Travellers flying with Jet2 and Ryanair may find themselves in a spot of hot bother if they try to board a flight with a common airport item.
The budget airlines have many regulations in place for passengers, from one-bag luggage restrictions to Ryanair’s new boarding pass rule, which is about to make at-home-printed passes null and void as of November 12.
However, one lesser-known rule is the ban on hot drinks being taken on board. Teas, coffees, mocha lattes… they’re all out.
This means that a 5am caffeine fix will have to wait until you take your seat on the plane — there, you’re free to order from the in-flight menu.
According to Jet2, you ‘can’t bring hot food or hot drinks onboard our planes for safety reasons.’
Ryanair’s version is that ground staff ‘cannot allow passengers to board the plane with hot drinks.’
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Both carriers suggest you order food and drink after take-off.
However, these rules don’t apply to every airline.
EasyJet and TUI, for example, allow passengers to bring their hot drinks on board, provided they have a secure lid.
What food and drinks do Jet2 and Ryanair allow?
Ryanair’s ‘Feel Free’ policy also bans passengers from consuming alcohol that hasn’t been purchased on board.
Cabin crew have the right to confiscate these items should travellers break the rules.
Soft drinks bought from the departure lounge are allowed.
If you’re not one for in-flight meals, cold, pre-packaged foods like sandwiches, snacks, and fruit are permitted. Like hot beverages, your own hot food is a no-go.
Jet2 has a ban on ‘hot or strong-smelling foods and drinks.’ Plus, the airline warns against ‘perishable items.’
Cold, pre-packaged snacks and cold non-alcoholic drinks are allowed onboard. Like Ryanair, airport alcohol is banned.
Additionally, passengers travelling on any airline to EU nations must be aware of post-Brexit rules.
Irrespective of whether you’ve purchased items at the airport or not, meat and dairy products — even if they’re in a sandwich — cannot be brought into the EU.
Meaning, food should either be eaten on board or discarded before disembarking the plane.
Ryanair’s controversial boarding pass change is coming on November 12 — how it will affect you
From tomorrow, Ryanair passengers will no longer be able to use a printed boarding pass.
The Irish carrier is switching to digital – aka paperless – boarding passes, meaning the days of downloading and printing your ticket will soon be over.
Instead, you will need to use the digital version generated on the Ryanair app during check-in. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary claims between 85 and 90% of its 200 million annual customers are already doing so.
But for anyone who hasn’t made the move, this means you’ll have to check-in prior to your arrival at the airport to secure your boarding pass.
Read Metro’s explainer in full here.