Air Canada Aeroplan - Air Canada and bottled water

I am not a fan of any softdrinks, like pop or juice. I don't drink beer or (cheap) wines. So onboard AC and in MLLs, my only beverage of choice is water.

I don't fly enough on domestic or transborder flights nor do I fly enough on International Y flights, so can't comment.

In international J cabins, there is a 500mL bottle of Dasani water at each pod. This is good because I can drink whenever I want without having to get up or ask anyone for it. But when this bottle is done, there is usually problem. A lot of flights don't have enough extra 500mL bottles for me to take to my seat. They usually only have the large 1.5L bottle at the galley area and one has to take the empty water bottle there to refill. This is where I have problem with. How can one ensure that when a bottle is being refilled, the rim of the big bottle won't ever touch the rim of the small bottle hence creating a contamination scenario? I would just "steal" a whole brand new 1.5L bottle to my seat and outright refuse to have my 500mL bottle refilled. But this is quite inconvenient to me, since water is my only preferred drink onboard.

My wife had her bottle refilled with a brand new 1.5L by an FA. While the FA was careful not to let the bottles touch, after the refill, she grabbed the lid of her bottle to close it, the FA stopped her and gave her the lid of the 1.5L bottle and insisted that this was the right lid. The FA then placed the smaller lid in the big bottle and hence my wife's spit was all over the big bottle, which will be consumed by others later.

Also in MLLs, all the bottled water have their bottle caps removed. I don't like this idea either. Many times, there are more than one opened bottles sitting on the counter. There is no way to tell how long the bottle has been sitting there opened. I just don't want to touch water in the MLLs.

Why can't AC put smaller bottles of water in the MLLs just like other drinks or pops? They can even have some placed in the fridge chilled and some in room temperature. If AC is worried that some folks might take them out of the MLL, they should have the same worry with other more expensive drinks like beer. So this should not be a concern.

With all do respect, you sound paranoid.
Contamination is good for the body and the immune sytem. Drink up!

Alternately, I'd love to see AC work out an approach that doesn't involve the insane consumption of all that plastic. Hugely wasteful, in terms of the plastic, the fuel to carry it, the volume of space it takes up before and after use, etc.

I have a metal bottle (600ml or so) with cap that I travel with, and I try to fill it myself in the lounge (from a new water bottle or even just a faucet - that water is cleaner anyway), and I refill it myself on long-hauls from one of the 1.5L bottles that jarusoba mentioned.

It would be an expense for sure, but I think of it like the headphone issue but much larger. AC is wasting money, and water, and oil, and time, dealing with all that plastic and then just junking it later. Surely we can find some better system.

(I know only some planes have potable water tanks, and they often provide water that tastes awful, so I'm not suggesting that!)

(I know only some planes have potable water tanks, and they often provide water that tastes awful, so I'm not suggesting that!)From the 2009 Auditor General report: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200903_01_e_32285.html#hd4c

I too question the rampant spread of communicable diseases from the tops of contaminated water bottles.

It's challenging sometimes on an airplane to pour from big bottle to little bottle without having them touch, but it's far from impossible. I've done it many times and I've had it done for me many times by FAs (who I must say, invariably have exceptional pouring skills in a cramped, moving environment).

As ACYYZ/SD has pointed out, if there's something you need, just ask one of the FAs. In this case, I'm sure one of them will be happy to execute a perfect pour for you.

Or if you want, switch things up and go sparkling. That way you get a nice, new, sealed can of Perrier in J or soda water in whY so you remain contaminent-free.

The aisles are just littered with the dead bodies of passengers who have ingested germs from other passengers.

Am I missing something here, or, is there a problem with pouring from the big 1.5L bottle to a clean glass? O_o?

-RS.

Drink perrier. Problem solved.

As ACYYZ/SD has pointed out, if there's something you need, just ask one of the FAs. In this case, I'm sure one of them will be happy to execute a perfect pour for you.

Or if you want, switch things up and go sparkling. That way you get a nice, new, sealed can of Perrier in J or soda water in whY so you remain contaminent-free.

Yes, most FAs would oblige if I asked for a whole new big bottle. There are exceptions, in which case I would steal it.

But I still don't understand why there are not any extra small bottles around.:confused:

With all do respect, you sound paranoid.
Contamination is good for the body and the immune sytem. Drink up!

Yes, I have to be paranoid in this world. Most contamination is good for the immune system. Some is not. Especially contamination by strangers.

Even bottled water is prone to contamination but this is the best we could get at the moment.

The aisles are just littered with the dead bodies of passengers who have ingested germs from other passengers.

Thank god I'm not one of them.

Am I missing something here, or, is there a problem with pouring from the big 1.5L bottle to a clean glass? O_o?

-RS.
If the big 1.5L bottle is used during a service on a cart, and I know it's not contaminated and is poured into clean glasses all the time, I would have no problem. But if the big bottle has been left opened for an unknown period of time and could be contaminated by another stranger, I would choose not to consume from it.

Drink perrier. Problem solved.

Yes. This would be my last resort.

Problem not entirely solved because a lot of times, I would rather have some still water.

I'm just asking for my own bottle of water, not a bottle of Krug. Why is it so hard?:confused:

Thank god I'm not one of them.

Oh come now. :) We all breathe the same recycled air in the tin can. Is that really much worse then having contaminated bottles?

Besides which, the big bottle is 1.5l. If it's used to refill little ones, then it's empty after 3 refills. Even if it's used to top off the little bottles, it's used after a max of say, 10 pours.

There is also the poor man's Perrier, Canada Dry club soda, I understand the germ contamination phobia. In our office I use the water cooler, and am a little grossed out when I see people filling up a water bottle by putting the spout of the water cooler completely inside their bottle. I still drink the water. Then again I haven't been sick in 3 years, so even though I probably have been present to their germs, such is life. Ac probably doesn't have smaller bottles to cut down on cost. My 2 cents!

And, on a different topic.

I was at a YYZ-CUN flight at the first row in Y. As usual, the front cabin was occupied by a whole bunch of AC staff or families. In Y, water is served from a pitcher. I would never drink it because I don't really like the taste of tap water. I didn't ask for anything else because I wasn't thirsty.

Anyways, at the end of the flight, I saw an FA took out a bunch of 1.5L bottles of Dasani and distributed them to those loud AC staff/family/dependents/friends sitting in J. Each one got 1 or 2 bottles!!

This was hilarious!

Or, I understand this involves out of pocket, and airport post security bottled water is "highway robbery" pricing, but why not buy your own bottled water. If I have a long flight (usually 5+ hours) I have no issue paying for a big bottle. Then I can control my own hydration needs.

It's all about cutting down cost, just like the soft drinks most of the airlines will serve you from a 2L bottle but I always ask for a can of it. Would it be easier to give you a small box of juice rather than pour it from a big carton box? Yes, but they won't do it because it's all about cost again.

And, on a different topic.

I was at a YYZ-CUN flight at the first row in Y. As usual, the front cabin was occupied by a whole bunch of AC staff or families. In Y, water is served from a pitcher. I would never drink it because I don't really like the taste of tap water. I didn't ask for anything else because I wasn't thirsty.

Anyways, at the end of the flight, I saw an FA took out a bunch of 1.5L bottles of Dasani and distributed them to those loud AC staff/family/dependents/friends sitting in J. Each one got 1 or 2 bottles!!

This was hilarious!

I have witnessed something similar many times on long flights as well. My favorite, is witnessing the pilots have a fresh 1.5 Dasani strapped to their luggage when entering or exiting the plane.

I was on a flight last month and a FA picked up a 1.5 litre bottle of water and stuck it up to her mouth and had a drink; she drank like a third of it in one go. Hope it doesn't get mixed with the public bottle's. ....

Or, I understand this involves out of pocket, and airport post security bottled water is "highway robbery" pricing, but why not buy your own bottled water. If I have a long flight (usually 5+ hours) I have no issue paying for a big bottle. Then I can control my own hydration needs.

This is what we have been doing... But sometimes, we're in a hurry that we forget to buy or we didn't buy enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRLYJabNTZg

I have witnessed something similar many times on long flights as well. My favorite, is witnessing the pilots have a fresh 1.5 Dasani strapped to their luggage when entering or exiting the plane.

Good thing, the pilot will be hydrated during his 10 hour flight and won't crash the plane!! ^

You people sometimes ...

Good thing, the pilot will be hydrated during his 10 hour flight and won't crash the plane!! ^

You people sometimes ...

You are completely missing my point. I'm not against pilots keeping hydrated. It just amazes me how I have paid for my seat and I cannot request a 1.5 L bottle but airline employees can just request or take them at their own will. I guess it depends on what side of the fence you reside.

On my last international J flight, they just gave me the brand, new 1.5L bottle when I asked.

Dasani isn't water ...or should I say it is but bottled from a tap. It is one of the worst tasting waters. I drink it on th International flights cause I have too otherwise I stay away for it.

Am I missing something here, or, is there a problem with pouring from the big 1.5L bottle to a clean glass? O_o?

-RS.

UA in business, at least internationally, has large bottles and constantly refills the glass at your seat. Less waste. Never had an empty glass--better service than many restaurants. Maybe you can suggest this to AC?

As for small bottles, or even complaining about tap water, have a look at this: http://vimeo.com/11892114

Dasani isn't water ...or should I say it is but bottled from a tap. It is one of the worst tasting waters. I drink it on th International flights cause I have too otherwise I stay away for it.

Tastes bad for sure - Brampton tap water if I recall correctly - but at least you get the benefit of tap water that's more often tested than bottled. Bottled waters can have huge amounts of nasty stuff in them and legally are tested far less often than your tap water.

In Halifax, the city gives out bottled tap water to make the point that tap is tasty, and it actually is compared to some other cities. Kitchener comes to mind - so many minerals.

You are completely missing my point. I'm not against pilots keeping hydrated. It just amazes me how I have paid for my seat and I cannot request a 1.5 L bottle but airline employees can just request or take them at their own will. I guess it depends on what side of the fence you reside.

Look, I'm on the passenger's side of the fence ... I want my 1.5L water bottle too! When I requested it more than once in the past I always got it (when I was flying in J) ...

My point is that the pilot's PERSONAL water bottle has nothing to do with this conversation, and should not be used as an example ...

On another note, I guess that this is a flying object, so there are some weight limits!!

Oh come now. :) We all breathe the same recycled air in the tin can. Is that really much worse then having contaminated bottles?

Besides which, the big bottle is 1.5l. If it's used to refill little ones, then it's empty after 3 refills. Even if it's used to top off the little bottles, it's used after a max of say, 10 pours.

Airplane air exchanges more frequently than shopping mall air.

Airplane air exchanges more frequently than shopping mall air.

That means that it flows a lot, and so your chances of getting in touch with other people's germs are higher.

(not that I support this paranoia, though ;) )

...I cannot request a 1.5 L bottle but airline employees can just request or take them at their own will. I guess it depends on what side of the fence you reside.

As with crew meals, bottled water is also boarded specifically for each crew member. Just because you see a crew member leaving with a bottle doesn't mean you were short changed.

Tastes bad for sure - Brampton tap water if I recall correctly - but at least you get the benefit of tap water that's more often tested than bottled. Bottled waters can have huge amounts of nasty stuff in them and legally are tested far less often than your tap water.



Actually that's not true.

Correct that tap water is likely safer than bottled water. But Dasani from that perspective *is* bottled water. That it originally came from the tap is immaterial. Indeed it is subsequently processed: demineralized and remineralized in a uniform way, so as to give it a uniform taste. But the key thing is that bottled water is less safe is because you don't know when it was bottled and how it was kept in the mean time, potentially allowing for significant bacteria growth.

While tap water is delivered to the distribution piping network right after chlorination (or some equivalent) with some extra chlorine, and suffers no further storage (apart from the transit time is the piping).

Oh come now. :) We all breathe the same recycled air in the tin can. Is that really much worse then having contaminated bottles?



While I agree we should not be paranoid about water, I must disagree with the statement about recycled air.

First, air is only partially recycled and there is a significant percentage of fresh air added (probably about 50%). Second, the entire air supply goes through high performance filters. So in the end, cabin air is not a significant source of cross-contamination.

Of course, if your seat mate has a bad cold...

Actually that's not true.

Correct that tap water is likely safer than bottled water. But Dasani from that perspective *is* bottled water. That it originally came from the tap is immaterial. Indeed it is subsequently processed: demineralized and remineralized in a uniform way, so as to give it a uniform taste. But the key thing is that bottled water is less safe is because you don't know when it was bottled and how it was kept in the mean time, potentially allowing for significant bacteria growth.

While tap water is delivered to the distribution piping network right after chlorination (or some equivalent) with some extra chlorine, and suffers no further storage (apart from the transit time is the piping).

Yes, absolutely. The benefit, if it exists at all, is quite small and only very early in the chain. I didn't mean to give much credit to that.

ITT: pretentious water connoisseur?
In all seriousness though, I'm sure AC would take note if you were to send them a written request to rectify this situation. Heck, if you raise a big enough stink, you could get miles out of it//