Jet2 and Ryanair have issued a clear warning to passengers: hot drinks purchased in the airport departure lounge must be consumed before boarding. The airlines have reiterated their strict policies prohibiting hot food and beverages on their flights, citing safety concerns.
Why the ban?
Jet2's website explains: "You can't bring hot food or hot drinks onboard our planes for safety reasons." Ryanair's guidelines add: "You must not take hot drinks on the plane." The risk of scalding during turbulence or in the event of sudden movements is a primary concern.
EasyJet's differing policy
In contrast, easyJet allows hot drinks on board if they have a lid. A spokesperson said: "You can bring hot drinks on board if you've bought them at the airport and they have a lid on." This inconsistency has sparked debate among travelers.
Passenger reactions
One passenger remarked: "I’ve never seen people bring hot beverages onto a plane. I’m not surprised it’s not allowed though." Another fumed: "I’ve boarded with coffee loads of times and no one has batted an eyelid. I can’t bear airline tea or coffee, it’s low quality and tepid at best."
A third social media user defended the airlines, saying: "I'm just glad that the whingers on here don't fly Ryanair. Imagine having to listen to them go on and on non stop over nothing. Just whinge for the sake of it. Muppets."
Another long-time traveler noted: "During the almost 30 years I've been travelling with them I was not aware you were ever allowed to take hot drinks on board."
Some passengers expressed support for the ban: "Not really sure why it’s an issue to ban hot drinks. How many times have you been boarding and the mindless morons barge their way through or block the aisle because they don’t want to sit down yet?"
A further comment read: "Can supermarkets now ban hot drinks as well please. Pathetic to see people juggling a trolley with a paper cup of steaming coffee. Can't people survive without for 20 minutes?"
Another added: "A plane is like a bus with wings. You don’t need a hot meal on a bus journey. Only water on a plane journey."
Passengers are advised to check their airline's policy before purchasing hot drinks at the airport to avoid disappointment or having to discard them at the gate.
