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Airplane food often gets a bad rap.
As it turns out, it’s not entirely the airlines’ fault that food tastes different at 30,000 feet than it does on terra firma — and it’s not all in your head that you’re suddenly craving a ginger ale once the plane takes off.
It’s science.
“It’s not your imagination. Food and drink do taste different up in the air,” the managing editor at The Points Guy, a travel website, told Fox News Digital.
The combination of lower humidity and a pressurized cabin leads to dehydration — which “means things taste more bland,” said Henderson, who is based in New York.
In particular, he added, “Your perception of saltiness and sweetness is especially impacted. Sour, bitter, and spicy flavors are not nearly as affected, which may explain why food prep companies use more spices than they would on the ground.”
This is also why tomato juice – the main ingredient in a Bloody Mary, full of sweetness and umami – just tastes better up in the air.
Ginger ale has a similar taste improvement as well at a higher altitude.
The loud background noises and vibrations on the plane also play a role in determining how things taste, said Henderson.
He noted that studies have indicated that these factors can influence a person’s sense of smell.
For Henderson, this has been the case when he flies.
“I also find my sense of smell is impacted, which can really change how food tastes, too,” he said.
When flying, Henderson said that his usual drink order is either a Coke Zero or cranberry juice and club soda combo with his meals.
“American Airlines serves espressos on some of its flagship routes, which I enjoy, though airplane coffee is usually not great,” he said.
And when food orders are being taken, he advises going for the pasta – unless the burger or short rib is available on American Airlines.
He said those are his favorites.
Pasta, though, “is usually pretty good up in the air no matter who is serving it,” he said.
But for anyone looking to maximize flavor on planes, Henderson suggested avoiding one thing: overdoing it on alcoholic drinks.
This is “not a great idea,” he said.
Alcohol “makes the dehydration and hangovers worse,” he said.
