Flying can be an exciting experience\u2014soaring through the sky, enjoying breathtaking views, and even indulging in an in-flight beverage. But before you clink those ice cubes in your cup and take a sip, you might want to reconsider.<\/p>\n
That seemingly harmless airplane ice could be hiding an unpleasant secret. Studies and industry reports have revealed that the ice on airplanes may not be as clean as you\u2019d hope. From handling concerns to questionable water quality, let\u2019s explore why skipping the ice on your next flight might be a wise decision.<\/p>\n
Unlike restaurants where ice is freshly made, airline ice is sourced from third-party suppliers. It arrives on the plane in large, sealed bags, ready to be scooped into your drink. Sounds safe, right? Unfortunately, that\u2019s where things can go wrong.<\/p>\n
Flight attendants work hard to make sure passengers are comfortable and safe. But their job involves multitasking\u2014from serving food and drinks to handling luggage, collecting trash, and even helping parents with infants.<\/p>\n
While airlines emphasize hygiene, flight attendants don\u2019t always have the chance to wash or sanitize their hands between every task. And when they reach into the ice bin (even with tongs or scoops), the risk of cross-contamination increases. Studies have found that bacteria can easily transfer from surfaces to ice cubes, meaning the same hands that just handled a tray of used cups could also be handling your ice.<\/p>\n
Pro Tip:<\/strong> If you really want a cold drink, opt for a sealed bottled beverage instead of one with ice.<\/p>\n Another major issue? The water used to make that ice.<\/p>\n Airlines rely on built-in water tanks for everything from making ice to serving coffee and tea. These tanks require regular cleaning, but reports suggest that some airlines struggle to maintain high cleanliness standards.<\/p>\n In fact, a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that airplane water systems often contain bacteria and other contaminants. Even though water is treated before reaching the tanks, bacteria can build up over time\u2014leading to potential contamination.<\/p>\n If the water used in the ice-making process is not properly filtered or the tanks aren\u2019t cleaned frequently, that ice could be harboring unwanted bacteria.<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> Avoid drinking coffee or tea on a plane as well, since they\u2019re made using the same onboard water system.<\/p>\n Planes have tight schedules, and quick turnarounds mean cleaning crews have very little time to thoroughly sanitize everything before the next flight. While major surfaces like tray tables and armrests might get wiped down, ice storage areas and beverage equipment often don\u2019t get the same level of attention.<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re worried about germs, carry a travel-size hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for tray tables and seatbelt buckles.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re still on the fence about avoiding airplane ice, consider this: many flight attendants won\u2019t drink it themselves.<\/p>\n When asked, airline employees have admitted that they stick to bottled drinks without ice for the same reasons mentioned above. If the people serving the beverages are wary of the ice, that\u2019s probably a red flag for the rest of us.<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> Want a cold drink? Ask for a sealed beverage and hold it against your cup for a few minutes\u2014it\u2019ll chill the liquid inside just fine!<\/p>\n Q. Is it really unsafe to drink ice on a plane?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ans<\/strong>. It depends on your risk tolerance. While the likelihood of getting sick is low, studies have shown that airplane ice can contain bacteria due to handling and water tank issues. If you prefer to be cautious, it’s best to skip the ice.<\/p>\n Q. What about hot drinks like coffee and tea?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ans<\/strong>. Since these drinks are made with water from the onboard tanks, they may also be at risk of contamination. Flight attendants often avoid drinking them as well.<\/p>\n Q. What\u2019s the safest beverage option on a plane?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ans<\/strong>. Sealed bottled drinks, canned sodas, and pre-packaged juices are great choices.<\/p>\n Q. Do airlines have hygiene standards for ice and water?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ans<\/strong>. Yes, but enforcement and consistency vary. The EPA and FDA regulate airplane water safety, but past reports have found inconsistencies in cleanliness between airlines.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, the choice is yours. While the risk of getting sick from airplane ice is relatively low, it\u2019s a risk that\u2019s easy to avoid. Simply opting for a bottled drink or saying \u201cno ice, please\u201d can save you from unnecessary exposure to bacteria.<\/p>\n Next time you\u2019re in the sky, take a cue from the flight attendants\u2014stick to bottled beverages and leave the ice behind!<\/p>\n Would you still drink airplane ice? Let us know in the comments below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Flying can be an exciting experience\u2014soaring through the sky, enjoying breathtaking views, and even indulging in an in-flight beverage. But before you clink those ice cubes in your cup and take a sip, you might want to reconsider. That seemingly harmless airplane ice could be hiding an unpleasant secret. Studies and industry reports have revealed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[107,161],"class_list":["post-635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel_tips","tag-air-travel","tag-in-flight-amenities"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=635"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1225,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635\/revisions\/1225"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cheapair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Water Source is a Bigger Concern<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Airplane Water Tanks Are Notoriously Dirty<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cleaning Between Flights? Not as Thorough as You Think<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What Do Flight Attendants Do? (Hint: They Skip the Ice)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Final Thoughts: Should You Skip the Ice?<\/strong><\/h3>\n