Why flight attendants hate Diet Coke

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Originally published at: https://boingboing.net/2018/03/05/why-flight-attendants-hate-die.html

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For me the question is: Why does it fizz up more? It appears to be that the ratio of syrup to fizzy water is lower (i.e., more water, less syrup) since the artificial sweeteners require less volume in syrup form.

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These ratios are for fountain drinks, but even then, Diet Coke syrup is the most concentrated, hence the need for lots more carbonated water.

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Apparently aspartame lowers the surface tension, which is why it also produces significantly more impressive results with Mentos.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14114-science-of-mentos-diet-coke-explosions-explained/

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I’m assuming it isn’t bad enough where they’d require additional flight attendants to handle it, because once that happens you can be sure that the airlines will either: Introduce specially formulated sodas that fizz less, purchase smaller cans and hand out cans, charge extra for diet drinks.

Also, you are all doing it wrong. Always order Ginger Ale - it’s made from Bald Eagles’ tears. http://theoatmeal.com/blog/beverage_options

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I remember touring a McDonald’s as a kid and being terribly disappointed to find out that soft drinks are made from a concentrated syrup and water. It seemed like cheating. (Don’t ask why. I was a kid. I guess I thought Coca-Cola came down from heaven in a bottle or a can.)

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Well everyone should hate Diet Coke.

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That would explain why I always receive a can of diet coke when I ask, instead of the miserly third of a can they give you if you let them pour it.

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For that to be true The Gods Must Be Crazy.

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Also a Diet Coke won’t actually quench your thirst but will instead give you the sensation of quenching your thirst while making you thirstier.

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as dry as a popcorn fart

Thanks for that turn of phrase that will never leave me!

Diet Coke is actually my beverage of choice (I know, I know) but I don’t order it on airplanes because I’m not smart enough to know how the carbonation and pressure changes will interact with my sad, airsick-prone tubes.

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Lower air pressure causes the CO2 to off-gas more rapidly. At least, that’s what I’ve always assumed and the WHO backs up the fact that plane cabins are pressurized much lower than sea level.

http://www.who.int/ith/mode_of_travel/cab/en/

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I’ll remember to ask for the full can the next time I fly, which I rearely do and the next time I drink a Diet Coke which I never do. I’m an easy passenger… make mine a double! :beers:

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Frankly, I’ve never had problems when requesting a full can of soda. I do so regularly when flying, exactly because of the dry air which, combined with the transonic screech of jet engines, just about always gives me a splitting headache, if I don’t take immediate preventative measures.

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Y’all with your fancy airlines that give cups and ice. Ryanair give you one of the tiny cans, and you enjoy it.

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my go to in flight drink is diet coke and vodka. I’d never had an attendent pour one, they just hand me a couple nips and a can of sode and a cup of ice and move on.

problem solved.

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I’ve never been denied a full can of any of the free beverages flight attendants offered. I always just ask for a full can on any flight longer than an hour or so and I’ve never had an issue (and I never drink diet soft drinks).

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How much does it cost? £5? £10?

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How often is that still the case? The last time I took an economy flight to Europe I was surprised to find that there were no free drinks or snacks (not even water) and no in-flight entertainment other than some iPads for rent. But that’s what I get for taking the cheapest possible flight, I guess.

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More than the larger bottle of coke does from the airport shops that are past security. And it’s in Euros.

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