Food and drinks taste different on airplanes and there’s a reason, experts say

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 plant as soon as the plane takes off.

It’s science.

“It’s not your imagination. Food and drink taste different 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 blander,” said Henderson, who is based in New York.

In particular, he added, “Your perception of saltiness and sweetness is particularly affected. Sour, bitter and spicy tastes are not as affected, which may explain why food preparation companies use more spices than ground.

It’s also why tomato juice—the main ingredient in a Bloody Mary, full of sweetness and umami—simply tastes better in the air.

Ginger’s daughter has a similar improvement in flavor, as well as at a higher altitude.

Loud background noises and vibrations on the plane also play a role in determining how things taste, Henderson said.

He noted that studies have shown that these factors can affect a person’s sense of smell.

For Henderson, this has been the case when he flies.

“I also find that my sense of smell is affected, which can really change the taste of food,” he said.

On the flight, Henderson said his usual drink order is either a Coke Zero mix or cranberry juice and club soda with his meals.

“American Airlines serves espresso on some of its main routes, which I like, although the in-flight coffee is usually not good,” he said.

And when it comes to food orders, he advises going for the pasta — unless the burger or short rib is available on American Airlines.

He said these are his favorites.

Pasta, however, “is usually pretty good in the air, no matter who’s serving it,” he said.

But for anyone looking to maximize inflight enjoyment, Henderson suggested avoiding one thing: overindulging in alcoholic beverages.

This is not “a good idea”, he said.

Alcohol “makes dehydration and misery worse,” he said.