ZSSNC From Germany, joined Feb 2003, 428 posts, RR: 10 Posted (10 years 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 11013 times:
I actually never dared to ask this question here, as I find it somewhat silly. Nonetheless, this morning I read my email and among it was a mail from ciao.com (a consumer opinion website) where I found the exact same question as the question of the week.
Perhaps some flight attendants can help me out here. Whenever I fly, about 75 % of all people in my row order tomato juice. And what do I hear the people in front and behind me ordering? Tomato juice. Now, if tomato juice was as popular in real life, I would say. No big deal. But I have never seen 75 % of all people in restaurants ordering tomato juice. As a matter of fact tomato juice seems to be more popular on most flights than orange juice. I find that strange and I have to admit, I am a tomato juice drinker in the air as well. Yet I would never even consider to order tomato juice elsewhere or buy it in a store.
Is there any explanation why my brain grasps for tomato juice in the air but not on the ground?
ZSSNC
Airbus A340-600 - the longest temptation in the sky
Artsyman From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 4741 posts, RR: 43 Reply 1, posted (10 years 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 10448 times:
It is because due to various factors (dehydration, dry air), we need more salt at altitude. Airlines put way more salt on food that gets served in the air than would get put on the same meal on the ground. Tomato juice and Bloody Mary mix etc is heavy in salt, and hence seems to be a popular choice.
ZSSNC From Germany, joined Feb 2003, 428 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (10 years 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 10441 times:
Artsyman,
thanks, that sounds logical. Yet, what then causes the passengers to long for tomato juice? Is it a subconscious reaction to the circumstances described above by you (dehydration, dry air, need for more salt)?
ZSSNC
Airbus A340-600 - the longest temptation in the sky
Nwacrew From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 311 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (10 years 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10391 times:
As a flight attendant, I can attest that tomato juice is not really requested more often than orange, apple or cranberry juice.
But it does seem when one passenger asks for tomato juice, several other passengers in that immediate area will ask for it as well. Then, perhaps for the next dozen rows, no one else will ask for tomato juice at all...
Frankly, I inwardly wince when people ask me for tomato juice - especially on long flights - because it contains so much sodium. Flying is not only dehydrating, but as I'm sure most of you road warriors know, it BLOATS you as well. I personally love the taste of tomato juice, but I never drink it aloft, so as to avoid that uncomfortable bursting-out-of-my-uniform feeling!
Dc10guy From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 2685 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (10 years 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10368 times:
One of the many many things I love about Southwest is their Bloody mares The Finnlander Vodka and the Mr t's is soooo good on the early morning flights. And Southwest is the only airline I've ever been on that comes to ME and asks if I would like "another one"......
Next time try the old "dirty Sanchez" She'll love it !!!
EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 12559 posts, RR: 64 Reply 11, posted (10 years 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 10343 times:
As with ginger ale, tomato juice is just one of those drinks that never occurs to people as a choice until they actually SEE it sitting on the cart as it comes down the aisle. You have your "normal" or usual drinks (Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, etc) but ginger ale and tomato juice won't be found in vending machines for the most part, and you seldom see them offered as "mainstream" drinks.
So when you see it offered on an airline's drink cart, here's something out of the ordinary that you suddenly have at your disposal for free.
So the mind says, "Sure I'll have one! Hell, give me two; they're small!"
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan
Emceeoh From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 31 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (10 years 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 10188 times:
This is funny, I was on a flight yesterday where the people across the aisle from me ordered tomato juice, and I couldn't help thinking, "Who drinks tomato juice?"
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 15, posted (10 years 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 10157 times:
I agree with the "unusual" logic. Up until I was about 19, I ordered ginger ale almost exclusively while in flight, just cause it was that drink I always got on airplanes that I never had anywhere else.
DIA From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3273 posts, RR: 30 Reply 16, posted (10 years 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 10137 times:
Strange indeed. . .I too only seem to order tomato juice or ginger ale. ..but I always have my own 32oz. plastic bottle of water with me that I always seem to purchase at the airport before any flight.
Can't ever have too much water! Except on those longer flights.
DIA
Ding! You are now free to keep supporting Frontier.
Kevi747 From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 1056 posts, RR: 13 Reply 19, posted (10 years 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 9966 times:
Pilot1113, you're right...tomato juice does substitute as soup. You should try getting a can of Bloody Mary Mix though, its even better as a food substitute.
But its true, a lot of people do order tomato juice on flights. I ususlly stay away from it because, combined with the altitude, it tends to make you very full.
"Reality has a well-known liberal bias." --Stephen Colbert