re-using plastic cups?
Apr 18, 2010 | 6:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: nyc
Programs: CO Plat & MP 1K
Posts: 870
re-using plastic cups?
OK, a friend of mine flew CO LHR to EWR this month and was highly critical of the IFE selection and said that the plastic cups were re-used. He based this observation on the fact that his wife got a cup of water but the cup was greasy. The FA gave her a different cup saying that the previous cup had held orange juice. It could be that she had picked up a dirty cup by mistake and the FA was just correcting the mistake. Do FAs ever wash plastic cups in flight and re-use them as he thinks?
Apr 18, 2010 | 6:41 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,034
OK, a friend of mine flew CO LHR to EWR this month and was highly critical of the IFE selection and said that the plastic cups were re-used. He based this observation on the fact that his wife got a cup of water but the cup was greasy. The FA gave her a different cup saying that the previous cup had held orange juice. It could be that she had picked up a dirty cup by mistake and the FA was just correcting the mistake. Do FAs ever wash plastic cups in flight and re-use them as he thinks?
Apr 18, 2010 | 6:52 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,242
do the cups get recycled? I read an article about how "green" airlines are, and while CO didn't rank in the top 3, they weren't at the bottom either.
Apr 18, 2010 | 7:18 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,034
As of now, unless there's some behind the scenes sorting going on, it's just cans, paper, black meal trays and plastic bottles.
Apr 18, 2010 | 7:45 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: nyc
Programs: CO Plat & MP 1K
Posts: 870
No no no. What probably happened was that the FA grabbed a cup that had been emptied, or dumped out a cup, that was on the clean tray of clean water and OJ ready to be handed out at some point. Might have been quicker/easier than digging through the galley to find the cup stash. We would never knowingly hand out a used cup. Plus, why would we want to add extra work to our job by making ourselves dishwashers? We have craploads of cups, hot and cold, which can be used interchangeably if we run out of one.
Apr 18, 2010 | 10:44 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 487
The report I referenced above indicates that Delta does recycle plastic beverage cups. This would be a HUGE green step forward for CO if they started recycling plastic beverage cups. ^
Apr 18, 2010 | 10:49 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: *A
Posts: 1,393
OK, a friend of mine flew CO LHR to EWR this month and was highly critical of the IFE selection and said that the plastic cups were re-used. He based this observation on the fact that his wife got a cup of water but the cup was greasy. The FA gave her a different cup saying that the previous cup had held orange juice. It could be that she had picked up a dirty cup by mistake and the FA was just correcting the mistake. Do FAs ever wash plastic cups in flight and re-use them as he thinks?
Apr 18, 2010 | 11:03 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: Alas, the Gravy Train Hath Ended...just happy to be an OW Sapphire and a ST Ivory...whatever
Posts: 4,389
Then why do the FA's on some flights dump out the contents of cups in to the trach cart and stack the cops up? Why not just throw the entire cup away? This procedure was in-place long before CO started -- atast publicizing -- their recycling efforts. 
Apr 18, 2010 | 11:12 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 943
Some FAs aren't familiar with the specifics of the recycling program, and some find that it clutters the trash cart less to put the cups in all at once last.
Apr 18, 2010 | 11:28 am
#11
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Location: Southern, CA, USA
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If she used the pillow or blanket, I dont see the problem with a used cup. Its probably safer
Apr 18, 2010 | 11:31 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
Recycling is done behind the scenes with the catering companies and the people that pick up the trash.
I think FAs stack cups because it takes up less room in the trash bins. Nothing worse than running out of space for full trash bags and stowing them in the lavs.
I think FAs stack cups because it takes up less room in the trash bins. Nothing worse than running out of space for full trash bags and stowing them in the lavs.
Apr 18, 2010 | 2:12 pm
#13
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Location: Manhattan
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I don't care about green steps. Or recycling. I hope Continental doesn't waste money and effort on something like that. It would add more work to the FA's jobs and mean that shorter flights would be less likely to be provided drink service.
Apr 18, 2010 | 3:19 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 943
I disagree. Recycling has nothing to do with whether or not we do a cart. When it comes down to it, FAs will simply not recycle before not providing a service.
Apr 18, 2010 | 3:29 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
Recycling. On most crowded and long-haulflights, I usually see the stacking of used cups. It also saves a lot of trash space. The new cups come stacked, and if you trash them without stacking it takes way more space. Many plastic water bottles have a crsuh symbol on the side, so that you crush the bottle after use to save space.
In 42 years of flying on airlines, I have never observed any airline ever re-use a once used cup.
In 42 years of flying on airlines, I have never observed any airline ever re-use a once used cup.