Even those who don't usually drink ginger ale prefer it on flights and there is scientific reason.
For many travelers, enjoying a drink during a flight is a must, and ginger ale is particularly popular. Although its taste isn't extraordinary, ginger ale is believed to taste better in the air. This phenomenon has a scientific basis, explained in the 2011 study "The Effects on the Taste Experience in the Aircraft Cabin" by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP), which explores why "everything tastes different in the air."
According to the study, both physical and psychological factors affect our taste in the air. Andrea Burdack-Freitag, a researcher at IBP, explained that low cabin pressure alters blood oxygen levels, impacting taste buds, per Health. "As a result, some of the olfactory and taste receptors become less efficient." She further explained that the low pressure in flights can make receptors for salty, sweet, and citrusy flavors less efficient, but stressed that bitter, sour, and earthy tastes are less impacted - emphasizing the edge of ginger ale over other sugary drinks.
According to Andrea, flying also affects psychological perception. "In the unfamiliar environment of the aircraft cabin, people are more exposed to basic stimuli and less likely to notice details. This pushes up stimulus thresholds, with the result that a stronger stimulus is required to trigger a response," noted the study.
Besides low pressure and changed perception, the low humidity might be another reason that ginger ale tastes better. Lisa R. Young, an adjunct professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University, explained how low pressure impacts our taste buds. "Dry air makes it more difficult to distinguish flavors. Our sense of smell reduces, which affects the way we taste our food," she said.
While improved taste is one of the reasons why people prefer ginger ale on flights, it's not the only one. In addition to that, many people tend to opt for ginger ale on flights to help settle their stomachs or avoid nausea from motion sickness. Surprisingly, ginger ale does not contain real ginger and is instead made with ginger essence, sugar, and other flavorings.
The relevance of drinking Ginger ale mid-flight has been debated even on social media platforms with the majority advocating for this carbonated and sugary drink. A TikTok user (@high.center.of.gravity) took to the platform to stress how the drink is favored on flights. The brief five-second clip has a floating caption that explains the only correct times to have ginger ale are "on a plane," while making an "easy cocktail," and "when you've been throwing up."
@high.center.of.gravity Obviously, there’s an exception for cranberry ginger ale which is acceptable at any time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. #gingerale #airplane #traveltok ♬ What Falling in Love Feels Like - Eva Tiedemann
The fun clip posted on TikTok was well received by the online community, with many emphasizing the drink's ability to cure stomach aches. Other users talked about how the carbonated drink is on their wishlist while traveling on a flight.
Besides TikTok, the topic has also been discussed on Reddit by u/almond_tree_blossoms, who posted, "I’ve always gotten ginger ale when I fly, even if I rarely drink it elsewhere, so much that it’s almost a tradition now. I thought it was just me who did this, but I’ve asked quite a few people about this, and they said they drink it as well. Anyone else?" Most people agreed with the user. "Me. Only when I fly," commented u/Knocksveal supporting the stance.
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