You may have been travelling your whole life, but few people know as much about aviation as a flight attendant.
Sam, an ex flight attendant for a British carrier, gave Express.co.uk her insider secrets.
If you’re peckish on a plane and have been offered an in-flight meal, Sam recommended one dish in particular – but it’s best to order it in advance.
She told Express.co.uk: “If you pre-order a meal (dietary requirements), you’ll be served first.
“There is always one meat and one veggie option anyway, but if you pre-order a vegetarian you’ll get served before everyone else (the pasta dishes are always the tastiest!)”
If you want your tasty pasta dish promptly, Sam advised you might want to sit in a specific part of the plane.
She revealed: “Food is usually served from front of the cabin to the back. On particularly busy flights food might be served from one trolley at the top and another trolley at the back.
“So, something to bear in mind when choosing your seats – top of the cabin is usually best for first service.”
But according to the insider, there is one thing you should never consume in-flight – and it might surprise you.
She advised: “Avoid drinking the tap water! The water tanks are not cleaned enough (if ever) – there’s a reason we serve bottled water. If you have a bottle that you want filling, just ask the FA.”
Another flight attendant, Betty, once told flyers to avoid drinking the tea and coffee on planes.
She claimed: “It’s the same potable water that goes through the bathroom system.”
Betty, who used to work for an American carrier, said that they once had a test for E. coli in their water and it didn’t pass, “and then maintenance came on and hit a couple of buttons and it passed”.
She continued: “So, I would avoid any hot water or tea. Bottled and ice are fine, of course.”