Traveling can be stressful, and knowing proper etiquette can make the experience smoother for everyone. when flying, certain behaviors are best avoided, such as lingering at the gate before boarding or overpacking. What you consume on an airplane can also impact your flight and fellow passengers.

Beyond just avoiding smelly snacks, there are several food and beverage items that flight attendants advise against ordering. Here’s a list of what to avoid and why.

Coffee or Tea

many travelers reach for a caffeine boost on early morning or redeye flights. Though, former flight attendant ALEX QUIGLEY cautions against ordering coffee or tea. He explains that airplanes use “potable” water tanks that may not be cleaned frequently.”There’s no telling how often or when the tank has been cleaned last,” he says.”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.” He added, “I can be honest and say I NEVER knew or saw anyone empty and refill or wash them out in between trips.”

Strong-Smelling Snacks

While some airlines offer them, flight attendants advise against bringing or eating strong-smelling snacks like corn nuts. One anonymous flight attendant told Delish, “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. The roasted barbecue flavor [is the worst]. When you open the bag, it smells like something is burning on the plane.” It’s best to avoid other snacks with strong odors like onion, garlic, or barbecue.

“There’s no telling how often or when the tank has been cleaned last. This is a beast for bacteria.” – ALEX QUIGLEY

Meat

when selecting a meal on your flight, consider avoiding meat dishes. QUIGLEY notes, “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,” you could be at risk of food poisoning.

Gas-Inducing Foods

QUIGLEY advises avoiding gas-inducing foods. “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,” he explains. This includes limiting dairy, beans, fatty foods, green vegetables, and sodas. additionally, the combination of these foods and air pressure can lead to bloating.

Alcoholic Beverages

While it might be tempting to relax with a drink, QUIGLEY says, “You’re not actually doing yourself a favor by drinking on a flight.” the combination of altitude and alcohol can increase the effects of alcohol, making you feel lightheaded. “When pressure is decreased in the airplane, the body can’t absorb oxygen as well,” QUIGLEY explains. Another flight attendant advises against Bloody Marys due to their high salt content, which can cause dehydration. Drinks mixed with orange juice can also upset your stomach due to their acidity.”I always tell folks to drink water,” she says.