They Found Insect Eggs in Airplane Tap Water

I always thought airplane water was a little sketchy.

But I didn't realize how bad it actually was until I looked into it.

Here's the deal.

The water on your plane goes through a long journey before it reaches your cup. First, it sits in a storage facility. Then it gets transferred to another facility at the airport. Then it's loaded onto the plane itself.

If bacteria gets into any of those steps? It ends up in your drink.

And the numbers are not reassuring.

Airlines are required to test their water tanks. But 2.7% of those tests come back positive. That might sound small, but when millions of people fly every day, that's a lot of contaminated water making it onto planes. Link 

One investigation found airplane tap water tainted with salmonella. And insect eggs. 🫢

You see, the tanks that hold this water may only get a deep clean once a year. But with hundreds of passengers boarding, sitting, eating, and sleeping on these planes every single day, things get dirty fast.

Here's the catch.

There's no real authority enforcing water standards on airplanes. The EPA is supposed to monitor this stuff, but they rarely issue penalties to airlines that violate clean water regulations.

So what does this mean for you?

That coffee and tea the flight attendants hand out during beverage service? It's brewed with water from the airplane taps.

And the best part? Most flight attendants won't touch it.

One former flight attendant put it this way. The coffee machines are rarely cleaned between flights. They're only removed when they break. And they're usually located right next to the bathrooms.

But here's what you really need to know.

It's not just the coffee and tea. It's also the ice. Even if the ice starts out clean, it still gets transported and stored through the same systems. If there's contamination anywhere along the way, everything it touches becomes contaminated too.

And I really hope you're not drinking the water out of the bathroom. (If you do, please don't tell me.)

So, what should you do instead?

Stick to packaged beverages. Sealed bottles and cans are your friend. And always carry hand sanitizer on the plane. It's a small change that could save you from spending your vacation sick.

Keep traveling, 

Andrew

Will this change how you order drinks on your next flight?  

Cocktail of the Week

The Sazerac cocktail is considered one of the oldest known cocktails in the United States, with its origins tracing back to New Orleans in the mid-19th century. Originally made with brandy, it later evolved to use rye whiskey as the main spirit, alongside absinthe and bitters, resulting in a flavorful and aromatic drink that has stood the test of time.
 

Recipe:

• 2 oz rye whiskey
• 1 sugar cube
• 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
• Absinthe
• Lemon peel for garnish
   

Directions:
1. Take an Old Fashioned glass and rinse it with absinthe, then discard the excess.
2. In a separate mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube with Peychaud's Bitters until dissolved.
3. Add rye whiskey to the mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into the prepared Old Fashioned glass.
5. Express the oils from a lemon peel over the drink and garnish with the peel.

Random Travel Thought

I’m addicted to buying travel luggage.

Follow me on Instagram.

The Plug

Cheap flights:

• Going.com : This might be the only discounted flights website you need. It’s a paid service that sends you notifications when deals become available, but they expire in a couple of days so Act Fast!! 
• Secret Flying 🤫: This website emails you about free flight opportunities and even better… it doesn’t cost a thing!!
• Skyscanner : An older, but still reliable website that’s also *FREE* so there’s no reason not to use it. Use the "Explore the World" feature and set your departure date to "Whole Month" to find the cheapest deals.

Insurance:

• Safety Wing : I use Safety Wing as my travel insurance because the plans are flexible. You can easily insure a 1-week trip for like $11 dollars which is less than the cost of a cocktail at the bar.

Travel Gear

• Compression socks: Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for the body, so keep yourself healthy enough to go on more trips. Link
• Apple AirTags: Consider getting Apple AirTags for the peace of mind of always knowing where your luggage is. Link
• Smart Phone holder: It's a foldable sheet that can be used as a stand for your iPhone or iPad.Link
• Packing cubes: Having a separate container works wonders for keeping clothes wrinkle-free. It also makes packing/unpacking much easier.Link
• Donut Power Strip: Power outlets are always in demand, but sometimes they're in weird spots. I use this bagel because it's lightweight, and I don't have to think about it. Link
• Travel Case Organizer: Cable organizers can be a pain, but this is what I use to keep my cables organized. Link
• Backup batteries: I like these backup batteries because they have three important components for me: 1. They have enough power to recharge my phone multiple times at once, 2. Are small enough to put in my pocket, and 3. Are sturdy enough to survive a fall. Link
• Yoga Mat: I use this thin mat to get my stretching in even when I'm traveling. Link
• Jump Rope: It's so easy to bring a jump rope with you for exercise because it weighs almost nothing and takes up no space. Link
• Liquid IV: Great for hydration to keep you from dying. When you're traveling, it's time to live it up!  Link
  
  *Above are Affiliate links at no additional cost to you.

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