer you a bottle of water. You coming on, standing in line, waiting your turn, and you're asking, "hey, can I get a bottle of water? I have a pill to take." We all know you don't have a pill to take [laughing], or go and buy a bottle of water out there. It's only $3… $4. To me, I just think you're cheap at that point. Like, go buy a bottle of water.
Good to know [both laughing].
Or have your reusable, refillable water bottle, and after TSA, go and refill it.
I actually have… sort of a litmus test for airports, speaking of water. Where... I've been to Chicago [O'Hare] airport…
Mm-hmm.
Horrible tasting water [laughing].
Oh, yeah. Same in Florida. In Cancun.
Same in Florida?
Yeah, I don't like the taste of Florida or Mexico water.
I don't like Atlanta's water.
Mmm [in agreement].
I think that just says a lot about how the city holds itself.
Mmm [in agreement].
Is there some correlation there that you've seen?
I would say, yeah, depending on the government. Yeah, I guess the government that's currently running that state or that city. That's just how the water tastes. Like, if you look at Atlanta—I mean, not to get political—but we're paying taxes, sales tax. We're paying property tax. We pay city tax. Where is the tax money going to? We have these potholes. The education system for Atlanta public schools sucks.
Because they fixed up LaGuardia very well, and the water there's fine.
Fine [in agreement].
It's great [laughing]!
New York is doing great [laughing]. Of all places, the dirtiest city in America is doing great with water [laughing].
They've got their priorities.
Yeah [laughing].
What would you say is the weirdest beverage request that you've taken or you've received?
The weirdest? Oh, that's one I haven't thought about. Hmm… I wouldn't say it's weird. I just think it depends on what culture they come from and what region of the world. Most Germans—they would ask for a beer on international. I've seen them ask for a beer and a Sprite. It's called a Radler. Like, if you're from southern Germany, it's called a Radler. And you mix half beer, half Sprite. And, yeah, it's actually really good.
Huh! I've never heard of that.
Yeah. But it has to be a German beer or a Weissbier, like a white… a wheat beer.
Oh, okay.
Like a Weissbier.
Not like a Guinness.
No, nothing like that. Nothing dark. It has to be a light beer. So, that's one. And then… I kind of want to tell you about this drink, but I don't want people... Well, I'm gonna just go ahead and tell you… so there's a flight attendant drink. It's called a pink drink.
