Quality of drinking water varies significantly by airline

Study findings & airline rankings

• Commenters highlight the report’s scores: Delta at the top (A, 5.0), American, JetBlue, Spirit near the bottom (D), with some regionals even worse (down to F).
• Some say this matches their experience of airline cleanliness; others are surprised by certain rankings (e.g., United and Alaska’s positions).

Critiques of recommendations and methodology

• The advice “don’t wash hands, use sanitizer instead” is widely criticized as unsafe and incomplete:
  • Alcohol doesn’t kill all pathogens (e.g., norovirus, C. diff).
  • Sanitizer doesn’t remove dirt; mechanical washing is needed.
• Several find the letter-grade scoring not actionable (“what do I do with a 3.85/B?”) and mock the framing.
• Confusion over what was actually tested: tank water vs. lavatory taps vs. coffee/tea vs. canned/bottled water.

Onboard water: what’s safe?

• Consensus practical advice:
  • Treat tank/faucet water as non-potable; avoid using it for drinking or brushing teeth.
  • Assume coffee/tea are made from tank water; some avoid them entirely.
  • Ask for sealed cans/bottles/boxes or bring purchased water from the gate.
• Some note certain airlines use boxed/canned water for drinking but still use tanks for hot beverages.

Hygiene, handwashing, and doors

• Debate over whether to wash with tap water + soap then use sanitizer vs. sanitizer alone; most favor washing when possible.
• Discussion of soap’s role: mostly mechanical removal, but more effective than water alone; skepticism toward antibacterial soaps.
• Practical worries about touching bathroom door handles after washing; suggestions include using paper towels, foot handles, or just avoiding face-touching until later.
• Rants about poorly designed restroom doors (often opening inward) increasing contamination.

Health risk perceptions: germs, air, and “toughening”

• Some argue risks are overblown, citing personal experience tolerating airplane drinks.
• Others report fewer GI issues when avoiding all onboard liquids.
• COVID-era experiences have made some hyper-aware or anxious about shared air and surfaces; others label this as bordering on mysophobia.
• Strong advocacy from some for N95 masking on flights; others counter that cabin ventilation mitigates risk, with disagreement on how much.

Causes of contamination & responsibility

• Speculation that differences between airlines stem from how often water tanks and lines are cleaned, not aircraft manufacturer.
• Comparisons to dirty ice machines in restaurants to illustrate biofilm buildup when tanks aren’t maintained.
• Political tangent on weak regulatory enforcement (EPA), with one side calling for much stronger regulation and staffing.

Skepticism about the source organization

• Some distrust the “food as medicine & longevity” branding as potentially adjacent to pseudoscience, though others note the stated mission itself is fairly generic.
• A few emphasize that “eating healthy” evidence is mostly observational and may be overhyped relative to other health factors.

Related travel habits & minor tangents

• Multiple people always bring or buy their own water; some relatives in the industry reportedly did the same.
• Concerns extend to airport refill fountains; some are now wary after seeing unhygienic use.
• Side discussions: airline preferences (Delta vs. American vs. Alaska), gate-checking luggage strategies, beer on planes (framed humorously as historically “safe water”), and mockery of AI-generated article images.