Flight attendants reveal the five items you should 'never' order on a plane

Flight attendants have lifted the lid on the worst items you can ask for while travelling via plane, which might make you think twice before tucking into the menu.

Arguably the worst part about traveling is the journey itself. From the airport queues and bag checks to expensive food and drink at the terminal and the endless waiting around for the jet to actually depart, it's a wonder any of us go on vacation at all.

Throw in a travel-sick flier, an obnoxious intoxicated passenger and a screaming, kicking toddler, or someone attempting a TikTok 'hack' to snatch your seat, and you'll probably be seething before the jet has even left the tarmac.

Yet, while you might think you're following the rules of proper passenger etiquette, some flight attendants say there is one aspect that most of us overlook - and it all comes down to what we eat and drink.

Food that smell is a no-go (Getty Images)

Here are the top five items flight attendants say you should 'never' order.

Smelly snacks

Crammed inside a stuffy metal box with hundreds of strangers and forced to breathe in stale re-circulated air is bad enough before you start ripping open a pungent bag of chips, according to one cabin crew member.

Speaking to Delish, the anonymous flight attendant specifically identified corn nuts for causing the most offence to the nostrils, saying: "They are pretty tasty, but some of them stink the second you open the package.

"We actually serve them in our first-class snack basket," they continued. "The roasted barbecue flavor [is the worst]. When you open the bag, it smells like something is burning on the plane."

Onion, garlic, barbecue and pickled onion flavored snacks could also kick up a lingering stink, so maybe steer clear of those, too.

Hot drinks

Only few of us have resisted the temptation of the hot drinks trolley coming up and down the aisles at regular intervals in the flight. After all, why would you turn down a hot cup of coffee or tea if you've just come around from a rather uncomfortable sleep?

Yet, former flight attendant Alex Quigley told the food site there's a good reason we should be looking the other way when the trolley comes.

Best to avoid tea and coffee... (Getty Images)

He explained airplanes use 'potable' water tanks, where the water has sat for quite some time.

"There's no telling how often or when the tank has been cleaned last," Alex said. "This is a beast for bacteria. Plus, we were never allowed to pour the remaining coffee brewed into the drain of the airplane and were usually instructed to pour the coffee out into the toilet.

"I can be honest and say I NEVER knew or saw anyone empty and refill or wash them out in between trips," he added.

So, not only has the coffee pot had a good few trips to the lavatory, but it has also been left to stew in its stench... nice.

Gassy foods

We've already established planes smell more funky than fresh, and passengers passing gas is only exacerbating the problem.

Alex said gas-inducing foods should be avoided for both smell and hygiene reasons, like beans, fatty foods, green veggies, sodas and dairy.

He said: "Air in the airplane is circulated, it's never fresh. That means if someone passes gas, you're breathing that in over and over again, so this is more so for common decency."

Gassy foods, when combined with the air pressure, could also make you feel bloated and uncomfortable, so it's just as much for your sake as it is for everyone else around you.

You might want to skip some things for your own health (Getty Images)

Meat

Most long-haul flights will offer up a menu of meals to choose from while on your journey, but Alex said to avoid any meat dish for the sake of your own health.

"You're putting the trust of storing any meat in the flight attendant's hands, and as we all know, delays happen, and mechanical issues happen; so if you run into a situation where there's a possibility the cooked meals aren't actually being stored appropriately or have exceeded the storing time allotted for the meal."

"Food poisoning on a plane? No thanks!"

Alcohol

According to Alex, we're not doing ourselves any favors by drinking booze on a flight.

He explained the high altitude mixed with alcohol can make for a toxic combo.

Another flight attendant said Bloody Mary's could be the worst of the lot, due to being salty and therefore dehydrating.

"I always tell folks to drink water," she added, in case you were wondering after reading this list what you should actually have on a plane.